COVID-19 FAQ's

What is the current status of CGIS Spring/Summer study abroad program? 

• Applications for spring/summer and fall 2022 programs are closed and final preparation is underway for students who have been admitted to programs and have completed their commitment forms. Students who have accepted/committed to their programs should still anticipate their programs running as there has been no significant travel impacts due to COVID-19. However, students should understand that there is still a significant possibility that UM / CIGS may have to cancel some of these programs if the public health situation deteriorates in either the US or host country. 
• Advisors will communicate directly with applicants if changes to their programs occur. Please also see the Health & Safety Alerts page for updates to Spring / Summer and Fall term programs as they become available.

How will U-M / CGIS decide if my program will run?

• Whether or not the University will allow U-M students to participate on a study abroad program depends on a number of conditions, with the three below being the most prominent:
  • Removal of the host country from U-M’s Restricted and COVID-19 High Risk Destinations list. Undergraduate students are not permitted to travel to restricted/COVID high countries.
  • Approval of each individual program from the University’s International Travel Oversight Committee (ITOC). CGIS will submit this petition on behalf of each program.
  • UM or CGIS may also decide to cancel a program if COVID forces significant changes to that program, or more generally within the host country (e.g. stay at home orders are enacted, US citizens are prevented from entering the country, classes are moved to virtual mode indefinitely).
• It is important to understand that even if a country is removed from the Travel Restriction/COVID-19 High Risk Travel list, the situation could change enough to merit returning it to the lists at any time.
• Students should be informed about financial and academic implications should the program be canceled (or altered) prior to departure, or during the program itself.  
• Students are strongly encouraged to carefully review the partner's program cancellation and withdrawal policies before moving forward with any type of commitment, as CGIS has no control over our partners’ policies and cannot intervene should you be held financially responsible after committing to non-refundable costs. Students are also strongly encouraged to have access to a contingency fund in the event of unanticipated costs such as flight change fees, repeated COVID 19 tests, quarantine requirements, and/or interruptions to travel plans caused by positive COVID-19 test results.

WINTER 20221.

What is the current status of CGIS Winter 2022 study abroad programs?

• Applications are currently closed for Winter 2022 programs and final preparation is underway for students who have been admitted to programs and completed the commitment forms. CGIS is aware of and closely following information related to the WHO’s latest “Variant of Concern”: Omicron. The most recent update from CGIS is available on our Health & Safety Alerts page.
• Students should understand that there is still a significant possibility that U-M / CGIS will have to cancel programs due to public health concerns. This decision will be made in the coming weeks with specific decision dates varying based on the particular circumstances of each program.  Advisors will communicate directly with applicants if changes to their programs occur. 

How will U-M / CGIS decide if my program will run this winter?

• Whether or not the University will allow U-M students to participate on a study abroad program depends on a number of conditions, with the three below being the most prominent: 

1.  Removal of the host country from U-M’s Restricted and COVID-19 High Risk Destinations list. Undergraduate students are not permitted to travel to restricted/COVID high countries
2. Approval of each individual program from the University’s International Travel Oversight Committee (ITOC). CGIS will submit this petition on behalf of each program.
3. UM or CGIS may also decide to cancel a program if COVID forces significant changes to that program, or more generally within the host country (e.g. stay at home orders are enacted, US citizens are prevented from entering the country, classes are moved to virtual mode indefinitely).

It is important to understand that even if a country is removed from the Travel Restriction/COVID-19 High Risk Travel list, the situation could change enough to merit returning it to the lists at any time. Students should be informed about financial and academic implications should the program be cancelled (or altered) prior to departure, or during the program itself.     

Students are strongly encouraged to carefully review the partner's program cancellation and withdrawal policies before moving forward with any type of commitment, as CGIS has no control over our partners’ policies and cannot intervene should you be held financially responsible after committing to non-refundable costs.

Students are also strongly encouraged to have access to a contingency fund in the event of unanticipated costs such as flight change fees, repeated COVID 19 tests, quarantine requirements, and/or interruptions to travel plans caused by positive COVID-19 test results. 

