Fall 2020 Planning and Updates for International Students: Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will Skidmore allow students to arrive early and will quarantine services be offered?
A: Yes. Skidmore will begin providing quarantine services and housing to all students who are traveling internationally or from certain U.S. states on August 7th. If possible, new students are encouraged to arrive between August 7th and 9th and returning students by August 10th. This will enable students to quarantine prior to new student orientation and the first day of classes.
Skidmore will provide necessary services for students to quarantine according to CDC and New York State guidelines. Details regarding specific steps for arrival, quarantine requirements, and locations will be communicated soon. Please note August 7th is the absolute earliest arrival date. No students will be provided housing prior to that date under any circumstances. Please plan accordingly.
Q: International flights often change or get canceled. What if students can’t arrive between August 7th and 9th?
A: We understand the complexities around international travel. If you arrive after August 9th it may mean you will need to remain in quarantine during first year student orientation and/or the first days of classes. Staff in SAS and other offices will provide all necessary information for orientation and assist students in these circumstances to transition into classes and the Skidmore community as soon as possible.
Q: On July 6th Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued new guidance to all Student Exchange and Information System (SEVIS) users. What specifically is Skidmore’s model and what is required of students?
A: Skidmore is entering a hybrid model of education for fall 2020. Per ICE guidance, students studying on campus can take more than one online class (typically, international students may take no more than 1 online class per semester worth up to 3-credits). Students attending classes on campus may NOT take a full online course schedule, so at least one class must be in-person. The only international students who may take all of their Skidmore classes online during the Fall 2020 semester are international students who are studying remotely from outside of the U.S.
Additionally, Skidmore’s Primary and other Designated School Officials (P/DSO) are working on updating necessary forms I-20 which will enable new students to apply for F-1 Student Visas and provide returning students with documentation necessary for travel to the U.S. https://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/bcm2007-01.pdf
Q: If I remain outside the U.S. and study remotely for the Fall 2020 semester, or if I take a leave of absence in the Fall, will my F-1 visa be negatively affected? Will I be able to return to Skidmore at a later date?
A: Your F-1 visa status is not changed by the updated guidance from the government. Your F-1 visa remains valid until the expiration date on it. Also, remember that you can remain in the U.S. to study even after your F-1 visa expires, as long as you have a valid Active Status I-20 from Skidmore College, and as long as you do not depart the country (at which points you need a new F-1 visa in order to re-enter).
Students who will remain outside of the U.S. for the Fall semester, either to complete their Fall semester online or due to a leave of absence, will have their I-20s rendered Inactive. This is normal practice. Before returning to Skidmore, e.g. for the Spring 2021 semester, these students must apply for a new I-20 from Skidmore.
Q: The announcement from ICE made it sound like international students cannot take a fully online semester of classes this Fall. Is that true?
A: No. International students at Skidmore may take a fully online semester of Skidmore classes if they are studying remotely from outside the U.S. but these students will have their I-20s terminated per normal practice and must re-apply for a Skidmore I-20 before they return to Skidmore. Whereas international students who will return to the U.S. to take classes at Skidmore must take at least 1 of those classes in-person (additional classes may be taken in-person and/or online).
Q: Can international students receive emailed I-20’s?
A: Yes. SEVIS has allowed colleges and universities the ability to email I-20 travel documents.
Q: Given the previous waiver on the rule that would otherwise require SEVP termination once a student is out of the U.S. for more than 5 months, what are the present requirements for international students who are currently outside of the U.S. and wish to return to Skidmore?
A: Upper-class students (Classes ’23, ‘22’, ’21) were granted special permission from the U.S. to have their I-20s remain in Active Status through the Spring 2020 semester. The U.S. government has confirmed that this special permission will NOT be extended into the Fall 2020 semester. Upper-class students who wish to keep their I-20s in Active Status must come back to Skidmore for the Fall 2020 semester AND be registered for at least one in-person class. Upper-class students who cannot make it back to campus can enroll in fully online learning for the Fall semester and their I-20s will be terminated and those students must apply for a new I-20 prior to returning to campus to resume in-person learning. As mentioned above, SAS staff are working on updating I-20s as necessary, which will enable new students to apply for F-1 Student Visas and returning students with documentation necessary for travel to the U.S.
