COVID-19: Past program terms

We are working with each overseas partner to see what academic credit may be available. Some programs have already confirmed that students can earn full credit via distance learning, and we are working to confirm this information for remaining programs soon. Please be advised that this may not be possible at all sites.

Staff will be in touch with you once information is confirmed for specific sites if arrangements are pending.

Though it is too late to enroll in regular Spring 2020 coursework at UW-Madison, we understand the impact that the cancellation of study abroad programs is having on students’ academic plans, and are exploring options with campus for other on-line or alternate course opportunities for our students for the remainder of Spring Semester and Summer.

No, you may not continue coursework in-person.

Yes.

Yes.  If a student earns the equivalent of a C or higher from their grade conversion scale, and opts into the COVID-19 grading option, their grade will be converted to a SD.  If a student earns the equivalent of a D or F from their grade conversion scale, and opts into the COVID-19 grading option, their grade will be converted to a UD.

When UW Study Abroad receives a student’s transcript, we will be sure that each course taken has an approved Course Equivalent Request.  Once all courses have been verified, the Enrollment Specialist Advisor will send you an email stating that you can select courses for the COVID-19 grading option through your MyStudyAbroad account.  You will have 8 days from receipt of the email to do so. 

Any student who previously requested a pass/fail grading basis will have that pass/fail option reverted to the original grading basis for the course (most likely A-F).  Students will be able to choose to convert the grade they receive to COVID-19 grades during the conversion window. This allows all students, including those who opted for pass/fail at the beginning of the term, to benefit from the unique, spring 2020 policy and adjusted rules.

Students on programs sponsored by the College of Engineering will receive COVID-19 grades for courses taken abroad unless they are fulfilling degree requirements for a non-engineering major or certificate. Courses fulfilling degree requirements for a non-engineering major or certificate can be taken for a letter grade or a COVID-19 grade.

No. Please do not request pass/fail grading at your host institution and continue to receive letter grades. If you have been informed that your institution is changing their grading please notify your Enrollment Specialist Advisor.

We know that some host institutions have moved to an all campus grading system of pass/fail and are not issuing letter grades.  If this is the case for your host institution, a pass will be processed as a Satisfactory Disruptive (SD) and a fail will be processed as an Unsatisfactory Disruptive (UD).

If you have concerns regarding your academic plan in relation to the cancellation of your study abroad program, please contact your academic advisor to discuss your options.

We encourage all students to look at UW-Madison’s Summer Term offerings as an option to earn credits and stay on track for graduation.  Taking accelerated Summer Term courses can help you lighten your load in the fall and spring semesters and possibly help with making time in your calendar for a different study abroad opportunity in the future.

Financial support is available to help pay for the cost of Summer Term tuition.

• Undergraduate Scholarship for Summer Study applications now open. Awards from $500 to $1,500 are available for eligible students taking summer courses at UW–Madison.

Virtual summer language instruction is also available through the Wisconsin Intensive Summer Language Institutes.

Refund policies are outlined on the cost sheet for your program in your UW-Madison MyStudyAbroad portal.

• If a program is canceled and academic credit cannot be awarded, the IAP Program Fee is refunded in full.
• If a program is canceled and you can receive academic credit either in person or via distance learning, no refund of the IAP Program Fee is provided.

In both cases, non-IAP Program Fees (out of pocket expenses) are the responsibility of the student.

For students who can receive academic credit for the program, IAP will continue to work with the program provider/host to seek any recoverable costs (unused housing, excursions, etc) that were part of the program fee. All recoverable costs will be passed on to the student in full.  This process is ongoing and takes time.  As soon as we hear back from a provider that there are recoverable costs, we will reach out to the student and post the amount on the student’s account. Credits for unused CISI insurance premiums are also being posted to the student’s account.

If your housing was billed as part of your program fee and academic credit is being offered through distance learning, we will follow up with our program providers/host universities to see if there could be any recoverable costs, such as unused housing. If there are and they refund to us, that will fully be refunded to the student.

