The university continues to closely monitor COVID-19 activity across the country and around the world and will adjust our travel guidelines with the goal of helping minimize risks to students, faculty, and staff.

As of August 1, 2021 WPI will implement new guidelines for:

Note: All travelers are expected to be aware of advisories and regulations for the regions they will be travelling. As a reminder, project travel is handled separately through the Global Experience Office (GEO) and the Global Travel Review and Response Team (GTRRT).  

Travel FAQs
Global Experience Office

WPI-Sponsored Domestic & International Travel

  • There are currently no prohibitions on WPI-sponsored domestic travel for students, faculty, or staff, regardless of vaccination status. If travel costs will exceed $1,000, prior financial approval is required; travelers must submit a Workday Spend Authorization Form prior to incurring travel expenses.
  • WPI students and employees who are not fully vaccinated are expected to follow all CDC travel guidelines, including getting tested 1-3 days before traveling.
  • WPI-sponsored international travel is not permitted for any employee or student who is not fully vaccinated (regardless of medical or religious exemptions).

Faculty and Staff WPI-Sponsored International Travel:

  • If traveling on WPI-sponsored international travel to a high-risk country, receive prior approval from
    • Supervisor/ department head; and
    • WPI Health Services; and
    • Coronavirus Emergency Response Team (CERT) leadership.
  • If travel costs will exceed $1,000, prior financial approval is required; travelers must submit a Workday Spend Authorization Form prior to incurring travel expenses.
  • Register all international travel on the WPI My Trips Travel Registry, a secure platform for the WPI community to record travel itineraries and emergency contact information. Registering provides International SOS coverage and travel medical insurance.

Wear a face covering at all times on all forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and while indoors at US transportation hubs such as airports/stations.

*Learn more about travel risk levels here

Student WPI-Sponsored International Travel:

  • If traveling on WPI-sponsored international travel to a high-risk country, submit a petition to travel to the Global Travel Review and Response Team (GTRRT). Details are here.
  • If travel costs will exceed $1,000, prior financial approval is required; travelers must submit a Workday Spend Authorization Form prior to incurring travel expenses to be reimbursed by WPI.
  • Register all international travel on the WPI My Trips Travel Registry, a secure platform for the WPI community to record travel itineraries and emergency contact information. Registering provides International SOS coverage and travel medical insurance.
  • All WPI students must follow the CDC guidelines for international travel:

Wear a face covering at all times on all forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and while indoors at US transportation hubs such as airports/stations.

  • * Travel related to the Global Projects Program is approved separately.

*Learn more about travel risk levels here

Returning to Campus from Domestic and International Travel

Students, faculty, and staff returning to campus following domestic or international travel – either WPI-sponsored or their own personal travel - are expected to comply with the CDC travel guidelines.

Returning to Campus from Domestic Travel:

  • Unvaccinated travelers returning to campus from domestic travel are expected to get tested with a COVID-19 test 3-5 days after travel AND stay home and self-quarantine for seven full days after their travel.  There are no testing or self-quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated travelers returning from domestic travel.

 

Returning to Campus from International Travel:

  • Anyone boarding a flight to the United States, including US citizens and fully vaccinated people, are required by the CDC to have a negative COVID-19 test result no more than three days before travel.
  • All individuals returning to campus from international travel are required by the CDC to get tested with a viral COVID-19 test 3-5 days after their travel. They must also self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and isolate and get tested if they develop symptoms.
  • Unvaccinated travelers must get a COVID-19 test 3-5 days after travel AND stay home and self-quarantine for a full seven days after their travel. WPI-sponsored travelers can get this test on campus and then go home to self-quarantine.
  • Fully-vaccinated travelers who wish to return immediately to campus can return to campus immediately.  However, they must either get their test on the third day after their travel on campus, or they can make arrangements with the WPI Testing Coordinator to receive a BinaxNOW test earlier, if supportable.
For information and updates on project-related travel, visit the Global Experience Office website.

Additional adjustments to our operations may be needed based on updated guidance and public health trends. We recommend you check back regularly for the latest updates.