Student FAQ

The U.S. government has taken unprecedented steps with respect to travel in response to the growing public health threat posed by COVID-19:

The CDC has issued travel guidance related to COVID-19. For the most up-to-date travel restrictions and guidelines, please visit the CDC Information for Travel page.

On December 6, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will implement a one-day COVID-19 testing requirement for travelers over age two coming to the United States.  Regardless of vaccination status or nationality, any individual coming to the United States must show a negative pre-departure COVID-19 viral test taken the day before they board their flight to the United States.  You must show your negative result to the airline before you board your flight.

If you recently recovered from COVID-19, you may instead travel with documentation of recovery from COVID-19 (i.e., your positive COVID-19 viral test result on a sample taken no more than 90 days before the flight’s departure from a foreign country, and a letter from a licensed healthcare provider or a public health official stating that you were cleared to travel).

Contact the SMC International Education Center (IEC) for support with any questions, concerns or needs:

• General Assistance: intled@smc.edu or 310-434-4217
• Counseling: smc.edu/askiecc or 310-434-4218

Students who are sick should stay home, engage in social distancing, and contact their primary care provider. If students don’t have a primary care provider, they can call Student Health Services at 310-434-4262. Students should not come in to Student Health as the office will only be providing remote services via telephone and zoom.

International students can receive all medical referrals for primary and specialty care via telephone or zoom from Student Health. Call 310-434-4262.

SMC encourages everyone to protect themselves from illness, such as the cold, flu, and COVID-19 by following the recommended actions:

• Get the COVID-19 vaccine.
• Wear a face mask.
• Get a flu shot.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a bent elbow or a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

The SMC Campus is open with limited drop-in hours available for some services.

See Student Support Contact for Remote Services. You can also check Student Services websites for any department-specific messages.

Check for the most up-to-date office hours and availability.

The Counseling Department is conducting counseling sessions remotely. Students may schedule appointments to meet with a counselor.

You may schedule an online appointment by logging in to Corsair Connect. Brief questions can also be submitted through Online Counseling.

Please contact the individual department. Many will accept documents by email or by upload through a portal.

Students must be fully vaccinated to visit the SMC Campus. Masks are required for indoor areas.

The CMD Compute Lab is open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Contact individual offices/departments to schedule an appointment or request assistance: Contact for Remote Services.

The Modern Languages Lab is operating remotely. 

Check the Modern Languages Lab website to make an appointment.

Notify your instructor immediately so that SMC might help identify the needed resource. And if you’re part of a special program at SMC, contact your counselor.

Visit Student Remote Instruction Checklist for technology resources. Contact for Remote Services for hours and more info.

You may withdraw from a class without a W on your transcript if you drop the class by the Avoid a W deadline. Similarly, if you need to drop a class and want to get a refund, you must drop the class by the Refund Deadline. Check Corsair Connect. Refunds are processed twice per semester and once per summer/winter session.

Students are asked to VERY carefully consider if dropping the class is truly in their best interest. Understandably, tensions and frustrations are high, but do consider potential consequences, such as: financial aid impact, reaching your educational goal, health insurance, visa status (F-1 students visit smc.edu/askiecc), and many others.

F1 students dropping below the 12 unit requirement still need to receive permission from the International Education Center before withdrawing from courses. Contact an International Counselor for further information.

If you believe the reason for your withdrawal is due to extenuating circumstances that warrants an Excused Withdrawal (EW) on your transcript, please submit a Special Consideration Petition at smc.edu/forms. Follow the instructions on the form.

Yes! The credit value of all classes remains the same. You must complete all coursework and continue to participate in order to receive credit for the class. The transferability of classes will not change.

If any class in which you are enrolled is cancelled, you will receive a notification from Academic Affairs alerting you to this. You will also be told if you were moved to another class that meets at the same time.

Yes. You can order official transcripts on our website smc.edu/transcripts and have them sent to you electronically or by mail.

Contact your instructors and the SMC Health Center to let them know you are ill and ask for any accommodations they may be able to make for you.
Please follow directions from your healthcare provider. If diagnosed with COVID-19, observe your quarantine and do not come to campus.

E-mail the instructor to request an add code.

The Admissions Office is available by phone and email during their regular office hours. You may join their QLess line and you will be contacted by phone.

There also limited drop-in hours available.

Check the Admissions website for more information.

If you decide to drop all of your SMC classes, you may re-enroll in the future.

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has indicated that because of the Pandemic, F-1 students will maintain their status even if their on-ground courses are shifted to an on-line format or other remote delivery as long as they continue to enroll full-time (12 units) each semester.

In Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Federal Regulations currently allow international students to take as many online courses as they wish.

We recommend that you remain in California. However, if you wish to return to your home country, you can continue to participate in your classes remotely and maintain your F-1 Visa status as long as you meet 12 unit minimum requirement for Fall and Spring semesters. 

YES.  To enter the U.S., you will need to provide proof of full COVID-19 Vaccination and proof of a negative COVID-19 test result 24 hours prior boarding a flight to the U.S.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced a new order for all air passengers traveling to the United States. 