Independent housing (housing that is not included in the program fee) is considered an out-of-pocket expenses and will not be refunded by UW Study Abroad. Students are responsible for their lease and communicating with their landlord in their host country.

Flights are considered out-of-pocket expenses and will not be refunded by UW Study Abroad. Students are responsible for arranging their travel to their home of record.

If you need financial assistance paying for a return flight, UW Study Abroad can assist with this process and have the charge billed to your account. If this is an option you would like to pursue, please email your Financial Specialist.

For students experiencing financial hardship, the Office of Student Financial Aid has a team of people ready to help connect you to financial and other resources. Their emergency request form can be found at: financialaid.wisc.edu/emergency-assistance-form

Yes, students who have paid their program confirmation deposit will be refunded by the end of day on March 27. Refunds will be applied to either your student account or credit card depending on whether you paid by check or credit card.

Program fees were not yet charged to summer students and will not be charged to accounts in the future.

Any UW Study Abroad scholarships offered for your program will be rescinded. Scholarships cannot be retained to use on a future study abroad program. You will need to reapply for the scholarship when you apply for a future program.

Students are encouraged to contact the Office of Student Financial Aid to determine how your program cancellation will affect your scholarships and financial aid awards.

You should return home as soon as possible (no later than Sunday, March 22^nd, 2020).

Our directive remains that you should return to your home of record, as it is in the best interest of your health and safety.

If you do not follow this direction, please be advised of the following:

You have been asked by UW-Madison to return to your home of record due to the evolving situation of COVID-19. If you decide, independent of the university’s direction, to travel to other locations not associated with, sponsored, or supported by UW-Madison, you acknowledge that you are leaving the programming oversight of UW-Madison and your host program abroad, and any implied responsibility accepted by them previously, associated with your enrollment as a student abroad. Your travel is undertaken as an independent citizen and is not part of any continuing study online or directed study associated with your enrollment as a UW-Madison student. The university will no longer be a point of contact point for you for any travel issues encountered and is not responsible for making arrangements for your personal travel. 

Here are some things to think about as you prepare to depart your host country:

• Be in touch with local staff to see what specific information or guidance they may have for you
• Pack all your belongings; if you are currently traveling, return to your host site to pick up your belongings
• Notify landlords
• Close local bank accounts, if applicable
• Cancel any national insurance policy (not CISI)
• Cancel any electricity, internet, or other subscription plans
• Cancel any in-country cell phone plans; contact US phone provider about re-establishing service upon your return

If you are unable to purchase a ticket home or rebook an existing ticket, we will be able to assist with purchasing the ticket and having it billed to your student account.

Step 1
Do some online research on your flight path and itinerary options. The flight must be an economy fare.  (Note, you do not need to book a basic economy fare as those have luggage restrictions.)

Step 2
Once you have determined the flight itinerary you would like to take, call Fox World Travel at +1-920-482-6790 to make your reservation with an agent. Be prepared with your passport. The agent will need passport details and your birthdate in order to make your reservation. Changes to this information cannot be made after booking.

Step 3
Once you have reserved the flight, inform the Fox World Travel agent that they should forward the itinerary by e-mail to abroad@studyabroad.wisc.edu.  We will pay for your flight and will work to put the charges on your student account.

Please update your UW-Madison MyStudyAbroad portal with your return travel plans as soon as possible.  We have removed your initial travel details and ask that you please insert your new return plans for our records.

Please update your UW-Madison MyStudyAbroad portal to indicate you have returned home.

• Login to MyStudyAbroad portal
• Click on the Acceptance Tasks tile
• Navigate to My Travel Itinerary – Return
• Select “I am already home” checkbox

UW-Madison has provided guidance on self-quarantine after returning from international travel.

When travel is suspended to a specific country, we are required to end CISI coverage as well.

CISI coverage will end on March 22. 

You are able to add an additional 30 days for personal travel through your MyCISI portal.

UW-Madison has provided guidance on self-quarantine after returning from international travel.