Global Learning Policies

Conditions for participation

Your acceptance to a Washington State University global education program and your participation in the travel portion of the program is contingent upon the following conditions:

• You must complete the Assumption of Risk and Release of Liability form in the Global Learning program application located at myStudyAbroad by the application due date.
• You must have a 2.0 GPA or higher.
• You must observe the Student Handbook for Community Standards, which extends to study abroad locations and you are obliged to participate in the program as designed.
• You must pass all required pre-departure and/or prerequisite courses.
• You must make full payment of all tuition and fees by the due date found on your statement of account in myWSU.
• If applicable to your study abroad program, you must meet all entry, exit, and visa requirements of your program destination(s); any countries while in transit; and the U.S. upon return, including but not limited to possessing a valid passport; obtaining the appropriate visa; and providing proof of any required vaccinations and/or any testing requirements and other protocols. Entry, exit, and visa requirements are established by each individual country; Global Learning and Washington State University have no control over visa denials, immigration and visa regulations, and/or any changes in the Embassies’/Consulates’ policies. Please refer to Travel.State.Gov and the respective Embassy or Consulate websites for the most current travel information.
• Any student who is a registered sexual offender or has a current or pending felony charge is excluded from participating in study abroad programs managed by WSU.
• Any student with a sanction of disciplinary probation or suspension is ineligible to participate in Global Learning abroad programs overlapping the dates of their sanction. Global Learning confirms student eligibility for its programs through Community Standards upon application to the program and at the end of the term immediately preceding the program.
• You must enroll and maintain enrollment in the global learning course(s) required for your program of admittance.
• You must maintain compliance with all university mandates.
• If you do not meet all these requirements, even after you have been accepted, you will not be permitted to participate in your global learning program and will be subject to the Global Learning Cancellation Policy. Please contact your global learning advisor with any questions.

Cancellation policy

Withdrawing a committed application BEFORE the WSU application deadline

• WSU fees. No WSU fees will be charged to your WSU account if you withdraw a committed application before the WSU application deadline.
• Non-WSU fees. Depending on the terms and conditions of your agreement with a program provider and/or host institution, you may be responsible for fees to your program provider and/or host institution.

Withdrawing a committed application AFTER the WSU application deadline

• Notification. You must notify IP-Global Learning in writing immediately if you choose to withdraw. It is your responsibility to notify all other parties involved in your education abroad process including, but not limited to Student Financial Services, your academic advisor/department, and your education abroad program provider or host institution, if applicable.
• Global Learning application fee. Your WSU application fee will be charged to your student account if you withdraw a committed application after the deadline.
• Other WSU fees. Refunds for fees such as WSU Participation Expense or International Health and Travel Insurance will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Non-WSU fees. Depending on the terms and conditions of your agreement with a program provider and/or host institution, you may be responsible for fees charged by your program provider and/or host institution.
• Appeals. You may appeal for a refund by submitting all appeal documents within 2 weeks from the date you notified Global Learning of your withdrawal. NO LATE appeal documents will be considered. You cannot appeal the Global Learning application fee or other non-Global Learning fees not charged through WSU. There is no guarantee that your appeal will result in a refund.

For WSU employees traveling abroad

WSU employees and official volunteers may register their travel and receive information about international travel insurance from WSU Compliance and Risk Management. It is also recommended that individuals register their travel with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy through the State Department’s travel registration website and enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).

International Travel Registry

Your safety and security during your time abroad is important to us.

The International Travel Registry (ITR) is an online registration system that provides Washington State University with a secure means of documenting the international travel plans for its students who are abroad during WSU-related, not-for-credit activities.

International Program Health, Safety, and Security Advisory Committee

The International Health, Safety and Security Advisory Committee (IHSSAC), as a Level 2 Advisory Committee of the President’s Health, Safety and Security Committee structure, was established to develop guidelines and policies to maintain the health and safety of Washington State University students, faculty, and staff participating in global learning. The committee meets occasionally as required to review and discuss policies.

