Is it required to be vaccinated to travel to the United States?
As of November 8, 2021, it is required to be vaccinated to travel to the US. More information on vaccination requirements and the exceptions to this requirement are available HERE.
Before you fly, what you need to know before boarding a plane to the United States
Do I need a negative COVID-19 test to travel to the US? If so, when/how many days before travel?
The CDC requires all fully vaccinated air passengers traveling to the United States to present a negative COVID-19 test result conducted no more than 3 days before their flight’s departure.
Once I arrive in the US, am I required to take another COVID-19 test before starting classes on-campus/moving to campus housing?
No, vaccinated international students traveling to Drew from outside the US are not required to complete a COVID-19 test upon arrival to campus.
Once I arrive in the US, am I required to self-quarantine? If yes, for how long?
No, fully vaccinated international students traveling to Drew from outside the US are not required to self-quarantine.
If I am in the US and not vaccinated, will I be required to self-quarantine and do I need to arrive on campus early to meet university vaccine requirements?
Students will be required to have at least one dose of the COVID vaccine before arriving on campus. Students who are not fully vaccinated will be required to follow campus COVID testing guidelines which includes COVID testing upon arrival and weekly COVID testing until they become fully vaccinated. Since the vaccine is required, students will not be required to self-quarantine.
Am I able to get the COVID-19 vaccine in the US as an international student?
Yes, international students who are already in the US are able to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Is the university delivering COVID-19 vaccines to international students?
No, Drew University is not administering the COVID vaccine at our Health Services Department.
If not, where and how can I get the vaccine?
COVID-19 vaccines are available at select pharmacies and other locations near campus. Learn more by visiting the New Jersey COVID-19 Information Hub and Vaccine Finder
How much does the vaccine cost?
The COVID-19 vaccine is free of cost.
Is a COVID-19 vaccine required to attend class on campus?
Yes, Drew University will require a COVID-19 vaccination for all students planning to be on campus during the 2021–2022 academic year. Drew will require a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or WHO Emergency Use Listing approved vaccine – the most recent list can be found on the CDC website .
I plan to come to campus for the spring semester. Do I need the COVID vaccine?
Students will be required to have at least one dose of the COVID vaccine before arriving on campus. Students who are not fully vaccinated will be required to follow campus COVID testing guidelines which includes COVID testing upon arrival and weekly COVID testing until they become fully vaccinated. Since the vaccine is required, students will not be required to self-quarantine.
I am an international student starting a new degree program on campus at Drew. May I take online/remote classes?
New students, undergraduate and graduate, with initial attendance I-20s are not allowed to pursue a program of study that is 100% online. In order to enter the U.S. to begin a new program of study, undergraduate students should engage in as many in person classes as possible since Drew’s plan is to return to an in person mode of instruction for most of the classes offered for the fall semester.
INTO Pathway and Academic English students are required to take classes for the spring semester in person. If you need a course that is only offered online, please discuss with the INTO Academic Director or Pathway program manager for a case by case evaluation
Graduate programs will offer courses in a combination of in-person, online, and flex formats, and graduate students seeking to enter the U.S. to begin a new program of study must register for at least one 3-credit course in an in-person or flex format.
I am an international student who began a new degree program online from my home country in the spring 2021 or fall 2021 semester and plan to come to the U.S. for the spring semester. May I take online/remote classes?
Students with initial attendance I-20s, which includes students who started their program online, are not allowed to pursue a program of study that is 100% online. Undergraduate students should engage in as many in person classes as possible since Drew has returned to an in person mode of instruction for many classes offered during the spring semester. Graduate programs will offer courses in a combination of in-person, online, and flex formats, and graduate students must register for at least one 3-credit course in an in-person or flex format.
I am an international transfer student and plan to enter the U.S. to begin my studies at Drew for the spring semester. May I take online/remote classes?
Transfer students are classified by SEVP as new students with initial attendance I-20s; for that reason, you are not allowed to pursue a program of study that is 100% online. Undergraduate students must engage in as many classes as possible that are in person for the spring semester. Graduate programs will offer courses in a combination of in-person, online, and flex formats, and graduate students must register for at least one 3-credit course in an in-person or flex format.
I am a new undergraduate international student and currently in my home country. May I take online/remote classes?
New students who are unable to travel to the U.S. because of visa issues can begin their studies online from their home country. Drew is offering a set of introductory courses fully online suitable for new students, but a full complement of the curriculum will not be available online. If you are able to obtain the F-1 visa during the semester and want to come to campus to complete the semester, we will work with you to assist with that transition. Please work with the Dean’s Office for spring registration so that you have online courses with in-person sections that you will be able to transition into. Please contact ISSS@drew.edu and fyadvising@drew.edu to further discuss your situation.
If you are unable to secure a visa appointment and have received an I-20, your SEVIS record will be deferred. You will be issued an updated I-20 for the semester you plan to begin your studies on campus. The SEVIS number will remain the same – you do not have to pay the SEVIS fee again and F-1 visas that were issued for the original I-20 continue to be valid.
I am a new graduate international student and currently in my home country. May I take online/remote classes?
New students who are unable to travel to the U.S. because of visa issues may be able to begin their studies online from their home country if online courses are available.
Students in the Theological School, please work with the Graduate Academic Services for spring registration so that you have courses which may be taken online and in person. Please contact erosales@drew.edu to further discuss.
Students in Caspersen School of Graduate Studies, please contact your program convenor or the Graduate Academic Services (erosales@drew.edu).
If you are unable to secure a visa appointment and have received an I-20, your SEVIS record will be deferred. You will be issued an updated I-20 for the semester you plan to begin your studies on campus. The SEVIS number will remain the same – you do not have to pay the SEVIS fee again and F-1 visas that were issued for the original I-20 continue to be valid.
I am an international student and currently in the U.S. May I take online/remote classes?
INTO Pathway and Academic English students are required to take classes for the spring semester in person. If you need a course that is only offered online, please discuss with the INTO Academic Director or Pathway program manager for a case by case evaluation.
Degree seeking students in the College of Liberal Arts are required to take at least one class in person. If this requirement would prohibit progress towards degree requirements, students should discuss their needs with the CLA Dean’s Office fyadvising@drew.edu . In order to maintain status, undergraduate students must enroll in a minimum of 12 credits.
Degree seeking students in the Caspersen or the Theological School who were registered full-time for the fall 2021 semester, and were engaged in full-time study in the US without taking a leave of absence since the Spring 2020 semester, are eligible to take classes in a variety of formats: in-person, hybrid or 100% online. Students who began their studies in the US in fall 2020, spring 2021, or fall 2021 must have at least one 3 credit in-person class. In order to maintain status, graduate students must enroll in a minimum of 9 credits.
I am a current international student studying in my home country. May I take online/remote classes?
Drew has returned to an in-person format for many classes for the Spring 2022 semester. If you are outside the US and are not able to return to the US because of visa issues or travel restrictions, you must contact your academic advisor to determine if there are sufficient online courses available for you to study online from your home country.
If you have questions please contact;
CLA Dean’s Office: fyadvising@drew.edu (new students), cladean@drew.edu (continuing students)
Theological School: erosales@drew.edu
Caspersen: erosales@drew.edu
In order to maintain status, undergraduate students must enroll in a minimum of 12 credits; graduate students 9 credits. If a student drops below full-time enrollment, the SEVIS record will be terminated. A new I-20 can be created when the student is ready to return to campus.