 Can I enroll in classes here on campus for Winter 2022 as a backup plan in the event that my program is cancelled prior to departure?

• Yes. However, please note that students who intend to move forward with their winter 2022 study abroad program will need to be registered for 15 credits using their program-specific STDABRD number, and drop all on-campus courses, by January 4th.  
• We have worked with the registrar’s office to push this deadline as far back as possible, but please note that if you have not registered correctly for your program’s STDABRD credit by January 4th, we will have to withdraw you from your study

If I choose to enroll in classes here on campus as a backup plan and thus unenroll in my STDABRD course, will I lose my spot on my study abroad program?

• No. We have worked with the registrar’s office to push back the deadline to enroll in classes here on campus to give students a little bit of a cushion in the event a program is cancelled. On January 4th (or before), if you still plan to move forward with your program, you will need to drop your on-campus Winter 2022 courseload and re-enroll in your STDABRD courses for the required credits. Please note that January 4th is the final day to make this change

If U-M decides not to run my program but it is still being offered via a 3rd party provider in Winter 2022, can I participate in this program by enrolling directly via the provider?

• Though CGIS strongly recommends against doing so, students who wish to take on the risk and responsibility of ensuring their program is appropriately vetted for academic, financial and safety concerns may do so. However, UM will not approve or endorse any undergraduate study abroad programs while a U-M travel restriction/COVID high risk designation is in place.
• Students pursuing independent study abroad programs (not U-M Related Travel) may obtain verification of enrollment from the Registrar’s Office: https://ro.umich.edu/records-registration/enrollment-verification, offer this as documentation to external study abroad program providers, and explain that U-M advisors cannot sign approval forms while a U-M travel restriction/COVID high risk designation is in place.
• For additional details please visit the Global Michigan FAQ on COVID-19 and International Travel.

SPRING/SUMMER 2022

What is the current status of CGIS Spring / Summer 2022 study abroad programs?

• Applications for spring/summer programs opened on October 1, 2021. Students should understand that there is still a significant possibility that U-M / CGIS will have to cancel some of these programs due to public health concerns. This decision will be made in the coming months and the specific decision date will vary based on the program. 
• Advisors will communicate directly with applicants if changes to their programs occur. Please also see the Health & Safety Alerts page for updates related to the Spring / Summer term as they become available.

If U-M decides not to run my program but it is still being offered via a 3rd party provider in Spring/Summer 2022, can I participate in this program by enrolling directly via the provider?

• Though CGIS strongly recommends against doing so, students who wish to take on the risk and responsibility of ensuring their program is appropriately vetted for academic, financial and safety concerns may do so. However, UM will not approve or endorse any undergraduate study abroad programs while a U-M travel restriction/COVID high risk designation is in place.
• Students pursuing independent study abroad programs (not U-M Related Travel) may obtain verification of enrollment from the Registrar’s Office: https://ro.umich.edu/records-registration/enrollment-verification, offer this as documentation to external study abroad program providers, and explain that U-M advisors cannot sign approval forms while a U-M travel restriction/COVID high risk designation is in place.
• For additional details please visit the Global Michigan FAQ on COVID-19 and International Travel.

• 1. How is the University of Michigan monitoring the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation worldwide?

  • The Center for Global and Intercultural Study (CGIS) works closely with U-M’s International Travel Oversight Committee (ITOC), which monitors guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Department of State, the World Health Organization (WHO) and a number of other national and international public health organizations.
    

  • For more information about U-M’s stance on travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit the Global Michigan webpage and the FAQ specifically dedicated to international travel.

• 2. How will CGIS determine if a program will run this year?

  • Whether a program runs is contingent on two major factors: 

    • The removal of the host country from U-M’s Restricted Destinations list. Undergraduate students are not permitted to travel to restricted countries.

    • Each program must receive approval from the International Travel Oversight Committee (ITOC). CGIS will petition for approval on behalf of the program and ITOC will make the final decision.
      
