International Travel and Research Security

International travel is an important part of research, teaching, professional development, and scholarly collaboration. Certain international travel and foreign activities, however, are subject to federal, state, sponsor, and University requirements related to research security, export controls, sanctions, cybersecurity, and the protection of research and University resources.

Louisiana Foreign Travel Requirements

The Louisiana Higher Education Foreign Security Act (HEFSA), including La. R.S. 17:1826.4, Foreign Travel; Research Institutions, requires covered Louisiana research institutions, including UL Lafayette, to maintain an international travel approval and monitoring program.

Under R.S. 17:1826.4, institutional preapproval and screening are required for certain:

• Employment-related foreign travel to foreign adversary countries; and
• Employment-related foreign activities involving foreign adversaries by faculty members, researchers, or other research department staff.

The statute specifies that this review is in addition to other University travel approval processes.

Louisiana law also requires the institutional process to address applicable government restrictions and requirements, including sanctions and other restrictions, federal licensing requirements, customs rules, export controls, restrictions involving University property and intellectual property, and considerations involving presentations, teaching, and interactions with foreign colleagues.

Covered travelers are also subject to applicable post-travel reporting and institutional recordkeeping requirements established under R.S. 17:1826.4.

Before You Travel

In addition to normal University travel procedures, international travel may require research security review when the destination, individuals or institutions involved, research activity, funding, technology, data, equipment, or other circumstances trigger state, federal, sponsor, or University requirements.

Depending on the applicable requirement and proposed activity, review may include:

• Completion of a pre-travel questionnaire;
• Screening of applicable foreign institutions, organizations, or individuals;
• Export control and sanctions review;
• Review of University equipment, technology, software, research information, or data that will be taken or accessed abroad;
• Cybersecurity or information technology considerations;
• Sponsor- or award-specific requirements;
• Required training or acknowledgments; and
• Additional safeguards or approvals when necessary.

Travelers should begin the applicable review process sufficiently in advance of departure to allow time to identify and address any requirements.

Federal Research Security and Sponsor Requirements

International travel may also be subject to requirements established by federal research funding agencies, federal awards, contracts, cooperative agreements, or other sponsors.

Federal research security requirements emphasize transparency regarding certain foreign relationships, appointments, affiliations, support, and activities. Individual agencies and awards may also establish requirements involving international collaboration, foreign travel, disclosure, cybersecurity, data protection, or prior approval.

Researchers participating in federally funded projects should comply with the requirements of the applicable funding agency and award.

Questions concerning sponsor- or award-specific requirements should be coordinated with the appropriate Sponsored Programs representative.

Technology, Data, and University Systems

Federal export control laws, sanctions regulations, sponsor requirements, cybersecurity requirements, and University policies may affect the equipment, technology, software, research information, and data taken or accessed outside the United States.

Before traveling, consider whether you will:

• Carry a University-owned laptop, mobile device, equipment, prototype, research material, or other property;
• Access non-public research information, technical data, proprietary information, or sponsor-restricted information;
• Access University systems or cloud-based research resources while abroad;
• Transport software, source code, research data, samples, materials, or technology; or
• Need continued access to federally funded or otherwise restricted research while outside the United States.

Travelers should minimize the amount of sensitive University and research information taken or accessed abroad and follow applicable University cybersecurity, data security, and export control requirements.

Export Controls and U.S. Sanctions

Federal export control and sanctions requirements apply independently of Louisiana's research security requirements.

Taking equipment, software, technology, technical data, materials, samples, or other items outside the United States may constitute an export and may require export control review.

U.S. sanctions may also restrict certain transactions, services, payments, activities, or dealings involving particular destinations, organizations, or individuals.

Travelers should consult the University's Export Controls – International Travel Information page for export-control-specific guidance and contact the Export Control Officer when review is needed.

After Travel

Certain post-travel requirements arise under Louisiana law, applicable sponsor or award requirements, or University procedures.

Under La. R.S. 17:1826.4, individuals subject to the statute who travel abroad representing the University must report certain gifts of funds or promises to pay offered by a foreign adversary or an entity representing the interests of a foreign adversary.

The University is also required to maintain specified records associated with covered travel and foreign activities, including certain travel requests and approvals, expenses, payments and honoraria, travel purposes, and records associated with the foreign activity review.

Travelers should complete applicable post-travel documentation and promptly report concerns or unexpected circumstances that may require follow-up.

Applicable Laws and Requirements

Research security and international travel requirements may arise from multiple authorities. Relevant requirements include:

• Louisiana Higher Education Foreign Security Act (HEFSA), La. R.S. 17:1826.1–1826.4 — establishes Louisiana requirements involving foreign gifts and contracts, screening of certain research personnel, and international travel approval and monitoring at covered research institutions.
• La. R.S. 17:1826.4 — Foreign Travel; Research Institutions — establishes the state requirements applicable to covered employment-related foreign travel and foreign activities.
• Federal export control regulations — including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and, when applicable, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).
• U.S. economic and trade sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
• Federal research funding agency and award requirements — which may establish additional disclosure, research security, cybersecurity, foreign collaboration, international travel, or prior-approval requirements.

Additional University policies and procedures may apply depending on the travel and activity.

Assistance

For questions regarding international travel and research security requirements, contact:

Office of Research Integrity
Research Security & Export Controls
researchsecurity@louisiana.edu
337-482-1533