COVID-19 & Future Travel
We have been busily adapting our programs (and our mission) to the unprecedented reality of COVID-19. InPlace's goal is to ensure the health and safety of our students and support local partners. This is not always easy and has required us to grapple with the moral dilemmas of travel to make sure the communities we work alongside want us there in the first place. Community consent is one of our top priorities, but at the same time, we know a few people may not represent everyone. As programs do resume, we will continue to check our power and privilege and adapt to the realities on the ground to keep everyone safe while respecting our partners' wishes.
We will update this information regularly, or you are welcome to contact us with questions.
What does COVID-19 mean for upcoming programs?
In alignment with our partners at Western Washington University, we have decided to suspend all programs through 2021. We will be launching a new SE Asia program in Spring 2022 to build off the work of our amazing partners during the pandemic. This program will be fundamental as we lay the groundwork to support a grassroots coalition for change. In addition to SE Asia, we will be running our new Salish Sea course and our Vietnam program in Summer 2022; we will finish the year in Nepal with our Biocultural Diversity program. If you have questions on what future study abroad programs might look like in the future, feel free to get in touch.
How will InPlace determine if it is safe to run programs in the FUTURE?
We will continue to follow the advice of our local partners, Western Washington University, healthcare experts, and CDC/State Department guidance to ensure our programs meet the necessary safety standards. We know it is imperative to safeguard our students from risk, as well as the communities we have the privilege to work with in these remote corners of the world.
In order for programs to run:
The US State Department will need to designate the destination country as a level 1 or 2. If a country is a level 3 or 4, we will consider travel if the advisory is in place because of the incidence of COVID-19, the host country’s healthcare system is resilient, and the host country’s COVID-19 case and vaccine rates are moderate. Countries with level 3 and 4 advisories in place for COVID-19 often have lower transmission rates than many places in the United States.
We will also consider if quarantine requirements are reasonable, whether flights are operating/offered by carriers originating in the United States, and if visas are available for US residents.
What is required for program participants and instructors to take part in an inplace program?
Everyone must be fully vaccinated and show proof of vaccine
Participants will be required to complete a COVID-19 PCR test prior to the beginning of the program. It must be negative to travel with the group. If a participant tests positive prior to the program, the student may be asked to reconsider travel or delay departure. This will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, and program fees already incurred for the cost of travel will not be refunded. Further requirements and precautions will be discussed prior to the beginning of the program and be tailored to each course to ensure students are healthy and ready to travel.
Participants must be willing to cooperate with quarantine requirements, which will vary by program. This will include time before travel to ensure travel is not delayed. You should note, we will NOT just do the minimum to travel but will consider individual circumstances to keep communities and students safe. This may include ‘mini quarantines’ to break up travel and mitigate the risk of community spread, as well as rapid COVID-19 tests along the way.
Everyone must follow host-country and CDC guidelines, including but not limited to wearing a mask, physical distancing, reporting illness/symptoms of COVID-19 immediately to keep the group safe.
Be prepared for these requirements to change. We must be flexible, creative and adapt to the situation on the ground.
How can we ensure community consent before travel?
In short, we can’t; not 100%, anyway. Communities are all different. They vary in size and demographics, and power plays a significant role in what information we learn and when we hear it; especially, from a distance. That said, we will do our best to listen, make sure everyone is comfortable, and do our best to avoid imposing ourselves on our partners. We will connect with our partners during planning, but we will also need to adapt on the ground. It may mean staying in a guest house or tent instead of homestay or being open to changes in our itinerary. It will depend, but our community partners will be central in that decision-making process.
What is the risk if I apply to study ABROAD IN THE COMING YEAR?
There is no risk. Our application is always FREE. Even if you apply and decide not to go, you can use your acceptance and apply it towards any future InPlace program. We will walk you through the process to make sure you are not obligated to pay a deposit until you’re 100% committed to the idea of travel. And if you do commit and the trip is canceled before departure, you will be refunded in full.
What are some steps you can take in case your program doesn’t run because of covid-19?
We hope for the best because we know our global partners depend upon this income to support their livelihood, but know we must plan for the worst-case scenario. That means it’s essential to continue to have a back-up plan in case WWU cancels future study abroad programs because of COVID-19. We encourage everyone to register for classes on-campus and to contact us before you make any travel arrangements.