      

• 3. How will the COVID-19 vaccine impact forthcoming international travel?

  • The vaccine is still in an early phase of distribution, but CGIS is optimistic that it will help us return to traveling internationally soon. Once widely available, CGIS strongly encourages our students to get the vaccine for their protection. In keeping with our mission of ethical travel, we believe it is imperative to do all we can to prevent spread of the pandemic. In addition, students should anticipate that some countries will require foreigners to be vaccinated to enter the country.

  • More information on the vaccine will be shared here as the situation develops. 

• 4. How will the pandemic impact my experience if I choose to study abroad?

  • For more information on how travel and study abroad is being impacted by the pandemic, please visit our COVID-19 Health & Safety page.

• 5. I am traveling abroad for personal reasons.  Do I need to register my travel with U-M? Can I purchase international health insurance coverage?

  • While not required, we strongly encourage all students traveling internationally to register their travel in M-Compass. International Travel Insurance (GeoBlue) can be purchased for $1.35/day, even for personal travel.

• 6. Whom will CGIS contact with updates relating to future study abroad programs?

  • CGIS will contact students who have opened or submitted an application to a CGIS program if and when updates are available. Parents and other concerned parties who would like to receive this information should ask their students to share the updates with them.

• 7. Who can I contact about study abroad and the coronavirus situation?

  • Students should email CGIS Health & Safety Advisor, Rachel Reuter, at reuterra@umich.edu. Members of the media should contact U-M Office of Public Affairs

SPRING/SUMMER 2021

• 1. Will my spring or summer 2021 program still run? 

  • At this time, we are hopeful that the remainder of spring and summer 2021 programs will run. This is, however, subject to change due to the evolving situation. Please pay close attention to communications from CGIS and to University-wide emails regarding international travel. More information will be shared to impacted students as it becomes available.

• 2. With COVID-19 still escalating, should I even apply to a Sp/Su 2021 CGIS program?

  • While ultimately this decision must be made by each individual student, we encourage students to start an application to a CGIS program if interested.  Students should stay informed of the current situation in their potential host country and keep their options open, including arranging for a back-up plan for spring/summer 2021 if study abroad is not an option. We also strongly discourage students from purchasing plane tickets or incurring any significant financial commitments related to travel until more information is known.

FALL/ACADEMIC YEAR 2021

• 1. Will my fall or academic year 2021 program still run? 

  • At this time, we are hopeful that the remainder of fall and academic year 2021 programs will run. This is, however, subject to change due to the evolving situation. Please pay close attention to communications from CGIS and to University-wide emails regarding international travel. More information will be shared to impacted students as it becomes available.

• 1. How is the University of Michigan monitoring the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation worldwide?
  • The Center for Global and Intercultural Study (CGIS) works closely with U-M’s International Travel Oversight Committee (ITOC), which monitors guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Department of State, the World Health Organization (WHO) and a number of other national and international public health organizations.
    
    
  • For more information about U-M’s stance on travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit the Global Michigan webpage and the FAQ specifically dedicated to international travel.
    
    
• 2. Whom will CGIS contact with updates relating to future study abroad programs?
  • CGIS will contact students who have opened or submitted an application to a CGIS program if and when updates are available. Parents and other concerned parties who would like to receive this information should ask their students to share the updates with them.
    
    
• 3. I am traveling abroad for personal reasons.  Do I need to register my travel with U-M? Can I purchase international health insurance coverage?
  • While not required, we strongly encourage all students traveling internationally to register their travel in M-Compass. International Travel Insurance (GeoBlue) can be purchased for $1.23/day, even for personal travel.
    
