Spring 2022 Exchange Student Newsletter
Hello students!

Welcome back to the sixth newsletter for spring 2022 exchange students at Washington University in St. Louis. Please read this newsletter in full as it contains important information.

As a reminder, you can access all information for exchange students through the Spring 2022 Exchange Student Guidebook.

If you have any questions, please reach out to either your academic division exchange adviser, OISS, or the First Year Center.

We are excited to welcome you to campus soon!

-First Year Center
Travel Requirements
As a reminder, all individuals traveling to the United States must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test. The test must be within 1 day of your flight departure, and you will need written documentation of your test results (or proof of having recovered from COVID-19). For the full policy review and list of exceptions, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Review the new pre-departure testing and attestation requirements for those traveling to the U.S. by air.
COVID-19 Updates
Last week WashU announced that classes will begin remotely from January 18-30, 2022. Winter Welcome will be hosted in a hybrid format. To keep our community safe, we have moved all social events online and will not be holding group meals. On-campus food service will still be provided to all students during Winter Welcome. More information regarding dining options will be provided upon your arrival.

Most meetings and informational sessions will be held via Zoom while a few programs (i.e. a shopping trip, campus tour, and university welcome) will be ahead in-person. We will also be providing activities to help you connect with your fellow students during the two weeks of remote learning.

Please continue to review WashU COVID-19 updates for any new information. Additionally, if you are not already using your WashU email, we strongly encourage you to do so in order to stay updated.

If you have any questions about Winter Welcome or COVID-19 protocols, please contact the First Year Center.
Winter Welcome Reminder
As a reminder, when you arrive, you will participate in Winter Welcome, an orientation program to help you learn about WashU and St. Louis. A few highlights to look forward to during Winter Welcome are:
  • Getting to know exchange students from around the world
  • Meeting with student leaders
  • Touring campus
  • Meeting your academic division chairs
  • And much more
See you on January 12th!
What to Expect on January 12th
Staff from the Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS) will be at the airport to meet and transport students arriving between 4:00 PM and 9:30 PM CST to campus through a shuttle. If you are arriving after the last shuttle, we will reach out to you with more information.

All students can expect to receive an email from OISS by 5:00 PM CST on Friday, January 7th detailing arrival information. Reminder: All students must fill out the Spring 2022 International Student Information Survey. If you have not completed the survey, please do so as soon as possible.

Meal points do not officially begin until Friday, January 14th. As a result, we have added $50 in Bear Bucks to your student IDs that you can use for meals between the evening of Wednesday, January 12th and the morning of Friday, January 14th. You can use Bear Bucks to purchase meals on-campus, at several local restaurants, United Provisions grocery store, and through Grub Hub.
Immunization Requirement Reminder
As a reminder, all students are required to submit immunizations, COVID-19 vaccination, influenza vaccination, and TB test results for students coming from countries with endemic tuberculosis. Review immunization requirements and upload your information to the Student Health Portal.
Required Modules
You are required to complete a Title IX and Academic Integrity module in order to study at WashU. The modules will be available on Canvas. More information will be provided during Winter Welcome about how to complete these.
Important Dates
Spring 2022 Dates
Spring 2022 Exchange Student Arrival: January 12th
Winter Welcome: January 13th- January 16th 
Spring Meal Plans Begin: January 14th
Martin Luther King Holiday (no classes): January 17th 
First Day of Class (remotely): January 18th
Spring Break (no classes): March 13th-19th 
Last Day of Class: April 29th 
Reading Period and Final Exams Begin: May 2nd 
Final Exams End: May 11th 
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