Dear Georgetown Faculty, Staff and Students,
In March 2020, we suspended all university-sponsored international and domestic travel for students, faculty and staff. In light of the evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, its impact on our community, and the advent of increased vaccination opportunities, we must balance restrictions on activities in compliance with public health imperatives and the desire to promote and facilitate learning and research. In the context of this trade-off, today we announce updates to this policy for the remainder of the Spring semester and Summer 2021 in the COVID-19 Spring and Summer Travel Policy.
In summary, due to the significant continued public health risk posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the University’s moratorium on all domestic and international university-related travel by students, faculty, and staff, remains in place until further notice. Limited exceptions may be granted for travel that is deemed “essential,” or travel to low-risk destinations as defined in the University’s COVID-19 Spring and Summer Travel Policy. Georgetown study abroad programs offered by the Office of Global Education during the Summer 2021 term (May-August 2021) and all other university-sponsored undergraduate, non-credit international travel are suspended through August 15, 2021.
Limited exceptions to the moratorium may be granted after review by the relevant campus Executive Vice President (for students and faculty, and non-University Services staff), the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (for staff members of University Services), or the Vice President and Chief of Staff (for direct reports to the President). They will also consult with the University’s Travel Review Committee (“TRC”). The Travel Moratorium Appeals Process provides information on how to submit an appeal.
The University is constantly monitoring the public health situation domestically and globally, with the hope that conditions will improve enough to safely permit additional University-related travel in the future, including expanded opportunities for faculty travel for purposes of field, archival, laboratory, or other research; we will promptly inform the community of any changes to the moratorium.
We appreciate everyone’s cooperation as we work through changing public health circumstances.
Sincerely,
Robert M. Groves, Provost
Edward B. Healton, Executive Vice President for Health Sciences and Executive Dean of the School of Medicine
William M. Treanor, Executive Vice President and Dean of the Law Center
Geoffrey S. Chatas, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer