COVID-19-TEST

Information for Returnees and Those Returning from Affected Countries

Visiting or returning to Merced from a Level 3 Country:

In accordance with CDC guidance, we ask you stay home (in self-quarantine) for 14 days from the time you left an area with widespread, ongoing community spread (Level 3 Travel Health Notice countries) and monitor yourself closely for symptoms. Please note that there is no financial assistance available through the University for this measure. All UC Merced students are asked to call Student Health Services at 209-228-2273 and speak with nursing staff if they have questions.

If you are healthy and have no symptoms, take these steps to monitor your health and practice social distancing:

• Take your temperature with a thermometer two times a day and monitor for fever. Also watch for cough or trouble breathing.
• Stay home and avoid contact with others. Do not go to work or school for this 14-day period. Do not take public transportation, taxis, or ride-shares during the time you are practicing social distancing.
• Avoid crowded places (such as shopping centers and movie theaters) and limit your activities in public.
• Keep your distance from others (about 6 feet or 2 meters).

You can discontinue these procedures after you have been outside of a COVID-19 affected area or out of close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 for 14 days if you do not become ill.

If you have any signs of illness, especially fever, chills, cough, have difficulty breathing or shortness of breath:

• Put on a surgical (paper) mask, if you have one, and stay in a private room.
• Call your healthcare provider immediately for further guidance (students can call Student Health Services at 209-228-2273 and speak with a nurse).
• Don’t expose others. Please be sure to let your healthcare provider know the concern for COVID-19 as soon as you arrive. Until you have been evaluated by a health care provider, stay home.

For life-threatening medical emergencies, always call 911.

For additional information on COVID-19, please visit https://emergency.ucmerced.edu/coronavirus

Academic Options:

Students who are interested in directly enrolling at a host university in a country under level 3 Travel Warning for the CDC or level 3 Travel Advisory for the US Department of State should know that UC Merced does not support this option.

Consequently, any student who chooses to direct enroll must do so wholly on their own by temporarily withdrawing from UC Merced. This change in status has significant financial aid, insurance, and other implications and students should contact us with any questions.

Students who were receiving financial aid for study abroad prior to a study abroad program suspension may still have financial aid available. This aid may apply to different academic options:

1. UC Intercampus Visitor Program: Students enroll at a quarter campuses (all but Berkeley) for Spring Quarter. Because the Spring Quarter starts very soon, interested students must contact us immediately for guidance.
2. Summer Enrollment at UC Merced or other UC campuses
3. Potentially other academic options on a case-by-case basis

Information for Applicants

Programs running in summer 2020

As of March 11, 2020, UCEAP has suspended China summer 2020 programs. All other programs are still planned for summer 2020. Some information from UCEAP:

UCEAP understands that many are worried about the coronavirus and traveling, particularly to affected countries. At this time, UCEAP is moving forward with all programs in Italy, Japan, and South Korea. UCEAP is continually monitoring the COVID-19 situation with three months until the programs start and much can change in that time.

Some programs may have later withdrawal dates than originally planned in order to allow students more time to consider the COVID-19 situation before committing financially to their program.

Programs running in fall 2020

As of March 11, 2020, no programs are suspended due to COVID-19. 

Preparing contingencies for suspended programs

It is understandable to be anxious about COVID-19 and how it might impact study abroad programs. Perhaps the greatest impact it will ever have on you is the uncertainty it creates. In preparing for potential impacts, the Office of International Affairs has some suggestions for preparing alternatives and mitigating impacts:

1. First, evaluate what academic, career, even financial objectives you have for your time abroad. These goals might impact how you approach the next few questions, but consider what you would get out of study abroad if you followed your original study abroad plan. Try to be flexible and adaptable when and where those are appropriate but be firmer on those facets that are less negotiable.
2. Consider alternative study abroad options:
   1. Explore extensions still available for summer and fall. If no automatic extension is available, you can still inquire with the appropriate study abroad advisor if the deadline passed recently.
   2. Does it work to study abroad in a country less affected or unaffected by COVID-19? As of March 11, mainland China, Italy, Japan, and South Korea are the most affected. Other countries are feeling the impacts to a less extent.
   3. Does it work to study abroad a different term altogether? If summer or fall 2020 are not the precise window you need to go abroad, could you make spring 2021 work as well?
3. Have a backup plan for your academics here at UC Merced in case your program is suspended suddenly.

Note: UCEAP and other study abroad providers will consider changeable flight itineraries when providing program budgets. We encourage students to pursue changeable tickets (or refundable tickets, when appropriate). Program dates have shifted to avoid possible community spread of COVID-19 and other diseases in various host countries in the past and you should be prepared to make adjustments if you pursue study abroad in affected countries.