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Approved Third-Party Vendors - Tour Operators

Purpose: To outline the Office of International Education’s authority to select, approve, and, if necessary, discontinue third-party vendors or tour operators for Study Abroad Programs, as well as the process for requesting the use of unapproved vendors.

Vendor and Tour Operator Approval:

  1. Office of International Education’s Governance:
    • The Office of International Education retains and reserves the right to select or remove any third-party vendor or tour operator for any Study Abroad Program, regardless of whether they have been used in the past. This decision is made at the discretion of the Office of International Education based on the institution’s policies, standards, and requirements.
  2. Pre-selection of Vendors:
    • To the best of its ability, the Office of International Education pre-selects third-party vendors and tour operators it feels are best suited for the Study Abroad Program. This list of "pre-approved" vendors will be reflected in the Intent to Lead form and updated regularly to ensure it includes the most reliable and suitable options for the programs offered.
  3. Requesting a Non-Pre-Approved Vendor:
    • If a Group Lead(s) desire to use a vendor that is not currently on the pre-approved list, they can submit a request by emailing StudyAbroad@pbsc.edu. The Program Director for Education Abroad will initially consider the request, reviewing the vendor’s suitability for the program, its compliance with PBSC policies, and its ability to meet the required standards for a safe and effective study abroad experience.
  4. Impact of Vendor Removal on Approved Programs:
    • If a Study Abroad Program has already received approval from the Office of International Education and the decision is made to remove a third-party vendor or tour operator, the program will continue as planned, provided there are no legal or adverse consequences associated with the vendor’s removal.
    • Any future programs, however, will not be able to use the removed vendor or tour operator. Students enrolled in the currently approved program will not be impacted and can proceed with the program as scheduled.
  5. Right to Make Changes:
    • The Office of International Education reserves the right to make changes to approved vendors or tour operators at any time and without notice. This includes replacing vendors or tour operators for future programs or discontinuing the use of a vendor for any reason deemed necessary by the Office of International Education.