Please note, these answers and advice may change quickly and without notice. For any additional questions about international travel and study abroad, please contact the Office of Global Engagement at global@olemiss.edu or 662-915-1618.
What is the latest information for students preparing to study abroad during the 2020-2021 academic year?
As countries open up and programs plan for traditional study abroad experiences in the fall, the Office of Global Engagement permits study abroad on a country-by-country basis for the fall semester, allowing study abroad for students who can obtain visas, travel to their destination and attend in-person classes at their host institution. Contact the Office of Global Engagement at global@olemiss.edu or see this page for the latest information about study abroad opportunities.
If I return from international travel, will I be required to quarantine when I return to campus?
We follow CDC guidelines regarding the need to quarantine when returning from international travel. If you return from international travel, please fill out the Travel Self-Reporting Form.
As an international student, I have questions about my immigration status, visa or travel endorsement. Where can I find additional information?
Contact the Office of Global Engagement at global@olemiss.edu for the latest information about immigration status, visa or travel endorsement questions.
Are there any current university-affiliated travel restrictions?
All university-affiliated international and domestic travel is prohibited until further notice. Faculty who believe their travel is essential must apply for a waiver with the Office of the Provost. Staff who believe their travel is essential must apply for a waiver through their respective Vice Chancellor. All personal international travel is strongly discouraged.
What should I do if I’ve recently traveled internationally?
Students, faculty or staff members returning from international travel will be required to self-quarantine, self-monitor, fill out the Travel Self-Reporting Form and follow the CDC recommendations for what to do for a minimum of 14 days.
I am planning to study abroad. Will I be affected?
Study Abroad is suspended for all upcoming summer programs starting between May and August 2020. See this page for information about Fall 2020.
What do I need to share in the Travel Reporting Portal?
From a public health standpoint, it is important for university officials to know who in our campus community has traveled outside of the country since the outbreak. That’s why the university has launched a Travel Reporting Portal to log any recent international travel (including personal travel) by faculty, staff and students. The spread of this epidemic is extremely fluid, and places that you visited recently could have become a “hot spot” while you were in country, which may not be evident until after your return to the United States.
What do terms self-monitor, quarantine and isolation mean?
- Self-monitoring means people should monitor themselves for fever by taking their temperatures twice a day and remain alert for cough or difficulty breathing. If they feel feverish or develop measured fever, cough, or difficulty breathing during the self-monitoring period, they should self-isolate, limit contact with others, and seek advice by telephone from a healthcare provider or their local health department to determine whether medical evaluation is needed.
- Quarantine in general means the separation of a person or group of people reasonably believed to have been exposed to a communicable disease but not yet symptomatic, from others who have not been so exposed, to prevent the possible spread of the communicable disease.
- Isolation means the separation of a person or group of people known or reasonably believed to be infected with a communicable disease and potentially infectious from those who are not infected to prevent spread of the communicable disease. Isolation for public health purposes may be voluntary or compelled by federal, state, or local public health order.