FAQs About Enrolling for Fall 2020

• The Wichita metro area has not seen large numbers of COVID-19 cases like other cities have.  Our hospitals and clinics are operating normally.
• The University is doing everything it can to keep students as safe as possible. 
• Everyone is expected to wear face masks while on campus.
• Social distancing is required.  You must keep at least 2 meters away from other people.
• To allow for social distancing, there is reduced seating capacity in classrooms, eating areas, lounges, and public areas.
• Public areas are sanitized at least once daily.
• We are here to help for our international students!  We provide assistance in-person or by email, phone, WhatsApp, Zoom, or Facebook Messenger.

Yes!  Please complete our Fall 2020 Questionnaire if you have not already done so.  Complete a questionnaire AS SOON AS POSSIBLE even if you don't yet have a visa or if your plans might change later on.

Because of COVID-19, classes for Fall 2020 will either be offered FULLY ONLINE or HYBRID depending on the class.  Please note that new students entering the U.S. for the Fall 2020 must enroll in at least one course with an in-person component.

Fully Online Classes:  You may continue living where you are and take online classes for Fall 2020 without having to come to Wichita. You will be charged an extra online fee of $97.25 per credit hour when taking online classes.

Hybrid Online Classes:  A hybrid class often has a mixture of both in-person and online instruction.  Some hybrid classes are offered completely online but the professor may require students to come to campus for exams.  There is no extra fee charged for hybrid classes.  Depending on the class, the content will be delivered as:

1)  Asynchronous - Students can view online content and do assignments whenever it is convenient for them.

OR

2)  Synchronous - Students will meet in-person or online on specific days/times like you would for a traditional in-person class.  For example, you might have a synchronous hybrid class that meets online on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 09:00-10:15am Central U.S. time.  In this example, the professor also requires students to come to campus twice during the semester for exams.  When taking a synchronous hybrid class, students should consider the class meeting time if they are living in a different time zone.  In addition, the student should be aware of whether or not the professor requires students to physically come to campus for lectures or examinations.

VERY IMPORTANT:  Visit https://wichita.edu/Fall2020 to find out if a class is offered online or hybrid and whether the class is asynchronous or synchronous.  As a new student, it is very important to look up each class to ensure that you are taking at least one course with an in-person component.

Student Health Sevices at Wichita State University provides a variety of medical services including routine medical examinations, laboratory services, vaccinations, prescription medications, and much more. 

Watch the video produced by Student Health Services to learn what new students need to know before coming to Wichita.  The video also provides information about the tuberculosis (TB) testing requirement, medical insurance, and more.

Learn more about mental health services available on campus.

Maybe.  Because all countries currently have a CDC Level 3 Travel Notice, the State of Kansas requires travelers from ALL COUNTRIES to be quarantined for 14 days starting with the day after their arrival in Kansas.  In addition, Kansas requires travelers from CERTAIN U.S. STATES to be quarantined as well. Because the list of U.S. states requiring quarantine in Kansas is updated often, we won't know if you might be subject to quarantine until closer to the time that you arrive on campus.  For details, visit https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/175/Travel-Exposure-Related-Isolation-Quaran. 

• You should begin to quarantine yourself as soon as you arrive in Kansas.
• Your quarantine will last for 14 days. Day 1 of your quarantine begins the morning after your arrival in Kansas. If you do not develop COVID-19 symptoms by the end of your 14^th day, you may leave quarantine without seeking permission from a health care provider or public health official.
• Monitor your symptoms and read the Quarantine FAQs provided by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment for travel-related quarantine.
• As long as you wear a mask and remain at least two meters (6 feet) away from other people, you may temporarily leave quarantine for these reasons only:
  ○  To seek medical attention or to obtain medication
  ○  To do laundry
  ○  To get food from a restaurant in your hotel to take back to your room to eat
• If you need medical assistance during your quarantine, please contact Student Health Services. If you have already set up your password in the myWSU portal, you may ask questions or schedule an appointment using the myShockerHealth portal.  Otherwise, call (316) 978-4792.  If you contact Student Health Services, please let them know that you are currently in travel-related quarantine. If you develop COVID-19 symptoms during quarantine, contact Student Health Services BEFORE coming to campus for medical assistance.
• If you need non-medical assistance during quarantine, please contact Tonya Baldwin, Assistant Director in the Office of International Education. Email:  tonya.baldwin@wichita.edu |  Telephone:  (316) 978-6037
• To learn more about how to reserve a room and get food during your quarantine, visit the FAQs provided by the Office of Housing and Residence Life. Please note the following: 
  
