EGL Program Status
EGL resumed in-person programming in Fall 2021 and will continue to offer programs in-person in future terms as well.
COVID-19 Impact on EGL Programs
Due to the uncertain nature of the pandemic, students, faculty, and staff participating in an EGL program must be prepared to practice flexibility, adaptability, and resilience; all program elements including the program calendar, weekly schedule, classroom environment, course delivery method, housing arrangements, transportation policies, and international or in-country travel restrictions are subject to modification at any time.
Participants must prepare to be flexible and understand that host country authorities could reimpose, extend, further ease, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little notice before or during the program as conditions change. It is extremely important for all participants to remain informed of the guidelines and restrictions in place for their program location before and after applying. For information on COVID-19 country specific information, please visit the U.S State Department webpage.
EGL programs in countries/locations with extensive entry restrictions or quarantine requirements in government facilities may not run. EGL will do an initial evaluation of travel restrictions close to the application deadline. However, EGL programs can be cancelled at any point before or during due to changes in local COVID-19 policies.
Measures to Mitigate the Spread of COVID-19
Students will be required to follow all COVID-19 related guidance and regulations as required by authorities in the program location. While the specific mitigation measures in place during your program cannot be predicted with exact certainty and are subject to modification with little notice, we have provided common measures based on recent COVID guidelines.
Testing, Screening, and Contact Tracing
Students may be required to submit proof of a negative COVID-19 test in the days leading up to departure and/or be tested upon arrival or at other points during the program. Students may be required to undergo additional testing, screening, or contact tracing during the program for a variety of reasons, including following a positive COVID-19 test, close contact with a COVID-19 positive or presumptive positive individual, display of COVID-19 symptoms, or as required by the host country or local partner. For the majority of EGL programs, costs associated with testing are not included in your program cost.
Participants on international Experiential Global Learning programs are enrolled in an international insurance policy with Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI). The CISI international insurance policy will cover COVID-19 testing if medically necessary; for example, if the student is sick, showing symptoms or has a direct exposure. Testing is not covered by CISI for preventative measures such as country re-entry or a school requirement. If you are participating in an affiliated program, make sure to check directly with them if there is any additional cost for testing.
Quarantine or Isolation while in Host Country
Students should prepare for the possibility of quarantine or isolation upon arrival, if mandated by their host country or local authorities. Requirements can change at any moment before a student’s departure and it is the student’s responsibility to be checking for all quarantine requirements before their departure. Please note that countries may have different quarantine requirements depending on vaccination status. It is very important to carefully read all quarantine requirements. For information on quarantine requirements, students can visit the Country’s Embassy website or verify the U.S State Department COVID-19 Country Specific Information. Programs will be subject to cancellation if the quarantine requirement is in government facilities.
Students may be required to quarantine or isolate at other points during the program, including due to a positive COVID-19 test, exposure to a COVID-19 positive or presumptive positive individual, display of COVID-19 symptoms, or as required by the host country, host program, or local authorities.
Students will need to cover the cost related to any quarantine or isolation requirement if required by the host country, host program, or local authorities. For students on international programs, the University’s CISI international insurance policy offers a quarantine benefit up to $2,000 if a student is subject to any contagious disease that prevents traveling. For more information about CISI quarantine policy, please read the UConn-CISI insurance policy.
Masks
Students will be expected to wear masks when required by the program or local regulations; this could include during classes, site visits and excursions, when visiting the accommodation of other students, and whenever directed by the program.
International Health Insurance
All students participating in an international EGL program will be automatically enrolled in the Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) international insurance policy free of charge. Students should review the CISI Insurance Policy before applying or committing to an EGL program. Please note that some programs may have additional international health insurance that students will be required to purchase due to government/program guidelines.
Please note that COVID-19 testing is only covered by CISI if medically necessary. For example, if a student is sick, showing symptoms or direct exposure. CISI will not cover COVID-19 testing for preventative measures such as country re-entry or a school requirement. Those expenses would be the student’s responsibility.
Students will need to cover the cost related to any quarantine or isolation requirement throughout most EGL programs. The University’s CISI international insurance policy offers a quarantine benefit up to $2,000 if a student is subject to any contagious disease that prevents traveling. For more information about CISI quarantine policy, please read UConn-CISI insurance policy.
