Moravian College’s Center for Global Education (CGE) has been in direct and regular communication with all students who were studying abroad and their families regarding ongoing guidance. 

CGE offered assistance to all students who were studying abroad in countries designated CDC Warning Level 3.  As notifications of program closure were shared by the program providers, CGE offered booking assistance (in some cases, helped to purchase return airline tickets) and students were connected with academic advisors and the vice provost to review and plan for their continued academic endeavors.

While CGE partners with a variety of affiliate and exchange program providers for semester study abroad, each provider has its own risk management procedures.  As such, each student receives direct correspondence from providers about their specific program.  

Many of our study abroad partners are allowing students to continue their coursework online. We are working with students individually to develop academic plans that help them stay on track for credit hours and time to graduation.

Moravian College has decided to cancel all summer study abroad programs, including faculty-led travel, scheduled for May Term and Summer 2020.  More information regarding study abroad and travel for the Fall 2020 and beyond will be provided at a later date, and will be disseminated in accordance with federal, state, and CDC guidelines regarding travel.  As per President Grigsby’s update on March 24, 2020, the College is working on plans for fee refunds and alternative options related to canceled travel. To reiterate, at this time, this decision to cancel programs does not affect plans for fall study abroad.

Students’ health and safety abroad are our top priority, and we aim to partner with students to make well-informed decisions about studying abroad. We are closely monitoring the ongoing COVID-19 situation and we continue to compile the latest information, policies, recommendations, and resources. We will continue to update this page as new information becomes available, so check back regularly. Should you have any questions after reviewing this page, please do not hesitate to write to us at appela@moravian.edu. 

If you are thinking about and planning on studying abroad for 2020-2021

• We encourage you to move forward with your planning as usual!
• Your advisor and the Center for Global Education will help you to determine a backup plan, whether that be another study abroad program or returning to the Moravian campus for the term. Please note that it is possible to drop your Fall 2020 or full-year 2020-2021 abroad plans and enroll in Moravian College courses, as long as you inform Moravian of your decision to return to campus before the start of the Fall 2020 Moravian term.
• Contact your program directly for complete information about their refund policy if the program is cancelled or you choose to withdraw. 

Recommendations for Studying Abroad for 2020-2021

• Have a backup plan! (always!)   
• Discuss your plans with your family, adviser, and the Center for Global Education, to determine your personal comfort level with international travel at this time. 
• Be prepared for travel restrictions to impact your plans. This may not be the time to tour different countries. You should expect to spend the majority (if not the entirety) of your experience abroad in your host country due to government-mandated travel restrictions, mandatory quarantines, and/or airline route cancellations.  
• Consider purchasing trip cancellation insurance when you book your airline ticket. You should be seeking a “Cancel for Any Reason” policy, as most general trip cancellation policies will not apply to cancelling due to coronavirus concerns.
• Look into STA Travel’s options for booking flights.