Travel and Study Abroad

• All future university-sponsored international travel is suspended through July 31. All personal international travel is also strongly discouraged during this time.
• University-sponsored domestic travel will be limited to business-essential travel and will be approved by division leaders on an as-needed basis.
• Travelers returning from international travel are required to observe a 14-day period of self-quarantine per the CDC Guidelines.
• All summer 2020 programs have been cancelled.
• Students planning to study abroad in fall 2020 have been asked to create parallel plans for study at Xavier in case travel is not permitted to resume.

When the U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) issues a Warning Level 3 – Avoid Nonessential Travel notice for a country, that country will automatically become a Xavier travel-restricted area. When this happens, all students registered for travel to that country will be notified of the restriction and all Xavier-managed education abroad programs for that country will be cancelled. In addition, the Xavier department organizing each program will reach out to students individually about program cancellations and next steps.

Xavier may also cancel programs if travel disruptions or host country restrictions prevent them from meeting the educational goals of the travel experience (regardless of whether or not the host country is under a travel restriction). Program organizers may consult with Xavier’s Center for International Education (CIE) for guidance.

Recognizing that the COVID-19 outbreak is fluid and unpredictable, Xavier encourages you to:

• Consider your own personal comfort level when choosing an education abroad experience.
• Have a contingency plan in place. This may include identifying an alternate education abroad program or domestic experience to pursue in case your program is cancelled. You may want to discuss contingencies with your academic advisor or the office managing your education abroad experience.
• Build financial flexibility into your travel plans by purchasing trip cancellation insurance.

The University understands that personal tolerance for risk may vary and that individuals may choose to leave programs that have not been cancelled. We respect these personal decisions. If you are considering returning home, talk with your host university or program provider to find out what options might be available for online learning or remote exams that could help you complete your coursework. The Xavier Center for International Education can explain the financial aspects of leaving early, as certain fees may not be refundable. Likewise, your academic advisor and financial aid officer can walk you through implications for your degree progress and your financial aid package. All of these resources can inform your final decision.

The University will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation, and by early-July will make decisions on fall study abroad program viability. Our travel policies will be used to guide decisions. The CIE and faculty leaders will communicate any updates or decisions with students.

Due to widespread ongoing transmission of COVID-19, the CDC has issued a global level 3 warning for all international travel. If personal travel to these countries is essential, you should:

1. Review the CDC warning for overall and specific country information. Currently, all international travel is classified with a Level 3 Warning: avoid nonessential travel.
2. Review the Department of State COVID-19 information site to understand how traveling may affect your ability to re-enter the U.S.
3. Review the CDC Novel Coronavirus alerts, and the routinely updated CDC 2019-nCoV Situation Summary.

Then, follow the CDC’s travel advice for those areas.

Consult with a doctor prior to travel if you have any health-related concerns.

• Avoid traveling while sick (traveling with a fever from an unrelated condition could result in increased screenings and other travel issues).
• Expect additional screenings at airports and transit hubs – allow for extra travel time.
• Avoid close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections.
• Practice good hygiene through frequent handwashing, especially after direct contact with ill people or their environments.
• Prevent close contact with live or dead farm or wild animals.

All international travel requires a 14 day self-isolation/monitoring per CDC guidelines.

• Take these steps to monitor your health, and practice social distancing:
  • Take your temperature with a thermometer two times a day and monitor for fever. Also watch for cough or trouble breathing.
  • Stay home and avoid contact with others. Do not go to work or school for this 14-day period. Discuss your work or academic situation with your employer and/or professor before returning.
  • Do not take public transportation, taxis, or ride-shares during the time you are practicing social distancing.
  • Avoid crowded places (such as shopping centers and movie theaters) and limit your activities in public.
  • Keep your distance from others (about 6 feet or 2 meters).

If you were in a country with a COVID-19 outbreak and feel sick with fever, cough or difficulty breathing within 14 days after you left, you should:

• Seek medical advice. Call ahead before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room. Tell them about your recent travel and your symptoms.
  • Students at Xavier University should call Xavier Health Services at 513-745-3022, option 3, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. After hours nurse line is available at 513-246-7023.
  • Xavier University faculty and staff may contact their healthcare provider, or their local health department.
• Avoid contact with others.
• Not travel on public transportation while sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to avoid spreading the virus to others.
• Wash your hands with soap and water immediately after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
• If soap and water are not readily available, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60%-95% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

International students, scholars and employees should contact the CIE at international@xavier.edu to discuss. For those individuals whose immigration-related documents were issued by another institution, they should contact their respective Designated School Official or Responsible Officer at their university’s international office for advice.

Based on current CDC guidance, faculty and staff should not tell individuals to stay home solely based on recent travel history. If there are specific questions or concerns, those individuals should be referred to the Xavier University Health Services (513-745-3022 option 3), primary care provider, or Cincinnati Health Department.