College-Wide Eligibility & Essential Elements

All students participating in an off-campus program must:

• Be a degree-seeking student in good academic standing at Wheaton or another college or university during the semester(s) in which the student applies, is accepted and participates in the program. Students on academic probation or suspension, or who have incomplete grades, at Wheaton or another college/university are not eligible to participate in a Wheaton College sponsored off-campus program.

• Be in good standing with Student Development during the semester(s) in which the student applies, is accepted, and participates in the program. Students on disciplinary probation, including Chapel, or suspension are not eligible for off-campus programs.

• Agree to behave while abroad according to Wheaton Community Covenant standards, any additional student conduct standards adopted by the particular study/service abroad program in which the student is a participant, and local laws.

• Be at least 18 years of age or older prior to the start date of the program.

• Comply in a timely manner with all travel preparation protocols including, but not limited to, attending orientations, paying all deposits and student bills, meeting all established application and pre-departure deadlines, obtaining passports and visas, completing Student Health Services requirements, responding to Student Care Team inquiries, etc. Students who fail to meet either College or program deadlines may not be allowed to participate.

• Be current in their student accounts. Students with a financial hold or past due balances with Student Financial Services will not be permitted to register for off-campus programs and will be responsible for any related withdrawal fee(s).

• Comply with country(s) specific vaccinations required by the US Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Students traveling to locations where they will be working with children or other at-risk populations are required to receive or have received the minimum required vaccines for childcare workers in the state of Illinois. The immunizations, whether administered as a single dose or in a series, must be completed at least two weeks in advance of the date of departure. As a matter of Christian ethics, we are committed to minimizing the risk of bringing vaccine-preventable disease to an at-risk community. For further details and exceptions, see Wheaton College International Travel Clinic Immunization Exemption Policy and Wheaton College International Travel Clinic Immunization Waiver.

• If a College-sponsored international trip involves organized contact with vulnerable populations^*, the College will require a negative COVID-19 test (rapid antigen or PCR test) within 24 hours of departure and an on-site COVID-19 test within 48 hours for all participants. 
  
  ^*Vulnerable populations, as defined by the IRB and other sources, include: children, the elderly, individuals with disabilities, institutionalized individuals (such as hospital patients, prisoners, and residents of nursing homes or orphanages), individuals of low socio-economic status (given potential limited access to healthcare), and individuals with certain pre-existing medical conditions.
   
• Carry domestic, personal health insurance or have access to health-care from their home country; coverage should include preventive care before program departure, any routine care required while overseas, and any follow-up care which might be needed upon return from an international program. A student studying or serving off-campus in a U.S. location should carry personal health insurance that provides coverage in the U.S.; coverage should include emergency medical care and routine care where needed. While Wheaton provides insurance for emergency medical needs for approved participants in a Wheaton-sponsored program (outside of the U.S. and the participant’s home country), students maintain responsibility for their health care needs, insurance, and expenses while at home, on-campus, and abroad/off-campus.
   

• Meet program specific "essential elements" as articulated by the program/program leader of which the student is a applicant/participant.