    
• 4. Who can I contact about study abroad and the coronavirus situation?
  • Students should email CGIS Health & Safety Advisor, Rachel Reuter, at reuterra@umich.edu. Members of the media should contact U-M Office of Public Affairs

SPRING/SUMMER 2021

• 1. Has my CGIS program been cancelled? 
  • CGIS recently made the decision to cancel spring/summer faculty-led programs for 2021. The programs that are affected are listed below:
    • Advanced Spanish in Alicante
    • Advanced Spanish in Santiago de Compostela
    • Arts in Paris
    • Black Paris
    • French 230 in Grenoble
    • Intermediate French in Grenoble
    • French 232 in Aix and Nantes
    • Italian 230 in Siena
    • Race, Culture, and Community in London
    • Roots, Culture, and Rhythms in Havana
    • Spanish 230 in Buenos AIres, Granada, and San Jose
    • Spanish 232 in Alicante
  • If your program was affected by this decision, you would have received an email from your advisor. If you did not receive an email, then your program is still moving forward at this time.

• 2. Will my (non-faculty led) spring or summer 2021 program still run? 
  • At this time, we are hopeful that the remainder of spring and summer 2021 programs will run. This is, however, subject to change due to the evolving situation. Please pay close attention to communications from CGIS and to University-wide emails regarding international travel. More information will be shared to impacted students as it becomes available.
    
    
• 3. With COVID-19 still escalating, should I even apply to a Sp/Su 2021 CGIS program?
  • While ultimately this decision must be made by each individual student, we encourage students to start an application to a CGIS program if interested.  Students should stay informed of the current situation in their potential host country and keep their options open, including arranging for a back-up plan for spring/summer 2021 if study abroad is not an option. We also strongly discourage students from purchasing plane tickets or incurring financial obligations related to travel until more information is known.
    
    
  • CGIS will also be monitoring the situation throughout the fall and early winter semester and will send updates to students with started applications as more information becomes available. In the meantime, we encourage students to attend the virtual CGIS Study Abroad Fair (Thursday, October 8th - please see CGIS website for details) or to contact a CGIS Programs Advisor for more information on potential Sp/Su 2021 programs. 

WINTER 2021

• 1. What is the current status of Winter 2021 study abroad programs?
  • All CGIS programs for the Winter 2021 semester have been cancelled due to the ongoing public health situation around the world, including in the United States.
    
    
• 2. If the public health situation improves in my host country before the start of the Winter 2021 semester, will CGIS reconsider the decision to cancel my program?
  • No. There are a number of variables that have gone into this decision including both governmental and UM travel restrictions, availability of international flights, financial risk and obligations, and the need for students to have a plan in place well before the semester begins. As a result, the decision to cancel Winter 2021 programs is final and will not be reversed.
    
    
• 3. The program I applied to is still planning on running in winter 2021 through a 3rd party provider. Can I participate in this program by enrolling directly via the provider?
  • Though CGIS strongly recommends against doing so, students who wish to take on the risk and responsibility of ensuring their program is appropriately vetted for academic, financial and safety concerns may do so. However, UM will not approve or endorse any undergraduate study abroad programs while a U-M travel restriction is in place. Students pursuing independent study abroad programs (not UMRT) may obtain verification of enrollment from the Registrar’s Office: https://ro.umich.edu/records-registration/enrollment-verification, offer this as documentation to external study abroad program providers, and explain that U-M advisors cannot sign approval forms while a U-M travel restriction is in place. For additional details please visit the Global Michigan FAQ on COVID-19 and International Travel.  

FAQ’s regarding cancelation of U-M study abroad programs

1. How is the University of Michigan monitoring the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation worldwide?

• The Center for Global and Intercultural Study (CGIS) works closely with U-M’s International Travel Oversight Committee (ITOC), which monitors guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Department of State, the World Health Organization (WHO) and a number of other national and international public health organizations.
  
  
• For more information about U-M’s stance on travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit the Global Michigan webpage and the FAQ specifically dedicated to international travel.

2. Whom will CGIS contact with updates relating to future study abroad programs?

• CGIS will contact students who have opened or submitted an application to a CGIS program if and when updates are available. Parents and other concerned parties who would like to receive this information should ask their students to share the updates with them.

3. I am traveling abroad for personal reasons.  Do I need to register my travel with U-M? Can I purchase international health insurance coverage?

