UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Additional details are now available for the transition to a new platform for Penn State’s Global Safety Network (GSN) by the start of the fall 2026 semester, as previously announced in Penn State News. The GSN is a required step in the international travel process for all Penn State students, faculty, staff, or authorized volunteers (except for those traveling on Education Abroad programs).
The new system will be hosted by Via and is designed to provide a more intuitive and user-friendly experience. The upgrade is intended to streamline the travel documentation process for Penn State-affiliated travelers while also improving the efficiency of internal review and processing. As a result, users can expect a smoother experience and faster turnaround times.
More specifically, users can expect:
- Integration with Penn State’s ISOS communications platform for real-time health, safety, and security travel alerts.
- Enhanced traveler preparation resources, including embedded training videos, PDFs, and destination-specific guidance.
- A streamlined travel submission process with fewer questions and reduced duplicate data entry.
- Improved workflow that better coordinates approvals across stakeholder offices.
- Simplified group travel management.
- Faster trip creation through itinerary import capabilities, including the ability to paste travel confirmations.
- Greater flexibility for travelers to update itineraries without automatically triggering re-approvals.
- A shift from a compliance-focused system to a traveler-centric platform that emphasizes usability, engagement, and traveler safety.
“The Global Safety Network is a vital tool for our University community’s safety and well-being,” said Mauricio Jimenez, director of global safety at Penn State. “This new platform will be responsive while still being comprehensive; simplified while still being robust; and streamlined while still ensuring that all relevant parties stay informed. We’re very excited to unveil it to the Penn State community.”
All University-affiliated international travel is required to be entered into the GSN; domestic travel, including travel to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, or any other U.S. territory, does not require a GSN entry. Travel to Canada or Mexico is international and requires a GSN record.
Additional details and guidance on this change will be shared throughout the summer.
For more information on the GSN or the Global Safety office at Penn State, visit the website. A new webpage will be published soon which details specific processes regarding the changeover.