Program Facts & Safety Guidelines
Recent research completed by our TransBorder Institute clearly points to violence in the following regions of Mexico: Chihuahua, Durango, Guerrero and Baja California. However, the state of Jalisco and more specifically the capital city of Guadalajara continue to be safe locations for travel and study programs. Click here for more information on the current situation in Mexico.
Cartel Violence
The Guadalajara Summer Program is committed to the safety and security of its students and has taken various precautions regarding the current situation in Mexico. The University of San Diego has Transborder Institute that provides regular updates regarding the situation in Mexico and the program is very aware of the US State Department Alerts. The University also has a very comprehensive insurance policy for medical and security evacuation for all international programs and receives daily updates from a private company called I-JET that informs the State Department of crisis developments/updates and receives information before the government recieves it. The International Center's and the Guadalajara Summer Program's database of programs is installed in I-JET the Center is kept very informed every step of the way before and during our international programs. For more information on recent developments in Mexico, you can visit the following sites:
IJET info: http://www.ijet.com/newsletter/MIF_03_2009_Mexico.pdf
State Dept: http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_3028.html
Wall Street Journal Publication- April 10, 2009: Is it safe to go to Mexico?
Message from US Consul in Guadalajara Edward Ramotowski
Guadalajara is one of the safest cities in one of the safest states in Mexico (Jalisco). The crime rate is lower in Guadalajara than Phoenix, Chicago, Miami, New Orleans, New York and Los Angeles. This is one of the reasons the program has been housed there for the past 46 years through the good times and the bad times. Our host families take excellent care of our students and they are housed in some of the best neighborhoods in the city. Our host campus, ITESO, is a beautiful campus and the students are very safe there. This coming summer, Program Administrators will be taking extra precautions when traveling to Mexico City and other excursions. Most of the violence is concentrated in the border towns where the trafficking of drugs and the conflict between the mafias is most prevalent.
Program History
Established in 1963, The Guadalajara Program is USD’s oldest and largest program abroad.
This summer we will be celebrating the program’s 46th anniversary.
City of Guadalajara
Guadalajara is located in Central Mexico and is the capital city of the state of Jalisco (there are 32 states in Mexico). The city is at an elevation of over 5000. feet and has an excellent climate very similar to San Diego most of the year. The population is now over 6million with 3million under the age of 18. It is a University City with 26 institutions of Higher education. Of all of the large cities in Mexico, Guadalajara is rated as one of the safest.
Dates of Program
June 1st -July 18th
General Program Profile
32 courses offered, 25 faculty, 14 from USD and 11 from ITESO (Jesuit University in Guadalajara)
Student Profile and Numbers
90% of the program are sophomores and juniors almost exactly evenly divided. The remaining 10% are graduating seniors and non-traditional life-long learners. In all we will welcome over 100 students this summer.
Housing
All students are housed in host families in the safest four areas of the city.
Transportation
Due to security issues in Tijuana we are only sponsoring a group flight from Los Angeles this summer.
Buses in Guadalajara
USD Students are picked up each morning at the host family and taken to the University campus of ITESO by private buses.
ITESO Campus
ITESO is a Catholic University and very similar to USD in its Mission and Vision. ITESO is a highly modern and technologically advance campus with excellent security measures in place for our students, Faculty and on-site staff.
Excursions
All excursions are run through Universo Travel in Guadalajara and are coordinated very carefully on the ITESO campus with our faculty and staff. With 25 faculty and 9 staff members chaperoning each excursion, our students are very well taken care of and stay in 3-5 star accommodations in the safest areas of the sites visited. (Mexico City, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Mayan Riviera, Puerto Vallarta).
Medical and Travel Insurance
All participants are insured by two policies. International SOS, which specialized in emergency evacuation, Visa and Passport assistants. ACE insurance for hospitalization and travel related crises. The program also has two full time Doctors on call 24/7 for all of our students and we work closely with two of the best hospitals in town.
Orientations
Students are given two orientations. One here at the USD campus in May and one in Guadalajara in June when they arrive. Safety and Security are taken very seriously in both orientations. Below are some of the points we share with the students along with a link from our website that elaborates on all of them.
Regardless of whether a student is traveling to a small town or a large metropolitan city, the fact remains the he/she is not a local citizen and will most likely be recognized as a foreigner. As in any "tourist culture", it is important that students remain aware of their surroundings, use good judgment and take the following simple precautions:
- Do not go out alone at night
- Protect personal documents and keep a copy of them at
home with friends or relatives - Know how to ask for emergency or medical help
- When traveling, always carry the phone number and address of the hotel in which you are staying and leave your itinerary with the program director at your study site
- Keep family and friends at home informed about travel plans
- Do not yell, curse, or speak loudly in public places (especially not in English)
- Do not drink alcohol in excess or use drugs
- Do not confront locals
- Walk away from confrontational people (local and/or tourists)
- Always stay away from physical confrontations
- Call for taxis (safer), rather that hailing one off the street (risky)
- Always sit in the back seat of a taxi
- When in doubt, watch the locals for appropriate behavior
- Fold bills individually for easy access to smaller denominations
- Avoid taking out large amounts of cash in public
- Do not keep wallet in back-pocket in large crowds
- Know where you are going before leaving
- Try not to open a large map in public. Instead, fold maps so that the section needed is facing out.
- When alone, walk with purpose
- Avoid looking people in the eye and smiling, especially in big cities (this is an American custom that is hard to change)
- And most important...USE GOOD COMMON SENSE!