• While not required, we strongly encourage all students traveling internationally to register their travel in M-Compass. International Travel Insurance (GeoBlue) can be purchased for $1.23/day, even for personal travel. Click here to register.

4. Who can I contact about study abroad and the coronavirus situation?

• Students should email CGIS Health & Safety Advisor, Rachel Reuter, at reuterra@umich.edu. Members of the media should contact U-M Office of Public Affairs

WINTER 2021 

1. What is the current status of Winter 2021 study abroad programs?

• All CGIS programs for the Winter 2021 semester have been cancelled due to the ongoing public health situation around the world, including in the United States.

2. If the public health situation improves in my host country before the start of the Winter 2021 semester, will CGIS reconsider the decision to cancel my program?

• No. There are a number of variables that have gone into this decision including both governmental and UM travel restrictions, availability of international flights, financial risk and obligations, and the need for students to have a plan in place well before the semester begins. As a result, the decision to cancel Winter 2021 programs is final and will not be reversed.

3. The program I applied to is still planning on running in winter 2021 through a 3rd party provider. Can I participate in this program by enrolling directly via the provider?

• Though CGIS strongly recommends against doing so, students who wish to take on the risk and responsibility of ensuring their program is appropriately vetted for academic, financial and safety concerns may do so. However, UM will not approve or endorse any undergraduate study abroad programs while a U-M travel restriction is in place. Students pursuing independent study abroad programs (not UMRT) may obtain verification of enrollment from the Registrar’s Office: https://ro.umich.edu/records-registration/enrollment-verification, offer this as documentation to external study abroad program providers, and explain that U-M advisors cannot sign approval forms while a U-M travel restriction is in place. For additional details please visit the Global Michigan FAQ on COVID-19 and International Travel.  

SPRING/SUMMER 2021 

1. Will my spring or summer 2021 program still run? 

• At this time, we are hopeful that spring and summer 2021 programs will run. This is, however, subject to change due to the evolving situation. Please pay close attention to communications from CGIS and to University-wide emails regarding international travel. More information will be shared to impacted students as it becomes available.

2. With COVID-19 still escalating, should I even apply to a Sp/Su 2021 CGIS program?

• While ultimately this decision must be made by each individual student, we encourage students to start an application to a CGIS program if interested.  Students should stay informed of the current situation in their potential host country and keep their options open, including arranging for a back-up plan for spring/summer 2021 if study abroad is not an option. We also strongly discourage students from purchasing plane tickets or incurring financial obligations related to travel until more information is known.
  
  
• CGIS will also be monitoring the situation throughout the fall and early winter semester and will send updates to students with started applications as more information becomes available. In the meantime, we encourage students to attend the CGIS Study Abroad Virtual Fair (Thursday, October 8th  from 12-4pm ) or to contact a CGIS Programs Advisor for more information on potential Sp/Su 2021 programs. To get information about the CGIS Study Abroad Virtual Fair, please subscirbe to the CGIS newsletter. 

Thursday, August 27, 2020 Update

FAQ’s regarding cancelation of UM study abroad programs

• 1. How is the University of Michigan monitoring the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation worldwide?
  • The Center for Global and Intercultural Study (CGIS) works closely with U-M’s International Travel Oversight Committee (ITOC), which monitors guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Department of State, the World Health Organization (WHO) and a number of other national and international public health organizations. 
    
    
  • For more information about U-M’s continued response to COVID-19, please visit the U-M Coronavirus website and the FAQ specifically dedicated to international travel.
• 2. What is the current status of Fall 2020 study abroad programs?
  • Currently all countries outside of the United States are under a U-M Travel Restriction until further notice. U-M Travel Restrictions prohibit undergraduate travel on U-M related business, and thus all fall 2020 study abroad programs have been cancelled. 
• 3. What is the current status of Winter 2021 study abroad programs
  • While Winter 2021 applications are currently open, there is a strong possibility that some or all CGIS programs will be cancelled in the coming months due to Covid-19. We continue to monitor the situation in all of our program locations to assess the feasibility for our programs to run within the necessary parameters of health, safety, student support and academic quality that we require. 
    
