Safety

Denmark is a small, quiet country, located far away from the international centers of tension. We are proud of our democracy and our commitment to peace and security for everyone. Nonetheless, the potential risk of international terrorist actions, not least against Americans and US property, is present everywhere in the world, including Copenhagen.

For this reason, student safety is and has always been of the utmost concern to DIS. Contingency plans for the event of a general international crisis or specific threats of local terrorism have been worked out in cooperation with the Danish Police Intelligence Service and the American Embassy in Copenhagen.

In addition, DIS has taken a number of measures to maintain a high level of student safety. Among these are:

1. Contact with Authorities

DIS is included among the institutions in Denmark covered by the Security Section of the American Embassy in Copenhagen. The section will communicate specific security threats to DIS at any time. As standard procedure, the US Embassy issues travel advisories on a regular basis. We immediately notify our students if these advisories contain information that may affect them, and we also pass these advisories on via e-mail to our coordinating universities. The students are asked to touch base with their families for reassurance.

A full list of American DIS students, their local addresses and passport numbers is forwarded for registration to the Security Section at the beginning of each semester.

DIS cooperates with the Danish Police Intelligence Service, to which it has direct phone and e-mail access. All staff members are in possession of this address information. The Police Intelligence Service will communicate specific security threats to DIS at any time. The Police Intelligence Service is notified before any DIS event involving many students at one time takes place.

2. Security Advising

DIS students are given printed and oral security advising upon arrival in Copenhagen. The advising includes areas such as general safety precautions when appearing in public space; general vigilance; precautions against disseminating specific DIS information; emergency numbers (DIS and public emergency phones); advise to remain at home in case of immediate threats or significant crisis; evacuation; communication during travels; checking US government travel advisories.

3. Communication: Students to DIS

DIS has a 24-hour emergency phone number which is communicated to students in a variety of ways. During study tours, students are given the numbers of the tour leaders' cell phones. The phones are open 24 hours a day. On Russia study tours, students are given the phone numbers of the American Embassy in Moscow and Consulate General in St. Petersburg.

4. Communication: DIS to Students

All DIS staff have a list of student addresses and phone numbers in the office and at home. An all-student e-mail, reaching every single student's e-mail account, is operative and known to all staff members. During all DIS study tours, staff remaining in Copenhagen have a full overview of student participants, hotel addresses, scheduled events plus a list of all tour leaders' cell phone numbers so that they are able to locate any student immediately. The cell phones are open 24 hours a day.

As for independent travel, students are asked via e-mail to give DIS as many details of their travel itineraries as possible, including cell phone numbers, possible hotels and other contact points.

5. Evacuation

Staff members have personalized evacuation plans to secure swift evacuation of all students from the building should the need arise. Staff evacuation exercises are carried out at regular intervals.

Evacuation routes are posted in the main student areas, and all emergency exits are clearly marked throughout the building. Students are given an orientation on evacuation routes during Orientation Week and, after a few weeks, are reminded by e-mail to take note of the routes.

6. Protection

Access to the DIS building is restricted and requires a code which is given to students at the beginning of their stay. The code is changed at regular intervals.

On study tours in Europe, students ride in Danish buses and are registered as Danish, not American, tour groups in hotels, restaurants, etc.

Students live dispersed all over the Greater Copenhagen area, either in private homes or in student housing (kollegiums). Students living in kollegiums are dispersed among different blocks and floors.

7. Important Link

USC Study Abroad Safety Handbook