Please keep in mind the benefit is only valid while outside of the USA. It would not apply before departure from the USA or once back in the USA.
Independent Travel
Independent travel outside the host country is strongly discouraged. All independent travel must be undertaken in a manner consistent with restrictions in your host country and in your destination/transiting countries. These restrictions can vary from country to country and are subject to change with little or no notice, potentially exposing students traveling outside their host country to severe disruption, delay, expense, and missed classes/social cultural events in the host country. Students should not miss class due to independent travel.
Local Guidance and Restrictions
Participants will be expected to abide by all applicable local guidance or restrictions in their program location. This may include, but is not limited to, reduced capacity or operating hours in businesses or public spaces such as restaurants, museums or other venues; vaccination requirements to enter certain venues or public facilities; limited contact with members of other households/apartments; or compliance with curfews or other restrictions. For information on COVID-19 Country Specific information, please visit the U.S State Department webpage.
Positive COVID-19 Cases
Students who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate immediately, regardless of symptoms or lack thereof, and notify the appropriate staff member or program leader, who can support tracing the COVID-19 impact on the community.
All students participating in an international EGL program are enrolled in an international insurance policy through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) covering international medical expenses, medical reunion, medical evacuation, and repatriation. The policy includes coverage for treatment of ill students, including COVID-19 related symptoms or illness.
Students will need to cover the cost related to any quarantine or isolation requirement throughout most EGL programs. For students on international programs, the University’s CISI international insurance policy offers a quarantine benefit up to $2,000 if a student is subject to any contagious disease that prevents traveling. For more information about CISI quarantine policy, please read UConn-CISI insurance policy.
Vaccination Requirements
COVID-19 Vaccination
All UConn students are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Students are required to report vaccination compliance to the University. EGL host programs or countries may also request vaccination compliance directly from students.
Students should bring proof of vaccination with them on their program including electronic copies (leaving copies at home) to satisfy local requirements and/or take advantage of any host country initiatives to document vaccination status, which may facilitate fuller access to elements of life abroad such as travel and entrance into venues/events.
Booster Shot Abroad
Students should not rely on the opportunity to get boosters while abroad, as eligibility availability, and cost of vaccines will be different in each program location. Booster access abroad is not guaranteed, and the CISI international insurance included in your program fee does not cover the cost of preventative treatments like vaccinations.
Travel during COVID
Airfare
Students should not purchase flight tickets until committed to their program. EGL also advises students to purchase refundable tickets in case there are any changes with your program dates or travel restrictions to the host country.
Return to the US
Effective January 26th, 2021, all air passengers entering the U.S. must present a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to departure. For more information, please visit the U.S Center for Disease Control website. All costs related to the COVID-19 test will be the student’s responsibility.
Financial Information
Program Fee and Student Cancellation related to COVID-19
Once Committed to an EGL program, students will be undertaking a financial obligation to Experiential Global Learning and any third parties to pay their Program Fees in full regardless of whether the student participates in the Program. If a student cancels, withdraws, or is separated from the program at any time or for any reason after commitment, Experiential Global Learning may not be able to refund any of the program fees.
In case Experiential Global Learning cancels a program prior to departure, students will be fully refunded for the UConn billable expenses related to their program. For more information, please visit EGL Cancellation & Withdrawals.
Application Procedures
EGL programs in U.S State Department Level 3 or 4 travel advisory
The University must review and grant permission for travel via the Student Travel Waiver Application to students applying to an EGL program in a destination country or region that has a U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory of Level 3 or higher. To find out the Travel Advisory information for a specific destination, review the U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory resources.
Students will be required to complete and submit a Travel Waiver form during the application process. Once the Travel Waiver application is complete, it will be routed to Global Affairs for review.
Program Commitment
All students accepted to an EGL program will have 7 days to commit to the program. Before committing, all students MUST:
- Log onto your Experiential Global Learning Application Homepage.
- Read through all post-acceptance information. You must complete all post-acceptance Material Submissions, thoroughly read the Signature Documents, and complete Questionnaires that have been added to your application checklist.
- Re-read the Experiential Global Learning Student Contract closely before committing to the program, as it is legally binding.
- Check on the guidance and restrictions in place for your program location.