Chapter 23
University. Also on the team is a technol- ogy specialist in charge of the Baret App, which includes multiple safety, security, and emergency features. All members of our traveling team have undergone back- ground checks, references, and various assessments conducted by third-party psychologists. 3. TRAVELING TEAM TRAINING: Prior to our student orientation this September, the accompanying professionals had already undergone two months of orientation and training of their own, including one week at the same orientation site (Eagle House in New Hampshire) where our students had their first week. Our entire staff has been through our safety, security, and medical protocols. 4. GLOBAL STUDENT ORIENTATION: This year’s cohort went through a thorough, one week orientation which included sig- nificant safety and security sessions. Crit- ical highlights were: ● Embracing the Baret Culture, emphasizing the interwoven thread of safety. ● Insights into country-specific laws, norms, and customs for our diverse destinations. ● Championing the “buddy system,” promoting group outings. ● Instituting seamless “check-in” procedures. ● Equipping both students and staff with robust emergency protocols. 5. PRE COUNTRY-ARRIVAL BRIEFINGS. Im- mediately prior to arrival in each country/ city, we “re-brief” students and staff on laws/norms of the “coming” country/city. 6. SECURITY AT BARET HOTELS. Baret hotels are chosen with safety and security in mind. For the most part, Baret’s hotels are part of global hotel networks including, this year, Sheraton and Pullman hotels. A require- ment of selection is that Baret hotels have a substantial security team and well-prac- ticed protocols. The Baret traveling Chief Security Officer interfaces daily with the hotel security staff, and they work as a team. Finally, whenever possible, Baret students and staff are housed on “Baret Floors.” 7. SELECTION OF BARET AIRLINES. Baret en- trusts student transit to only top tier air- lines including, this year, Delta and Amer- ican. We do not use charter flights or small, local carriers, ensuring safety in the skies.
Safety & Security
“Safety is no accident.” ANONYMOUS
THE SAFETY and security of our students is of paramount importance, and, in these matters, there is no substitute for experi- ence and preparedness. Our distinguished senior leadership team has led some of the most esteemed universities and schools across the world. These institutions span: ● Over 100,000 students in enrollment. ● Faculty and staff numbering above 10,000. ● Campuses situated in diverse locales, from China to the UK, the US, and Brazil. ● Facilities extending across 50 bustling cities like New York, Beijing, San Fran- cisco, and São Paulo. These institutions have major board- ing operations, conduct frequent large- scale events, and oversee international and local travel for both students and staff. They employ hundreds of safety, security, and healthcare professionals with highly developed protocols and training. Our leadership team has worked and lived in over 20 different countries—and almost all of us have studied abroad or done gap years of our own. This experience informs all that we will do at Baret Scholars. Baret’s safety and security is overseen by our Chief Security Officer and Chief Medical Officer, both of whom travel every day with the Baret cohort. Our CSO, Tom
Matthews, is a veteran of both the United States Secret Service and the U.S. Marines and has provided high-level security for ex- ecutives across the world. Our CMO, Dr. Erika Pritchett, has served as a staff physi- cian at Case Western University, where she received her MD. Working with our entire team, Erika and Tom make sure Baret’s health and safety program is carefully exe- cuted, including these 16 parts: 1. SELECTION OF RESPONSIBLE STUDENTS: Baret’s safety and security begins with the selection of its students. We choose stu- dents who have demonstrated responsibil- ity in their young lives, respecting their in- stitutions, environments, laws, and peers. While we set protective measures in place, how students conduct themselves and watch out for one another is paramount. 2. SELECTION OF 15+ ACCOMPANYING PRO- FESSIONALS: We bring the same discipline as above to the selection of the 15+ pro- fessionals who accompany our students on their journey around the world. This year’s Dean served at and holds a PhD from Berkeley. Our 10 Fellows, who in- clude 3 Fulbright and Rhodes Scholars, have obtained undergraduate and/or graduate degrees from Oxford (4), Cor- nell (2), University of Chicago, Durham, American University of Beirut, Wesley- an, College of Charleston, UCLA, Feder- al Fluminense University, and Columbia
into the Baret program, they are asked to provide a “healthcare inventory” to our traveling Chief Medical Officer. This as- sessment includes any pre-existing con- ditions, prescriptions, and dietary needs which need to be attended to by Baret. Our traveling Chief Medical Officer will be on call throughout the year for routine needs and, as mentioned above, will ac- company students for any “in country” significant medical needs. 16. ROLE OF BARET IN-COUNTRY TEAM MEM- BERS. Working with the traveling health- care and security teams will be full-time Baret team members who permanently reside “in country.” These team members provide on-the-ground coordination of many of the services noted above, includ- ing vetting of various providers. In com- bination, our traveling and global teams come from multiple countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America and South America. We hope the above provides you a sense of the level of resources which Baret pro- vides to make its year a safe and secure one for students.
8. RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL PHYSI- CIANS/HOSPITALS/CLINICS CONTRACTS. Prior to arrival in each of our 7 Home Base cities, Baret establishes relation- ships with leading, local health care ser- vices in order to provide “24/7” medical services to Baret students when needed. Our traveling Baret Medical Officer, a physician themselves, accompanies students for any significant local med- ical needs. 9. CONTRACT WITH INTERNATIONAL SOS. Bar- et has an ongoing contractual relationship with International SOS, one of the world’s leading experts in global safety with 40 years experience. International SOS has 27 Assistance Centres working in 100+ languages, a team of over 4,800 medi- cal professionals, 51 clinics, and 85,000 network providers. We work with Inter- national SOS in the selection of our local medical providers. 10. LOCAL ATTORNEYS. In advance of our arrival in primary cities, Baret establishes relationships with well-connected, local legal counsel should we need any legal ser- vices during our stay in the city.
11. GLOBAL MEDICAL EVACUATION CONTRACTS. Via our International SOS contract, Baret has 24/7 access to global medical evacua- tion services should we ever need them for a student or a member of staff. 12. LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT COORDINA- TION. The traveling Chief Security Officer, in advance of our arrival in primary cities, establishes an important relationship with local law enforcement. 13. LOCAL EMBASSY COORDINATION. This year’s Baret student body is from 40 dif- ferent countries. In advance of our arrival in each city, the Baret team researches con- tact information at embassies or consulates so, should the need arise, we will have easi- er access to embassy and consulate officials. 14. PARENT COMMUNICATION. Parents are provided contact information for a cri- sis response team that is available 24/7. Should a need arise, they can directly reach a member of the Traveling Team at any hour of the day.
15. ROUTINE HEALTHCARE NEEDS. Imme- diately following a student’s enrollment
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LOGISTICS, LOGISTICS, LOGISTICS
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