Health and Safety Protocols

In each of our program locations, we will comply with applicable laws, regulations and government requirements and directives relative to COVID 19. During our pre-departure and on-site orientations, we will inform students of and encourage best practices, such as social or physical distancing, best hygiene practices, avoiding public gatherings, and following local transportation recommendations.

Program directors will make every effort to build the academic components around experiences, field trips and cultural activities that maximize effective health practices.

Should a program need to suspend on-site instruction due to COVID-19, students will continue their coursework in an online environment.

A COVID-19 vaccination is strongly recommended for all students participating in Center for Global Education programs during the 2022–2023 academic year. This includes undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in both short-term and semester programs.  All students applying for a TREC must upload their record of COVID-19 immunization—defined as a complete series of any COVID-19 vaccine authorized for use in the U.S. by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), and World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Use Listing (EUL). Students who have University approved exemptions should upload proof of their exemption.

Requests for exemptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that, while students may be eligible for an exemption compliant with Drew’s on-campus COVID Policies, a Drew University exemption may not satisfy vaccine or other safety requirements off-campus or be accepted by our international partner institutions or program design.

Additionally, COVID-19 policies and laws for each host country, program, or local authority may change at any time and may affect a student’s ability to participate should the student not be vaccinated.

Students approved to participate with COVID-19 exemptions may not be eligible to house with host families and may be placed in single occupancy housing. If a student must be housed in a single room, the student may be charged a supplemental living fee.

Some airlines or countries may still require a negative COVID-19 test for travel. Pre-travel testing is at the participant’s expense.

As part of Drew program’s fees, all students studying on a Drew Global Education program are enrolled in a student health insurance plan through Educational & Institutional Insurance Administrators, Inc. (EIIA). This plan includes broad internationally valid insurance coverage and travel assistance to students, faculty and staff participating in an international program. This plan provides coverage for a covered accident or emergency sickness, including COVID-19 arising abroad.

Our EIIA coverage includes access to local English-speaking medical professionals who can assist with health issues that arise, including COVID-19 testing (where available) and more.

If the participant is required to quarantine while on a covered trip due to exposure to, or a confirmed case of a virus/illness due to epidemic/pandemic not requiring hospitalization, the EIIA policy would provide up to $5,000 of benefits for food and lodging. Students will be expected to pay all-quarantine related food and lodging  expenses at cost to the student, and can seek reimbursement for these expenses. If the participant requires hospitalization, the basic emergency medical coverage would apply.

Drew will follow local requirements for COVID-19.

Quarantine On or After the Program Start Date

• Drew will make every effort to help students self-quarantine in their Drew arranged housing. Should this not be possible, Drew will assist in locating alternative quarantine accommodations.  Students will be expected to pay all-quarantine related food and lodging expenses at cost to the student, and can seek reimbursement for these expenses. Drew faculty directors and/or our local partners will help guide students to appropriate resources during the quarantine period.
• In the event quarantine is necessary, Drew faculty directors and/or our local partners will help minimize the academic impact of the quarantine period upon students to the extent practicable.
• Drew faculty directors and/or our local partners are available to help students with health and personal needs while seeking medical treatment for the virus and while under quarantine.
• Students who violate the mandatory quarantine regulations may be subject to Drew’s disciplinary procedures.

Positive COVID at End of Program

• Any student who tests positive during a Drew program and must remain in the host country past the program end date will be assisted by the program’s faculty director and/or local partner staff in planning their quarantine. If the student stays beyond the program dates, students will be expected to pay all-quarantine related food and lodging  expenses at cost to the student, and can seek reimbursement for these expenses.

Student housing varies by program location and may be in the form of hotels, apartments, residence halls, or with host families. Drew will prioritize housing that can help facilitate social/physical distancing and compliance with applicable protocols, requirements and government directives, laws and regulations.

Students approved to participate with COVID-19 exemptions may not be eligible to  house with host families and may be placed in single occupancy housing. If a student must be housed in a single room, the student may be charged a supplemental living fee.

Some program destinations might require COVID-19 tests prior to departure and/or upon arrival. Students must adhere to airline, governmental (state, regional and national) and other requirements for entry.

Early arrival at your program site is strongly discouraged. Students should plan travel to arrive on the program start date.  Students who travel before the program arrival date do so at their own risk and with the knowledge that travel and border restrictions may change at any time and without notice, possibly causing delays and the need for quarantine.

It is the student’s responsibility to understand their host country’s criteria for entry when arriving before the program start date.  Students who arrive early to their program location are required to find their own housing at their own cost and cannot move into Drew housing early. Where quarantine is required due to early arrival or pre-program international travel, students may be prohibited from moving into Drew housing on the arrival date and may not move into Drew housing until any quarantine requirements have been met.

Travel restrictions and criteria for entry or reentry can change at any time without notice. Drew can supply no financial or other support during pre-program or independent travel.

Students who choose to travel outside their program host country, either pre-program or for independent travel during the program, are responsible for understanding their host country’s criteria for traveling across borders, as well as the country of travel’s requirements, and must be in compliance with host country regulations and the regulations of the location(s) to which they travel.

Students will be required to cover all costs related to pre-program or independent travel and of being detained, quarantined or delayed, or if they are denied entry into their host country or required to quarantine.

Any independent travel during the Drew program must be registered in advance by the student with the Drew faculty director.