Effective November 8, 2021, all F-1 Visa students traveling to the United States will be required to provide proof of the following:

• Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination with a World Health Organization (WHO) approved vaccine
• Provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test 24 hours prior to boarding an airplane to the United States.

PLEASE NOTE:  The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has confirmed that for purposes of travel to the U.S., vaccines approved or authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or on the World Health Organization (WHO) emergency use listed (EUL) vaccines will be accepted. Click here for a list of approved vaccines.

Exceptions to this policy will be extremely limited and may apply to:

• Children under 18
• People medically unable to receive the vaccine
• Emergency travelers who do not have timely access to a vaccine
• National Interest Exemptions (NIEs) will no longer be needed for noncitizens who were physically present in any of the 33 countries (identified in earlier travel restriction proclamations) during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the U.S.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your Admission Coach through your I-APP Portal. 

 

Before you decide to drop your courses and return home, please be aware that the new guidelines from the Federal Government allow you to stay in your online courses, return to your home country AND still maintain your F-1 Visa status.

This option will allow you to gain credits in the spring or fall semester that will count toward your graduation and maintain your F-1 Visa status even if you return home. When the travel restrictions are lifted, you can use your valid F-1 Status to return to the U.S. and resume your studies without having to re-apply. This option will also keep you eligible for on campus employment, Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Curricular Practical Training (OPT).

If you decide to withdraw from your courses, contact the IEC Office at intled@smc.edu. 

If you will be out of the country for fewer than 5 months, you will NOT need to reapply. Simply send a message in iApp to let us know your plans and your Admissions Coach will guide you as to the next steps in your process.

If you will be out of the country for 5 months or longer, you will need to reapply. Please send a message in iApp.

The application fee will be waived if you have to re-apply due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

Spring 2022:  Approximately 30% of course offerings for the spring 2022 semester will be offered on-ground. Many academic support departments are also offering limited in-person services. Please check SMC’s website for more information. 

Check the Hours of Operation webpage to get a list of the current office hours for SMC departments and services, and how to contact them.

There are also limited drop-in hours for some student services.

Please contact your instructors immediately. Computer and WI-FI resources may be made available to you.

IEC counseling services will remain remote for the Winter term.

During the Spring 2022 term all international student counseling services will be online.  To see a counselor please visit the  Zoom Express Counseling site.  You can also reach IEC’s counselors through ASKIEC. 

If you are sick and cannot continue to participate in your online courses, please contact the International Education Center at IntlEd@smc.edu to inquire about a Medical Reduce Course Load option. Please refer to the Health Insurance questions below for more information on seeking medical help.

The Relation health insurance covers all COVID-19 treatment that is medically necessary and prescribed by a doctor.

YES.  All new and current students are required to purchase mandatory health insurance coverage through Santa Monica College.  The health insurance fees will be charged at the time that you pay for your tuition.  To learn more about how to use your health insurance plan as well as the coverage terms of the plan please click here. 

YES. Your health insurance will cover your doctor visits while you’re in your home country with the same in-network cost share that you experience in the U.S.

This means medically necessary treatment will be covered at the in-network level of benefits subject to any in-network deductible, coinsurance and co-payments.

If you receive treatment in your home country, please submit a completed claim form along with a copy of the bill to Wellfleet.  Claims forms are located at studentplanscenter.com.  Please scroll to the forms page.

During the COVID-19 pandemic and until further notice, International Students are not required to call Student Health Services for a referral before visiting their doctor.

If you need medical care, please read below:

• Find a doctor, if you don't have one

• Additional information from the Center for Disease control

 

If you have any questions about your health insurance, your coverage, or a bill you have received, please feel free to contact us at Intled@smc.edu.

Please Note:  Student Health Services is open virtually providing telehealth for all SMC students. Students can receive referrals, health consultation, health education, and illness prevention via telephone or zoom by a nurse or nurse practitioner.

Student Health Services is open from 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and can be reached at 310-434-4262.  Students who leave a message within business hours will receive a call back that day. Students who leave a message after hours, will receive a call back the next business day.

Depends.  All international students are required to purchase mandatory health insurance coverage for each semester of study in the U.S.  In limited circumstances you may be eligible for a refund of your health insurance fees.

PLEASE NOTE: Health Insurance refunds are subject to strict deadlines and eligibility criteria.

To be eligible for a health insurance refund, you must meet the following criteria:

• You must NOT be physically present in the U.S. during the health insurance coverage period for which you are requesting a refund. For information on health insurance coverage dates please click here.
• You must submit the Health Insurance Refund Form and proof that you are not currently in the U.S.   For health insurance refund deadlines and refund instructions please click here. 

PLEASE NOTE:  Insurance refund submitted after the stated deadlines will not be accepted or processed.

YES.   All new and current students are required to purchase mandatory health insurance coverage through Santa Monica College.

Please complete, sign, and submit theRequest for Verification Letter form to intled@smc.edu from your SMC email address. We cannot accept typed signatures: please print the paper and sign it.

If you are submitting a form to be completed, please select ‘Attached Form’ and submit the form you would like completed along with the verification letter request form.