  ○  Quarantine spaces in the residence halls on campus are very limited. Rooms are only available to students who have already signed a housing contract to live on campus. In order to get a room, students must arrive on July 25.  Since this may not be possible for most international students, you will likely need to stay in a hotel during quarantine.
  
  ○  The University has obtained discount pricing for students at nearby hotels for their quarantine. Complete details about the hotels, the cost, food options, and more can be found on the above webpage.  You should reserve a hotel room BEFORE coming back to Wichita so that you can go directly from the airport to your hotel room to begin your quarantine. When making a hotel reservation, let the hotel know that you are a Wichita State University student in order to get the special discount rate.
  
  ○  You are allowed to quarantine in the home of a friend or family member as long as you adhere to the requirements provided by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. 

Important Dates	Date(s)	Comments
Suggested Arrival Dates	August 9 - 11
Quarantine on Arrival (14 days)	Begins day after arrival in Kansas	Required for all international travelers and travelers from certain U.S. states.   More Information
First Day of Classes	August 17
Last Day Students Can Arrive in Wichita	August 19 or 20 (depending on whether or not you have met our English requirement)	Need to arrive later?  Email international@wichita.edu for assistance.
Labor Day Holiday	September 7	NO CLASSES
Last day to submit a 'Request for Extended Winter Intersession Form' if living in the residence halls	Early November (exact date has not yet been determined)	Required if you wish to continue living in the residence halls from November 21 to late January
Last day of in-person classes	November 20	All remaining classes after this date will be online
Last day to move from the residence halls unless approved to stay during Winter Break	November 20
Fall Break	November 21-29	NO CLASSES
Classes resume after Fall Break	November 30	All classes will be held online from November 30 to December 3
Last day of classes	December 3
Study Day	December 4	Prepare for final examinations
Final Examinations	December 5-10	All exams will be held online
Winter Break	December 11 to January 31	Spring 2021 classes begin February 1, 2021.

If you have not met our English requirement by taking the TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or some other method, we recommend you sit for the Duolingo English Test as soon as possible.   

Yes.  Due to COVID-19, travelers from certain countries are temporarily barred from entry to the U.S.  See https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/from-other-countries.html.  Update from 7/17/2020:  While the travel ban is still in effect for most people, students on F-1 visas may now travel from the UK, Ireland, and the Schengen area of Europe without having to get a national interest exception to travel to the U.S.  Canadian and Mexican students on F-1 visas may enter the U.S. by land or air.

If you do not yet have an F-1 visa to enter the U.S. in August, you should do the following:

• Follow the steps at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/student-visa.html
• If possible, schedule a visa interview appointment AS SOON AS POSSIBLE even if the U.S. embassy or consulate is currently closed.
• If you cannot arrive by August 17, you should request an "Expedited Interview Appointment." Requirements for an Expedited Interview Appointment at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate
• Before your visa interview, be sure to read our Visa Tips.

Because of COVID-19, we will not be able to provide our normal airport arrival service for Fall Semester 2020.  For this reason, you will need to take a taxi, hotel shuttle, Uber, or Lyft to the hotel, apartment, or home where you will staying for your 14-day quarantine.  For a complete listing of taxis, hotel shuttles, and ride sharing options from Wichita's Eisenhower National Airport, visit https://www.flywichita.com/ground-transportation/. 

Absolutely!  To start this process, please complete our Fall 2020 Questionnaire.

No.  Whether you study in Wichita or outside of the U.S., your Global Select scholarship will still be available to you.  If you cannot enroll for the fall semester, no problem.  Your Global Select scholarship will be available when you enroll at some point in the future.

New Students:  Please complete our Readmission Form (FREE due to COVID-19)

Former or Continuing WSU Students:  Email iss@wichita.edu and let us know when you plan to return to Wichita.