COVID-19

Summer 2022 

Study Abroad Deposit and Program Payments

If  a student wishes to withdraw from a study abroad program, the student must submit the Study Abroad Withdrawal Form to the Office of Education Abroad  (OEA) or state in an email their plan to withdraw. Students understand that submitted payments will not be refunded and past-due payments will not be removed from their account.  To be exempt from future program changes not yet due, the Study Abroad Withdrawal Form must be received by the OEA at least one (1) full business day prior to the payment due date. Email: studyabroad@uca.edu

In light of the ongoing COVID pandemic the following applies:

Withdraw before the published short term deposit deadline:

The $500 Study Abroad deposit for short term programs includes a $75 UCA Study Abroad fee. Should a student withdraw before the published deposit deadline for a short term study abroad program, all funds will be refunded except the $75 UCA Study Abroad fee.

Withdraw after the published short term deposit deadline:

If a student withdraws from a short term study abroad program after the stated deadline for the $500 short term deposit, the entire deposit is forfeited.  This deposit is non refundable due to multiple factors including airline and accommodation deposits paid by the university to providers on behalf of the student group.In limited circumstances the university will make efforts to refund part of the deposits

Travel and COVID 19

If a student tests positive for COVID days before departure and therefore is unable to travel abroad, the student is still responsible for all charges related to travel. Any scholarships or funding that has been awarded to the student may be subject to be returned. The UCA Education Abroad Office will make every effort to reduce charges by contacting providers and requesting refunds on behalf of the student. However, it is likely the student would still be required to pay all charges even if unable to travel due to a positive COVID test.  

If a student is a recipient of the Study Abroad Scholarship, the Education Abroad Office staff will work with the student to make sure that funding remains with the student in the case of last minute travel plans are impacted due to COVID. This would help offset program payments and would require documentation of the positive test.

Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 (posted July 21, 2021)

Fall 2021 and spring 2022 semester exchange programs continue to move forward. Students are able to travel abroad with university partners when approved by the Education Abroad Office following the UCA Travel Policy. The CDC recommends individuals do not travel internationally until fully vaccinated.

Students registering for programs agree to the following: I understand that UCA does not control requirements of vendors, universities, and other stakeholders for study abroad programing. Should a vendor or organization require masks, vaccinations, quarantine, or other measures regarding COVID 19, I agree to follow these requirements. While UCA and its partners will work to update students, it is ultimately the student’s responsibility to take measures to protect themselves from the spread of disease.

Summer 2021 Education Abroad Programming Update (posted January 29, 2021)

Due to the many travel and health related uncertainties of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, the Office of Education Abroad, Center for Global learning and Engagement, and the Offices of the Provost and President have decided to cancel all UCA summer 2021 Education Abroad programming.

As always, CDC and US State Department travel advisories guide us in these difficult times. The U.S. State Department continues to recommend that U.S. citizens defer non essential travel due to the ongoing global pandemic.

For questions, please reach out to Dr. Phillip Bailey, Associate Vice President for Global Learning and Engagement, phillipb@uca.edu or to Natalie Flemming, Education Abroad Director, natalief@uca.edu.

Summer 2021 Education Abroad Programming 

Given the ongoing risks and restrictions on travel during the COVID-19 Pandemic, we want to update you on UCA’s plans to support summer 2021 education abroad programs.

The Office of Education Abroad continues to make all necessary preparations for summer 2021 faculty-led and language immersion programs. The safety and security of all UCA students and our campus community are top priorities. While it is impossible to predict the conditions that will exist in summer 2021, we expect that we can wait until early March 2021 before having to make any decision regarding summer programs.

In the meantime we invite you to monitor the US State Department Travel Advisory website and the CDC Travel Notices.  The university cannot support education abroad programming to destinations with a CDC or US State Department Level 3 notice.

Please know that should a program be cancelled by the university due to the Pandemic, the university will refund 100% of all payments made to that point.

Spring 2021 Education Abroad Programming Update

Due to the many travel and health related uncertainties of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, the university has decided to postpone all outbound spring 2021 semester exchange programs until fall 2021. The Office of Education Abroad is consulting with international partner universities to inform them of the possibilities for incoming exchange students in spring 2021.

As always, CDC and US State Department travel advisories guide us in these difficult times.

For questions, please reach out to Dr. Phillip Bailey, Associate Vice President for Global Learning and Engagement, phillipb@uca.edu or to Natalie Flemming, Education Abroad Director, natalief@uca.edu.

For more information, please contact staff at the Center for Global learning and Engagement or the Office of Education Abroad.