Q: What will the implications be for currently enrolled students who cannot return either because of existing travel restrictions or health-related complications?
A: Students who are unable or do not wish to return to campus this fall will be able to take a full course load remotely/online from outside of the U.S.
Q: If international students choose to remain abroad and study remotely for the fall semester do they need to take 12 or more credits to maintain full time status?
A: No. Per the ICE announcement mentioned above, students studying fully online may not enter or remain in the U.S. but are able to study with as many credits as they would like to take.
Q: Will first year students who cannot get to Skidmore due to travel restrictions or limitations be required to defer?
A: No. First year students will also be able to take classes remotely and Scribner Seminar options will be available to them.
Q: What are resources that incoming and current students refer to if they wish to take a personal leave of absence due to the pandemic and for information regarding transfers and deferrals?
A: The Office of Academic Advising (OAA) assists students with Personal leaves of Absence (PLOA). This option is available to current or returning students. There is no deadline to apply, but if a student chooses to pursue a PLOA after the first day of classes the financial refund schedule will apply. Pertinent information can be found here: https://www.skidmore.edu/bursar/withdrawal/index.php
The Registrar’s office assists students to transfer credit into Skidmore college. In most cases, credits earned at other U.S. and international institutions can be transferred in to Skidmore. Student must receive approval from their academic department to transfer credits toward satisfying a specific requirement for a major. Information about that process can be found here: https://www.skidmore.edu/registrar/academic-resources.php
First year students wishing to defer should contact the Admissions office to request a deferral. Please note that deferrals are for a full year, so students seeking deferral will enter Skidmore in fall 2021. At the moment there are no other adjustments to Skidmore’s deferral policy that would allow students to enter Skidmore in Spring 2021.
Q: Will there be waivers of certain all-college requirements? (e.g. study abroad requirement for International Affairs majors).
A: At this time there are no proposed adjustments to the all-college requirements or the curriculum first year students are required to adhere to. Continuing students should consult with their academic advisors regarding potential adjustments to major or minor requirements.
Q: What happens to students on financial aid if they defer or take a personal leave of absence but are guaranteed eight semesters of eligibility?
A: Financial aid eligibility is limited to 8 semesters. These semesters do not have to be used consecutively. If enrollment is interrupted based on a leave of absence, the remaining semesters may be used upon return. Financial aid application and awards are annual, so additional financial aid application(s) may be necessary.
Q: How late can students who are planning to report to campus if they run into obstacles such as Visa issues or cancelled flights?
A: There is no official late arrival policy. Students who face barriers while returning or reporting to campus should maintain contact with the office of Student Academic Services (SAS) sas@skidmore.edu and their academic advisor to receive guidance and support regarding late arrival, working with individual faculty, and managing course work. SAS will also share communication around late arrivals with the Office of Academic Advising (OAA) and other pertinent offices to coordinate support as necessary. It is important that students maintain contact during the delayed period to assure that they have not missed too much coursework.
Q: Would reduction in tuition or added financial aid be taken into consideration for students who study remotely?
A: Financial aid eligibility is determined based on the tuition and fees bill, as well as the student’s housing accommodations and family financial situation. We anticipate the full tuition and fee charge for students, whether learning remotely or in person, and the financial aid eligibility will be based on that cost of attendance. Per Skidmore’s Fall 2020 plan, “We will need to determine the appropriate incremental expense budget and continue to evolve our financial modeling throughout the summer. Skidmore will not pass any additional cost along to our students and families. We will not exceed the planned tuition and fees for this academic year, and our financial aid commitments will not decrease. Also, as we finalize the calendar, room and board charges will be adjusted based on any reduction in room and board days along with any financial aid associated with room and board.”