    
  • UM/LSA leadership have determined that we will decide by October 1, 2020, on whether or not CGIS programs will run for the winter term. Note that even if programs/travel are allowed to run at that point, they may be cancelled at a later date if the situation worsens.
  • 
    Due to this, CGIS highly recommends applicants consider back-up options for Winter 2021 classes at U-M. We also strongly discourage students from purchasing plane tickets or incurring financial obligations related to travel until more information is known.

• 4. Will my spring or summer 2021 program still run? 
  • At this time, we anticipate that spring and summer 2021 programs will run. This is, however, subject to change due to the evolving situation. Please pay close attention to communications from CGIS and to University-wide emails regarding international travel. More information will be shared to impacted students as it becomes available.
• 5. How will my experience be different because of Covid-19? What onsite changes have been made because of the pandemic?
  • We advise you to think about how the program may be adjusting to the demands of life during the coronavirus pandemic. Some programmatic aspects that may have been adapted include housing options, local excursions, regional and international travel associated with the program, teaching modalities (in person, remote and/or hybrid), and limitations placed on personal travel during free time. We encourage you to discuss any questions you have with a representative from your host organization.
• 6. With COVID-19 still escalating, should I even apply to a Winter or Sp/Su 2021 CGIS program?
  • While this decision ultimately must be made by each individual student, we encourage all students to apply since program commitments are not due until September (Winter 2021) or January (Sp/Su 2021). 
    
    
  • U-M will continue to monitor the safety of our programs and the locations in which they take place worldwide. UM/LSA leadership have determined that we will decide by October 1, 2020, whether winter term abroad programs will run.
    
    
  • For this reason we strongly encourage students to have a back-up plan for winter or spring/summer 2021 if study abroad is not an option.
• 7. Whom will CGIS contact with updates relating to future study abroad programs?
  • CGIS will contact students who have opened or submitted an application to a CGIS program if and when updates are available. Parents and other concerned parties who would like to receive this information should ask their students to share the updates with them.
     
• 8. I am traveling abroad for personal reasons.  Do I need to register my travel with U-M? Can I purchase international health insurance coverage?
  • While not required, we strongly encouraged all students traveling internationally to register their travel in M-Compass. International Travel Insurance (GeoBlue) can be purchased for $1.23/day, even for personal travel.
     
• 9. Who can I contact about study abroad and the coronavirus situation?
  • Students should email CGIS Health & Safety Advisor, Rachel Reuter, at reuterra@umich.edu. Members of the media should contact U-M Office of Public Affairs

We realize that these circumstances are stressful and present a number of uncertainties. Please know that LSA and CGIS are committed to supporting you through the steps ahead. 

Which countries have CGIS programs that have been officially cancelled and placed under the U-M Travel Restriction?

Winter 2020

• All programs

Spring Summer 2020

• All Programs

Winter 2020 Programs

My U-M study abroad program was canceled during the Winter 2020 term. Will I get a tuition refund?

Per University of Michigan Office of the Registrar: Similar to on-campus residential courses, the university is making every effort to help you complete your winter study abroad courses through alternative modes of instruction. In most cases, you will be able earn full credit for the semester and stay on track for graduation, so no tuition refunds will be offered.

We understand that there may be programs where some (or all) courses cannot be completed remotely. In these situations, you may be eligible for a prorated tuition refund based on the number of credits that were available remotely. The U-M’s ability to provide refunds will depend on whether your program charged U-M tuition or paid tuition to a host institution or provider organization. For programs that charged U-M tuition, refunds will be issued to your student account. Refunds for programs that were run through an external organization will follow that organization’s refund policies. While we cannot guarantee any particular outcome or result, U-M may be able to assist you in requesting refunds from external organizations. Please contact your U-M study abroad office for more details about your particular program.

I incurred unanticipated expenses related to my U-M study abroad program cancellation. Can I be reimbursed for these expenses?

