We encourage you to share this email with your emergency contacts. It contains important information about returning the Departure Planning & In-Take Form, the timing of departure from study abroad locations as appropriate, and international insurance updates.
Students in Italy. To help inform your planning, the University will not allow students to return to Italy for academic purposes during spring semester 2020, regardless of future developments.
Departure Timeline. You must complete the Departure Planning & In-Take Form as soon as possible but no later than March 7. Given the Department of State (DoS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance, the University requires you to depart Italy as soon as possible, preferably by March 7 to account for the 14-day quarantine if returning to campus. We expect you to depart Italy no later than March 13. If you booked a return flight after March 14 and need assistance changing it, please follow the guidance in our March 3 email, University of Illinois Study Abroad: Follow-Up Guidance on Early Departure. If an extenuating circumstance precludes departing Italy before March 13, please inform International Safety and Security at safetyabroad@illinois.edu. However, the University’s ability to assist you if encountering issues in Italy will diminish as the situation changes.
International Insurance. The contractual policy for our international insurance determines the conditions for coverage. Your coverage is predicated upon being engaged in University-related academic pursuits during travel.
- If participating in distance learning, the international insurance will continue for the remainder of the original dates while outside your home country. Those dates are found in the insurance verification letter provided at time of enrollment and correspond to the original dates of your program.
- If not participating in distance-learning, your insurance coverage will be terminated on March 23. In that case, you are responsible for obtaining appropriate international insurance. As applicable, any pro-rated refunds of the insurance fee will be applied to your student account.
Student Outside of Italy.
Departure Timeline. Students outside of Italy who opt to depart study abroad voluntarily must complete and return the Departure Planning & In-Take Form from the previous email no later than Sunday, March 7. As this option is extended due to potential health concerns, the University expects those students to return to the U.S. or their home country no later than March 13. Students with compelling reasons must share those concerns on the Departure Planning & In-Take Form and will be allowed to stay on a case-by-case basis.
International Insurance. If you voluntarily opt to depart your study abroad program, your international insurance coverage will be terminated on March 23. As applicable, any pro-rated refunds of the insurance fee will be applied to your student account.
The University will centrally manage all insurance cancellations and reimbursements for all students after March 23.