Travel Moratorium Appeals

Due to the continuing impact of the pandemic on global travel, the University has implemented a moratorium on University-related travel for all students, faculty, and staff. This decision was made after careful consideration, in the interest of the health and safety of our community.

The travel moratorium is supplemental to the institutional International Travel Policy and Financial Affairs Policy 112: Business Travel and Entertainment.

Limited exceptions to the moratorium may be granted by the relevant campus Executive Vice President (for students and faculty, and non-University Services staff), the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (for staff members of University Services), or the Vice President and Chief of Staff (for direct reports to the President), after review by the University’s Travel Review Committee (“TRC”). Travel will only be considered for an exception if:

Definition of “Essential Travel”:

  • Undergraduate Students: The travel is a required part of a degree program or grant-funded project, and the objective of the travel cannot be postponed or accomplished remotely.
  • Graduate/Professional Students: The travel is a required part of a degree program or grant-funded project, or there is another compelling University-related reason, as confirmed by the relevant dean or designee (e.g. research in support of COVID response; time-sensitive and location-specific research), and the objective of the travel cannot be postponed or accomplished remotely without significant hardship.
  • Faculty and Staff Members: The travel is an operational/academic necessity (e.g., the travel is mission-critical for the University, as confirmed by the relevant unit head); urgent or time-sensitive (e.g., necessary to preserve research, or a one-time academic/business opportunity of a fleeting nature); is necessary to promote health/safety (e.g., travel related to COVID research/relief efforts); or is necessary to avoid potential harm (e.g., postponing or foregoing the travel is likely to cause significant operational, academic, financial, or legal harm to the traveler or the University).

How to Submit an Appeal

Those wishing to appeal the travel moratorium for an exception must follow the steps outlined below. Exception requests will be reviewed by the Travel Review Committee (“TRC”), which will confer with a public health expert and an academic official from your department/school. The TRC’s recommendation will be sent to the appropriate Executive Vice President for final approval or denial. Please allow at least four weeks for the review and approval process. Contact travelreview@georgetown.edu with questions.

Undergraduate travel supported by grants and fellowships, summer transfer credit requests, and credit-bearing SNHS Global Health Practicums.

  1. Complete the International Travel Authorization Application for Undergraduates or the Domestic Travel Authorization Application for Undergraduates.
  2. Attestation of Academic Necessity and Statement of Support: the attestation is within the Travel Authorization Application and should be completed by your dean or designee.

  1. Complete the International Travel Authorization Application for Graduates or the Domestic Travel Authorization Application for Graduates.
  2. Attestation of Academic Necessity and Statement of Support: the attestation is within the Travel Authorization Application and should be completed by your dean or designee (e.g., academic advisor, director of graduate students, department chair, or program director).

Contact Cara Morris and Mariah Strauch-Nelson in the Office of Transnational Programs at the Law Center.

  1. Complete the International Travel Authorization Application for Groups or the Domestic Travel Authorization Application for Groups.
  2. Attestation of Academic Necessity and Statement of Support: the attestation is within the Travel Authorization Application and should be completed by your dean or designee (e.g., academic advisor, director of graduate students, department chair, or program director).

Main Campus Faculty and Staff should complete the Travel Request Form, which will be submitted to Vice Provost for Research, Billy Jack, and the Travel Review Committee for review. 

Faculty and Staff members of other campuses should address their request for an exception to the appropriate Executive Vice President or Chief Operating Officer for their campus.