Per University of Michigan Office of the Registrar: Reimbursements for unanticipated expenses (e.g. flight change fees) will be based on financial need and the availability of U-M funds. Students currently receiving financial aid should work with their U-M education abroad office and OFA to determine what funding may be available. Students who are not currently receiving financial aid, but face significant financial hardship due to their program cancelation and associated travel home should also contact their U-M education abroad office. In these situations, the university will determine if emergency funds can be provided on a case-by-case basis.

Students who rented living accommodations abroad are encouraged to communicate directly with their property owners/landlords to inquire about possible refunds for study abroad housing, with the understanding that refunds may not be allowable under the terms of their respective rental/leasing agreements or arrangements.

CGIS refunded the U-M Travel Abroad Health Insurance (GeoBlue) in full. 

When is the last day I can request to drop a course from my official UM transcript?

Students can now drop a course up until the last day of their host institution’s class. They can do this by filling out the CGIS Winter 2020 Course Withdrawal Form. Please note that students may be asked to submit updated syllabus and/or communication from the host institution confirming the last day of that specific class.

How does the grading process work, taking into consideration the UM Winter 2020 grading policy AND my study abroad institution’s grading policy?

UM Winter 2020 Policy: Students will receive either "Pass (P)," or "No Record Covid (NRC)" on their official transcripts in lieu of letter grades. Students can request the grading basis be changed back to letter grades on their official transcripts. Requests must be made no later than July 1, 2020.
Courses that have a special grading basis like mandatory Credit/No Credit, mandatory Pass/Fail, or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory will not use the “P” or “NRC” grades. They will continue to use the originally specified grading basis.

CGIS Winter 2020 Policy: CGIS will honor the “P/NRC” University grading policy. Considering the transcript processing time for study abroad programs, CGIS is working with the Registrar to determine a mechanism and date to make letter grade reveal requests and will send an email update accordingly. 

Processing host institution transcripts: If the transcript reports Pass/Fail, CGIS records that. If the transcript reports Credit/No-credit, CGIS records that. If the transcript reports a letter grade, CGIS will refer to UM's Pass/No Record Covid for this semester.

NOTE: Many partner institutions abroad have changed to a Pass/Fail or Credit/No-Credit system. Therefore, students who prefer to reveal their letter grades but did not receive letter grades on their study abroad transcript may need to speak to their program abroad and request an updated transcript.

Will students be given the opportunity to go abroad in the future under this same application and what accommodations can be made by CGIS?

Winter 2020 students are welcome to go abroad again. Please email a CGIS advisor directly or cgis@umich.edu to express your interest. In some cases MCompass application materials and requirements may be reused. If a student wants to go abroad on the same program, CGIS and the student will need to work with the partner abroad about reusing the same application materials. Repeating a program will depend on the course availability of the program and academic goals of the student. 

Winter 2021 applications are now open on MCompass. If students want to go abroad again, they’re encouraged to start an application. Students should email their CGIS advisor about reusing MCompass application materials. Winter 2020 students who were confirmed on their programs will be exempt from attending the CGIS General Orientation, but will still be required to attend the program-specific orientation.

Will we be part of promoting the CGIS program we participated in when classes resume on campus?

CGIS Alumnx are welcomed and encouraged to participate in a variety of ways. Since the Fall 2020 semester may look different on campus, the promotional activities may look different compared to previous years. If you are interested in promoting your program, please reach out to your CGIS advisor or cgis@umich.edu with the subject line, “CGIS Alumnx Opportunities.” 

Do I still have to complete my LSA Study Abroad Scholarship Requirement? 

Students who received the LSA Study Abroad Scholarship for the Winter 2020 term have met all their award requirements and have no further obligations.

SPRING/SUMMER 2020

I’m a spring/summer student who’s paid a program deposit directly to the on-site partner. Can I get it back?

• Many of our partners are refunding program deposits for students whose universities have issued a travel restriction. Contact the on-site partner directly, and if you are having difficulty, contact your CGIS advisor.

