Due to the global impact of COVID-19, our prior suite of program offerings is still reduced. Here are the most current program updates:

• Scholarship & Christianity in Oxford (SCIO) has safely welcomed back students for the Spring 2021 semester, Summer 2021 programme, Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 semesters, as well as the Summer 2022 programme and Fall 2022 semester.
• The American Studies Program in Washington, D.C., and Middle East Studies Program in Amman, Jordan, have returned and safely welcomed students for the Fall 2021, Spring 2022 and Fall 2022 semesters.
• The Contemporary Music Center, now run by Greenville University, has re-started and welcomed students for the Fall 2021, Spring 2022 and Fall 2022 semesters. Click here for more details.
• The Uganda Studies Program, now run solely under the umbrella of Uganda Christian University, has re-started and welcomed students for the Fall 2021, Spring 2022, and Fall 2022 semesters. Click here for more details.
• The L.A. Film Studies Center, returned for the Spring of 2023 semester as a pilot program in a partnership with Olivet Nazarene University. Click here for more details.
• The Northern Ireland Semester is now run through a joint partnership between John Brown University and George Fox University. Students from any CCCU campus are eligible to study in Northern Ireland during the spring semester with George Fox University. Click here for more details.
• The Australia Studies Centre and Latin American Studies Program have been discontinued following the pandemic. While we lament the loss of these programs, we celebrate the many years of incredible opportunities that they were able to provide for students.

The COVID-19 vaccine and booster(s) are strongly recommended, but not required, for all spring and summer 2023 GlobalEd programs (Amman, Oxford, & Washington, DC).

RATIONAL:

As we look towards the 2023 spring semester, COVID-19’s impact and how the world’s response and management strategies are changing. While the pandemic is not over, we seem to be entering a new phase of managing the virus. This change is evident in the following developments:

• While new variants continue to be identified, the severity of these variants seem to be lessening.
• Countries around the world, including Jordan, the United Kingdom, and the United States are loosening their requirements related to COVID. Notably, all three of these countries have dropped vaccine requirements to travel to and from these locations.
• The increasing numbers of vaccinated individuals and vaccine availability along with the high numbers of previously infected and recovered individuals.
• The increasing availability of enhanced treatment options.
• The majority of CCCU colleges and universities have dropped the vaccine requirement on their home campuses.

The CCCU feels that vaccines protect our students as they live in close community throughout the semester. The COVID -19 vaccine will likely be an advantage for students if last-minute travel restrictions or quarantines are imposed by local and national governments, airlines, and local business (e.g., hotels). A vaccinated* individual will also likely benefit from greater freedom of movement and access to events and locations, which would result in a more fulfilling semester experience; however, we also understand that some students are not able to get the vaccine for a variety of reasons, and we want to provide all students the opportunity to study away. To grapple with this tension, as well as our firm commitment to the health and safety of our students, staff, and the local communities that graciously welcome us, we strongly recommend that students receive the full course of vaccinations and boosters before arrival at their program site.

The CCCU will maintain vigilance in monitoring the virus and its impact, and will continue to adjust policies as conditions warrant. Given the unpredictable nature of the virus, the CCCU reserves the right to change this policy if needed as the COVID landscape changes. Any future changes to the policy will be shared with students as soon as possible.

Particular attention will be paid to the local regulations and recommendations around testing, quarantines, masking, social distancing, and other mitigation measures for each program. If local regulations and recommendation are less stringent than the CDC recommendations, we will adhere to the CDC policies. If local regulations are stricter than the CDC recommendations, we will follow the local guidelines.  

This policy is subject to continual review. Final decisions related to vaccines for fall 2023 will be announced by April 1, 2023.

LOGISTICS:

The application process will still require students to upload their vaccination card. If a student chooses to refuse the vaccine, they must upload a written waiver.

While the CCCU will not require a COVID vaccine, vaccines may be required by internships, service-learning placements, or in a specific context. Students must understand that participating as an unvaccinated individual may have unique consequences for each CCCU GlobalEd program. For example, unvaccinated SCIO students will not be able to meet one-on-one with certain tutors. Remote meetings may be possible, but there are impacts beyond our program staff’s control.

Similarly, students are fully and solely responsible for any additional costs or expenses incurred or should the host country (or country included in program travel) or host institution make changes to their policies during program or prior to the program start. The CCCU is not responsible financially or otherwise for such program amendments.

Amendments include, but are not limited to, implementation of quarantine requirements, changes to itinerary allowing for COVID-19 testing or vaccinations/boosters, and cancellation of participation in the program, or any part thereof, due to not meeting country-specific or institution protocols. 

* Fully vaccinated as defined by the CDC: Everyone is still considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-shot series, such as the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as the J&J/Janssen vaccine. Fully vaccinated, however is not the same as optimally protected. To be optimally protected, a person needs to get a booster shot when and if eligible. While booster shots are not required for the CCCU GlobalEd programs, they are strongly recommended.