Advisory Committee members

• Sharyl Kammerzell, Associate Vice President, Chief Compliance and Risk Officer
• Gary Jenkins, Chief of Police
• Kelly Newlon, Director, Global Learning
• Jason Sampson, Director, Environmental Health and Safety
• Jacob Sajinyan, Director, Risk Management

Travel to high-risk locations

The health, safety, and security of students and faculty traveling abroad is a top priority at Washington State University. So that every Coug who wants to gain valuable international experience through study abroad, research, field work, internships, or volunteer opportunities is able to do so safely, multiple sources of information are consulted to review a location’s risk. 

Faculty interested in developing a faculty-led program to countries with a Level 3 Travel Advisory are required to submit a “Request to Travel to a High-Risk Location” petition and receive approval to continue the program development process. These petitions are reviewed by the committee. All students, faculty, and staff traveling through Global Learning to a high-risk location will be required to submit a special High Risk Location Assumption of Risk and Release of Liability. Current versions of these forms are available by emailing IP-Global Learning. 

When researching and assessing a program location country or region, WSU factors in criteria from government, insurance, and in-country resources.

• U.S. Department of State – Issues travel advisories for every country, including 4 standard levels of advice, risk descriptions, and actions that U.S. citizens should implement to help ensure their safety.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Issues Travel Health Notices to inform travelers about current health issues related to specific designations and are categorized by Warning Level 3 (avoid nonessential travel), Alert Level 2 (practice enhanced precautions) and Watch Level 1 (practice usual precautions).
• On Call Insurance – Using the Global Health Security Index Score

WSU Global Learning will also ensure that no programs are in breach of other formal U.S. Government guidance, including but not limited to:

• U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) – Issues comprehensive sanctions against countries that prohibit all direct or indirect imports/exports, trade brokering, financing, or facilitating against most goods, technology, and services.

Potential partners and program vendors

International Programs partners with Washington State University academic units and colleges to facilitate, develop, and manage study abroad programs and other credit-bearing international opportunities (e.g., student exchanges, third-party provider and direct-enroll programs, service learning, internships, research abroad) for Global Cougs (WSU students).

The Global Learning department currently works with 17 third-party program providers and direct-enroll host institutions. Third-party provider programs are managed by another U.S. or educational organization. These programs are offered for a semester, academic year, or summer session and are selected by WSU academic departments with assistance from Global Learning via an established proposal process. Third-party providers play an important role in expanding the access, scope, geographical location, and volume of education abroad opportunities to WSU students.

Features of WSU-approved third-party provider and direct-enroll study abroad programs

• Participants remain registered at WSU while studying abroad, which enables them to access university, state, and federal financial aid
• Participants are responsible for paying the program provider/host institution directly
• Participants earn graded WSU credit (approved by appropriate WSU academic departments)
• International Programs staff provides advising, pre-departure orientation, and other critical services to participants
• A minimum number of participants from WSU is not required

Campus visits for WSU-approved program providers or institutional representatives

• Work with the appropriate Global Learning coordinator to schedule campus visits at least 30 days in advance of the proposed visit date
• Schedule visits while bearing in mind the WSU study abroad application deadlines. Visits must take place at least 3 weeks in advance of application deadlines
• Promote only those programs deemed “WSU-approved”
• Allow International Programs to contact any academic unit you would like to meet
• Kindly limit recruitment visits to one per semester aside from the twice-annual Global Learning Fair
• International Programs cannot reserve or pay for a promotional table on campus

Campus visits for non-affiliated providers or institutional representatives

While International Programs does not initiate new programs, education abroad specialists are able to discuss the new program proposal process with providers and institutional representatives interested in establishing an affiliation with WSU.

To request a meeting with an International Program staff member, please follow these steps:

• Review WSU’s current study abroad programs in myStudyAbroad to ensure little overlap between those already offered and those represented by your organization
• Email Dr. Kelly Newlon to request a meeting no less than 45 days in advance of the proposed meeting date. The email should include:
  • A summary of the program(s) to be discussed and a brief overview of why it would be a unique opportunity for WSU students
  • A brief description of your organization and its experience in the field of international education
  • Your organization’s website
  • An overview of the student support services offered by your organization (e.g., housing placement, risk management, academic support, excursions, etc.)
• Please do not plan to engage in student recruitment efforts
• Please allow Global Learning to make contact with any academic unit you would like to meet