(Updated October 11, 2022) 

For the 2022-2023 Academic Year and Summer 2023 CC faculty-led programs, the Center for Global Education & Field Study will continue to regularly monitor ongoing adjustments to COVID protocols for destination entry, compliance with local mandates, and re-entry to the United States.  We continue to communicate with each of our partners and with CC faculty on the plans to offer and support study abroad program options, in conjunction with U.S. State Department and CDC travel restrictions and guidance.   A portfolio-wide review and approval process is in place, based on risk levels assessed by agencies and government departments as well as current on-site conditions. 

Our own CC faculty-led programs abroad are evaluated for travel safety and logistical viability 90-60 days prior to the program's planned departure. In order to receive clearance to travel, all faculty-led CC programs are required to provide evidence in eight different areas of program safety and travel viability. These requirements include:

• Host nation(s) must fall within low to moderate risk ratings for travel by the U.S. Department of State,  Centers for Disease Control, and our global security partner, International SOS.  Some flexibility is permitted for destinations which evince few safety risks but which may have temporary spikes in COVID transmission rates. 
• U.S. embassy and consular offices in the host nation must be open and offering full services to U.S. citizens abroad.
• Quarantine-exempt entry must be possible for the host nation, though this may require that participants demonstrate proof of COVID vaccination and/or recent testing. 
• Evidence of ample and varied travel services, such as flights or train service, to reach the destination city must be provided.
• Restaurants and grocery stores in all program destinations must be able to offer their services either through indoor, outdoor, or take-away service.
• Museums, galleries, theaters, archeological sites and other program enhancement sites must allow entry, though this may include some capacity limits. 
• Program partners & providers must acknowledge that they are able to provide their contracted services.
• The host destination country and city must allow for group gathering equal in size or larger than the size of the proposed program cohort of students, faculty and staff so that classes, excursions, and program activities are unimpacted by restrictions on gatherings.
• Medical facilities are open and able to provide full patient care.

Program reviews are typically conducted 90-60 days prior to departure.  If Colorado College were to believe that program cancellation is warranted, no program fees billed by the college would be assessed to the students.  However, due to the potential for program cancellation, CC is recommending that all students enrolled in a scheduled off-campus study program delay purchase of airfare until the program's final review is complete and participants have been notified that the program will proceed as scheduled.  Colorado College cannot reimburse students nor provide financial aid awards to cover the cost of purchased airfare for a canceled program.

For students who are exploring a semester or year of study abroad in 2022-2023 with one of our approved partner programs (i.e., not run by CC faculty, but a partner like IES, DIS, Syracuse, School for Field Studies, etc), most are planning to run in coming semesters. Please carefully read the information on the program websites about COVID planning, modifications, and contingencies, and you may apply to join a program in Spring 2023 until October 15, or a Fall 20232 program by March 15, 2023, by using the CC Internal Application for Off-Campus Study. Students need to plan to work closely with us and their partner program as the pandemic continues to unfold.

Questions you should be asking:
We are in close communication with all of our CC partner programs, but if you are a student planning on studying abroad with a CC partner semester program in 2022-2023, we recommend that you also reach out to your program provider with questions (or reference the COVID health & safety adjustments that most of them are listing on their websites) so that you have the best possible information about their contingency plans and your ability to participate in their program. Some of the questions you should be asking the CC program provider partner that you are applying with are:

• When do they anticipate making a final decision as to whether their programs will be able to run?
• If the program can run, but the host country requires a period of self-isolation for foreign visitors, will they be able to provide housing, meals, and support to students prior to the start of classes?
• How will they do this?
• Is there an expectation that classes will start on their standard schedule or is there a plan in place to delay the start of the program or start online? Ask for details about any potential changes to the calendar for the semester, including a modified online start.
• If the program begins but then must be canceled due to another wave of COVID-19, what support will the host institution or university provide you? For example:
• Will they offer online courses in order to complete your semester work?
• Will they provide housing, meals, and services if you are placed on a lock-down or shelter order?
• Will they assist with the cost of rescheduling tickets or purchasing return flights if you are asked to return home?
• Does their program include travel insurance that has "trip cancellation" or "trip interruption" coverage to handle a potential last-minute or mid-program cancellation?

For any study abroad planning, making sure you understand and are comfortable with all the contingencies in place is of crucial importance, as well as planning for flexibility and change (including in purchasing any airline tickets, travel insurance, or submitting deposits). The Center for Global Education & Field Study staff are here to support you, but we realize that every individual has different needs and levels of comfort with the plans our partners around the world are making for study abroad program operations.

U.S. Passport Holders:

You should be aware that passport processing at facilities in the U.S. (both for first-time passport issuance, as well as renewals) have been seeing lengthy delays.  You should expect delays a passport or visa application to require several weeks.   All students, faculty, and staff should use the International SOS database of travel information worldwide, which is regularly updated as situations change, country-by-country. You can access the International SOS pandemic page, and click on "Travel Restrictions, Flight Operations, and Screening." You will need to log in with the College's membership number: 11BSGC000027.

Non-U.S. Passport Holders: 

Colorado College international students should review the latest information regarding entry restrictions placed on passport holders from their home country. If you travel on a non-U.S. passport and you are unsure of your status for an upcoming study abroad program, you should speak with the ISSS staff (isss@coloradocollege.edu) to confirm restrictions that might affect you.  

Many destinations may require a visa for entry for non-U.S. Passport Holders.  Obtaining this visa from within the United States may require that you visit the appropriate embassy or consular office, often located in a different part of the United States (California, Texas, Illinois or Washington, D.C. are not uncommon).  If you are not sure of the visa requirements for travelers from your country to visit the country of a study abroad program, please consult with Kellee Fletcher (kfletcher@coloradocollege.edu) in Global Education.

If you have questions about any of the information provided on this page, please reach out to the Global Education staff at globaleducation@coloradocollege.edu