Sign up to receive your letter via Express shipping. Using your SMC ID number. Pay for your order and email your order number, name, and SMC ID number to intled@smc.edu from your SMC email address.

Note that verification letter requests take up to 10 business days for processing, and we will finish each request as soon as possible. You will receive an email to your SMC student email account when your request is completed.

YES.  Federal regulations require that all new international students who have arrived in the U.S. check in with the International Education Center within 10 days of arrival.  To make sure that you maintain your legal F-1 visa status, please visit our website for check-in instructions immediately after you enter the United States.       

YES.  If you are a current student in valid F-1 status, you can re-enter the U.S.   

Before traveling into the U.S., you will need the following:

• A Travel Signature for your I-20.
• A Valid F-1 Visa
• A Valid Passport with an expiration date that is not less than 6 months from the date you enter the U.S.
• Proof of a negative viral COVID-19 testwithin the 24 hours before your flight to the U.S. departs. 
• Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination. You must be fully vaccinated with a WHO approved vaccine.   Click here for a list of approved vaccines.

NOTE: If the travel signature on your current I-20 will be more than 1 year old on the day that you will enter the U.S.,  please complete the I-20 Travel Request Form and email it to intled@smc.edu from your SMC email address to receive a new travel signature on your I-20. The International Education Center will email you a new signed I-20 for travel.

Federal regulations now allow I-20s with travel signatures to be sent to students electronically by email. 

Please Note: An I-20 is not required to depart the US.  Our processing time may take up to 2 weeks due to the high volume of travel signature requests that we are processing. 

YES.  You need to be fully vaccinated with a WHO approved vaccine to enroll in on-ground courses for the Winter and Spring 2022 terms.

PLEASE NOTE: To participate in on-ground courses during the winter 2022 term, you will need to upload proof of full COVID-19 vaccination by December 17^th 2021.  Please upload your proof of vaccination here.  

All your on-ground courses will be dropped at 11:59 pm on December 17^th,2021 if proof of vaccination is not uploaded and approved. 

To participate in on-ground courses during the Spring 2022 term, you will need to upload proof of full COVID-19 vaccination by February 3^rd, 2022.  Upload your proof of vaccination here.  All your on-ground courses will be dropped at 11:59 pm on February 3^rd, 2022 if proof of vaccination is not uploaded and approved.

We are continuing with our current disbursement process which occurs weekly on Thursdays. Student financial aid files must be complete and ready to be awarded. Please continue to check your portal on the Corsair Connect.  SMC is now using BankMobile for Financial Aid disbursements. BankMobile offers students the choice of receiving funds electronically or via check. All students must create an account to select the preferred method to avoid delays in receiving funds.

We encourage you to join our QLess list to speak to a financial aid representative. We are also checking emails, financialaid@smc.edu.

Our goal is to maintain our current processing operations.

We encourage you to consistently check your portal on your Corsair Connect to review your application status and file review progress. We will continue to process files within our normal processing time frame.

As long as you remain enrolled in classes, we will evaluate your eligibility to receive financial aid assistance based on the number of enrolled units.

Appeals and documentations must be submitted through the E-Docs portal.  

If you are a federal work study student, you will not be permitted to continue working as the unit requirement is 6 unit enrollment. If you are the recipient of a federal Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loan, you will immediately begin your six month grace period prior to you transitioning to loan repayment. See how it can affect grants. Please feel free to contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships for additional details.

Please contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships by joining QLess or emailing financialaid@smc.edu to review the financial aid implications. The Financial Aid staff is here to assist you and will work with you regarding your financial aid eligibility.

Yes, to speak to a representative please join QLess during available hours, we have staff ready to answer and address your questions. Financial aid office is also open for walk-ins, hours are as follows: 

QLess Hours:
Mondays: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Tuesdays & Wednesdays: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Thursdays: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Fridays: 9 a.m. - 12p.m.

In-Person Office Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Friday: CLOSED

Please read the information on the Waivers and Exceptions page and submit your waiver there.

Waivers are processed within 5-7 business days. Please check your SMC email account for waiver decisions.

Sign up for a chemistry challenge.

Please contact the Math Department for more information regarding the math challenge process.

Please log into Corsair Connect to review or complete your placement process.

Once logged in, you can find the placement tab on the top right hand corner of your screen. Please complete all steps and accept your results in the end. 

Math and English placements are available on your Corsair Connect account. Please login to your account and select the “Placement” tab, located to the far right of the screen.

Currently, we are not accepting new proctor appointments until further notice.

Yes, Federal Work Study students may continue to work. Contact your supervisor for instructions.

You may continue to contact us at 310-434-8205 to schedule an appointment with a counselor, speak to VRC staff or you go online to your Corsair Connect account and book an appointment with a counselor. You may also contact us via email at VetsOutreach@smc.edu.

Our facilities department and custodial team is ensuring that surfaces are disinfected and cleaned, and that soap and hand sanitizer stations remain filled. Remember that hand washing with soap and water is the most effective way to reduce the spread of any infection.

Please contact your supervisor for instructions.