The American College Health Foundation (ACHF), with generous support from Valneva, is now enrolling campuses in its Beyond Backpacks: A Guide to Healthy Travel pilot program—a free, online, and self-paced educational initiative crafted especially for college students preparing for safe travel. The program launched in July 2025 and runs through the 2025–26 academic year.
Beyond Backpacks is designed as a compact, 1–2 hour course featuring engaging short videos, interactive activities, and assessment questions. It offers guidance on key travel health topics, including:
- Mental health considerations
- Packing health essentials
- Travel vaccinations and health insurance
- Emergency communication planning and identity care
- Food, water, and bite-avoidance precautions
- Ethical travel, returning traveler guidance, and general health tips
One of the program’s strengths is its flexibility: campuses can integrate Beyond Backpacks directly into learning management systems like Canvas or Brightspace, or provide access externally—either way, institutions can easily track student progress and comprehension.
This program is particularly well-suited for campuses without dedicated travel health services, though those with established resources may also benefit from its supplemental, youth-tailored approach.
To express your interest or learn more about participating, please complete the interest form. For additional questions, contact ACHA’s Director of Strategic Partnerships, Robyn Buchsbaum, at rbuchsbaum@acha.org.
Why This Matters for Your Campus
- Proactive student preparation: Ensure students are well-equipped to travel health-wisely, from managing packing and vaccination to navigating emergencies and ethical tips.
- Seamless delivery: Easily distributed through existing LMS platforms or used externally as a bolster to your health education efforts.
- Free and well-researched: Backed by funding from Valneva and focused on younger travelers, this initiative is both accessible and connected to proven educational strategies.
- Timing is tight: With the pilot starting in July 2025 and running through the 2025–26 academic year, now is the ideal moment to sign up and integrate this resource into your fall or spring orientation and travel prep offerings.
Post Type
News & Announcements