Changing or cancelling my flight has put me in a financially difficult situation. What should I do?

• If you receive financial aid, contact finaid.abroad@umich.edu to determine if they can provide additional support.
• Otherwise please contact Rachel Reuter (covid-financial@umich.edu), who is coordinating a list of students that have incurred unforeseen expenses and will be working with the College of LSA to provide emergency funds.

I wanted to use this program towards core academic requirements. What should I do?

• Please be in close contact with your academic advisor regarding alternatives (spring/summer courses on campus, transferring credit from a community college, going abroad in a future year, etc). CGIS will keep you updated regarding any unique solutions the University proposes.

Will my application be given preference if I apply again next year?

• We’re asking that students reapply if they’d like to go abroad next year. Applications for spring/summer should open in October. Once they open, you can reach out to the advisor in question to see if you can reuse any materials in next year’s application, but we can’t guarantee preference at this time. We strongly encourage students to reapply.

What happens to my already funded scholarship?

• Students may be required to pay back any financial aid and scholarships received for the program. However, students should work closely with the Office of Financial Aid and the LSA Scholarships Office to determine whether any expenses they have already incurred can still be covered (flights, housing deposits, etc). The offices may ask for an itemization of expenses, and will evaluate on a case-by-case basis.

What if I already booked my ticket?

• You should work with your airline to determine if a refund is possible due to the special circumstances. If your ticket was booked within the past 24 hours, you should be able to cancel online. If some of the expense is non-recoverable, aid recipients should work with the Office of Financial Aid to determine if coverage is still possible.

CGIS Recommendations as of March 2, 2020:

1. Begin to research your airline’s policies on flight changes in light of the rapidly changing situation with COVID-19. Are they waiving change fees? Have flight schedules been reduced?

2. Connect with your program’s on-site staff to discuss contingency plans for the following situations:

   • If classes were to be cancelled temporarily

   • If the program were to be cancelled for the remainder of the term

   • Any other potential or foreseen impacts of COVID-19 in your current local context (e.g. under what circumstances can you remain in program housing? have any programmed excursions been canceled or changed? are there any restrictions on non-program travel?)

3. Consider cancelling or postponing extracurricular travel outside of your host city and/or country, as countries’ reactions to the outbreak are changing rapidly and could result in you being denied entry, forced to undergo observation, or be quarantined (if you show symptoms of illness, for example)

To reiterate our advice from last week’s email:

1. Register with the U.S. State Department STEP program. This tells the local embassy/consulate that you're in-country and you'll receive relevant updates via email. 

2. Check the CGIS website for the latest health and safety alerts. 

3. Carefully monitor local and national news when planning personal travel. If you have recently traveled to the Lombardy or Venetia regions in Italy, please follow your host institution guidelines for monitoring your health and report it to me.

4. Follow the guidelines from the World Health Organization to protect yourself and others.
   

Cancelation of programs:

CGIS and the University of Michigan continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation. At this time, CGIS has cancelled all of its winter programs in China, South Korea, and Italy. This continues to be a rapidly evolving situation, however, and further cancelations may be announced. 

CGIS staff will communicate all updates directly to students; parents and other concerned parties who would like to receive this information should ask their students to share the updates with them.

For programs that are cancelled or interrupted, CGIS and academic advisors at U-M will work with students on a case by case basis to determine if options might be available to complete their coursework remotely or otherwise earn academic credit for the winter term.

Answers to frequently asked questions:​

• Please see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below.

• In general, program cancelations and required return to the US occur when the US State Department or CDC issues a Level 3 travel warning at the country or region level, recommending that non-essential travel to a specific destination be avoided.

• Whether you choose to come home voluntarily OR are required by CGIS, UM, or your program to return, the possibility of earning credit depends on your host institution and whether or not they have the capacity to let students finish the semester remotely.

We will continue to monitor the situation and be in touch as new information becomes available.  We understand that the unpredictability around this situation is stressful. If you would like to connect with a mental health professional, CGIS can help you access appropriate resources.