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WKU Appeal to Travel Form: Student Travel (Education Abroad Program)

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  • Locations: Multiple, Multiple
  • Program Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter
  • Restrictions: WKU applicants only
Program Dates:
Program Dates:
Term Year App Deadline Decision Date Start Date End Date
Summer 2024 05/01/2024 ** Rolling Admission TBA TBA
NOTE: Appeals are due 60 days prior to departure
Fall 2024 07/01/2024 ** Rolling Admission TBA TBA
NOTE: Appeals are due 60 days prior to departure
Academic Year 2024-2025 07/01/2024 ** Rolling Admission TBA TBA
NOTE: Appeals are due 60 days prior to departure
Winter 2025 11/01/2024 ** Rolling Admission TBA TBA
NOTE: Appeals are due 60 days prior to departure
Spring 2025 12/01/2024 ** Rolling Admission TBA TBA
NOTE: Appeals are due 60 days prior to departure

** Indicates rolling admission application process. Applicants will be immediately notified of acceptance into this program and be able to complete post-decision materials prior to the term's application deadline.
Program Description:
Important WKU Student International Travel Policy Update: 

As of 2/24/2022, an addendum has been approved for the WKU Student International Travel Policy to allow students to appeal to travel to locations with a USDOS Level 4 Travel Advisory if the Level 4 Advisory is for COVID-19 (i.e. "Do not travel to [Insert location] due to COVID-19," or "Do not travel to [insert location] due to COVID-19-related restrictions) in addition to USDOS Level 3 Travel Advisories. Appeal to locations with a Level 4 Travel Advisory for any other reason will not be considered. 

Appeal to Travel Deadline:
 
  • 60 days prior to your travel departure date - it is the student's responsibility to calculate this date
Pursuant to WKU Policy 0.1130 Student International Travel Policy, participation by WKU students on University-related activities abroad to a location(s) with a USDOS Travel Advisory rating of Level 3 – “Reconsider Travel,” is restricted.  Any student wishing to travel for academic purposes to a location for which the U.S. Department of State (USDOS) has issued a Travel Advisory Level 3 (“Reconsider Travel”) or a region which the University deems to present unnecessary risks to one’s safety and welfare, must petition the University for authorization to travel by completing this Appeal. Due to the serious risks of safety and security, your decision to petition for travel to USDOS Travel Advisory 3 locations should be made with a serious understanding of the risks and a plan to mitigate those risks abroad.

Considerations for appeal approval include, but are not limited to, the compelling justification for the academic program/experience to be in the high-risk location; relevance and meaningfulness of the academic goals; detailed description of the risks associated with to the location, foreseeable health or safety concerns and their mitigation measures; traveler’s experience; and the level of support in country.  The process of preparing the appeal provides you, the international traveler, with valuable information and resources for your health and safety while you live and learn abroad.

Student travel, with or without accompanying faculty/staff, to locations listed as USDOS Travel Advisory Level 4 (“Do Not Travel”) is prohibited. Appeals will not be considered for such travel.

Western Kentucky University, in its sole discretion, may withdraw approval for or insist on modifications of international travel at any time. The Provost, or the Provost’s designee, has final decision-making authority on university-related international travel.

Completed appeals should be submitted to the Office of Global Learning and International Affairs (GLIA) via this electronic form and must be approved before the program/international opportunity will be confirmed. Appeal form should be completed in conjunction with and does not replace the WKU Study Abroad Application (credit bearing experiences) or registering with the WKU Student International Travel Registry (non-credit experiences).