The Office of Study Abroad at Kansas University sent e-mails to 95 students in Europe after the U.S. State Department issued travel alerts there. The e-mails come after heightened threats of a terrorist attack in Europe.

The study abroad office notes that it doesn’t plan to cancel any of its programs in Europe. The staff, however, does ask students to follow several safety precautions:

• Be informed of local conditions.

• Maintain a low profile.

• Avoid tourist areas or being with large groups of Americans.

• Be aware of surroundings.

• Keep in contact with family, friends back home and the study abroad office.

Laura Sather, a KU junior, is spending the semester in Leicester, England, about two hours north of London. She says she already follows many of the safety precautions.

“They tell you to maintain a low profile, to not stick out like a sore thumb, to be vigilant,” Sather said. “I feel like you should be doing those things anyway when you travel.”

The State Department’s travel alert lasts until Jan. 31, 2011. The Office of Study Abroad says the alert won’t likely affect the next round of students going abroad at the beginning of the year.