Dear Members of the Georgetown University Community,
We write today with the good news that because of increasing vaccination rates and updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on domestic travel and international travel, the University is updating the COVID-19 Travel Policy for students, faculty and staff, and will be relaxing travel restrictions. Please review the details below on permitted University-related travel, public health guidance related to travel and instructions for booking travel for faculty research and for students and staff.
Permitted Travel
As of today, July 1, 2021, fully vaccinated individuals may engage in domestic University-related travel, upon providing proof of vaccination through the GU360 mobile app or GU360 website with a vaccine authorized for emergency use by the FDA or World Health Organization prior to travel. For individuals who are not yet fully vaccinated, domestic University-related travel remains limited to “essential travel” as defined in the policy.
As of August 1, 2021, the following international University-related travel is permitted. Please refer to the COVID-19 Travel Policy for definitions of the key terms used below (e.g., lower risk regions, elevated risk regions, essential travel and Senior Administrator) and additional details. While booking approved international travel planned for August 1 or later is permitted now, there is still a moratorium on international travel before August 1, and the COVID-19 Spring and Summer Travel Policy remains in effect for international travel until then.
Students
- Fully vaccinated students may engage in individual or independent University-related travel (e.g., thesis research, internships, fellowships) to lower risk regions or for essential travel, as defined in the COVID-19 Travel Policy, upon review by the University’s Travel Review Committee and approval by the relevant Senior Administrator identified in the Policy.
- A limited number of international programs – including certain study abroad programs organized or sponsored by the Office of Global Education and other University departments – will also be permitted to proceed beginning in Fall 2021, after a program-specific risk assessment and approval by the relevant Senior Administrator. Students participating in such programs must be fully vaccinated. Students who have applied for an international program for Fall 2021 will receive more information in the coming days and weeks from the Office of Global Education or other sponsoring unit regarding the status of their program.
Faculty and Staff
- Fully vaccinated faculty and staff may engage in University-related international travel to lower risk regions, as defined in the COVID-19 Travel Policy, after providing proof of vaccination through the GU360 mobile app or GU360 website.
- Fully vaccinated faculty and staff may travel to elevated risk regions, as defined in the policy, after providing proof of vaccination through the GU360 mobile app or GU360 website and submitting the travel request for review and approval by the relevant Senior Administrator, who may consult with the Travel Review Committee.
- Faculty and staff who are not, or have not informed the University that they are, fully vaccinated – either due to an accommodation or due to their fully telework mode of work – should consult with the relevant Senior Administrator or the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Affirmative Action, as appropriate, before embarking on University-related international travel.
The COVID-19 Travel Policy Approval Process provides information on how to submit a request for international travel approval when required under this policy.
Public Health Guidance
Travelers must stay apprised of, and comply with, public health and travel regulations and guidance in place both at their destination, and upon their return, with the understanding that such regulations and guidance continue to change quickly. Please review University public health protocols related to travel, District of Columbia travel guidance, CDC travel guidance and the travel guidance of your state of residence.
As of July 1, 2021, per CDC guidance, international travelers, regardless of their citizenship or vaccination status, will need to get a COVID-19 test no more than three days before returning by air to the United States, show a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before boarding a flight to the United States, and get a COVID-19 test three to five days after returning to the United States.
Booking University-Related Travel
Individuals engaging in approved University-related travel must comply with all other University policies (e.g., financial or departmental approvals).
In response to faculty feedback, campus leaders are developing policies specific to faculty research travel. Faculty booking research-related travel should refer questions to their unit head or dean.
Staff will need to request approval from their manager or relevant Senior Administrator before booking University-related travel.
We strongly encourage students, faculty and staff to book University-related travel through Georgetown Travel Services (GTS) to take advantage of travel savings and so that the University can communicate and provide emergency assistance to individuals on University-related travel. If you have any questions or feedback throughout the process of booking with GTS, please email travel@georgetown.edu or Sheyna Arthur, Director of Procurement Services, at sheyna.arthur@georgetown.edu.
We will continue to monitor public health conditions domestically and globally, and we will update the University’s travel policies as appropriate.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work together to protect our University community.
Sincerely,
Robert M. Groves, Provost
Edward B. Healton, Executive Vice President for Health Sciences
William M. Treanor, Executive Vice President and Dean of the Law Center
Geoffrey S. Chatas, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer