Student FAQ

All classes and student services are now remote. See Student Support Contact for Remote Services. Classes that are not remote have been canceled: Canceled Classes.

Most events are canceled, but some workshops are now remote. See Canceled Events.

For the latest updates, visit Coronavirus Preparedness and Prevention or follow SMC on Twitter @SMC_edu.

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.
• Effective February 2, at 5 p.m., the U.S. government suspended entry of foreign nationals who have been in China within the past 14 days.

• U.S. citizens, residents, and their immediate family members who have been in Hubei province and other parts of mainland China are allowed to enter the U.S., but they are subject to health monitoring and possible quarantine for up to 14 days.

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 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.

All campuses are closed. All student support services are now remote.

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

All classes and student services are now remote. See Student Support Contact for Remote Services. Classes that are not remote have been canceled: Canceled Classes.

Most events are canceled, but some workshops are now remote. See Canceled Events.

For the latest updates, visit Coronavirus Preparedness and Prevention or follow SMC on Twitter @SMC_edu.

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.

The Modern Languages Lab is operating remotely. 

We recommend that  students use SANSSPACE to complete their required lab hours. Email your instructor if you don't have the instructions to access SANSSPACE. SANSSpace is an online language lab that can be accessed via the Internet.

Students should email their instructors, Jose Velazquez or Ann Mirsky regarding any questions about SANSpace. Each instructor will provide instructions about using SANSSpace.

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.

All classes are now remote. Classes that are not remote have been canceled: Canceled Classes. Your professors will communicate with you.

Visit theCA Community Colleges Preparing for Online Learning webpage for more information.

The state has approved the removal of a W, as long as the class is dropped by the "Guaranteed Withdrawal Deadline".

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 www.smc.edu/askiecc), and many others.

Refunds of enrollment fees will be issued within 45 days after the petition has been processed. If you remain enrolled in any other class, student services fees (Health, Associated Students, ID Card fee) will not be refunded.

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.

Please talk to your instructor about challenges you may experience with remote learning. Your instructor may be able to identify alternatives conducive to your learning.

Unfortunately, once a grade has been issued at the end of the semester, you will not be able to with. See answer to related question above: Can I drop a class without a W or get a refund considering the current situation?

Yes. Students can drop courses in Corsair Connect until the “Guaranteed W Deadline” for the course and will not receive a W. Check Corsair Connect for Applicable Deadlines.

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..

Classes have not been cancelled. Continue to participate in your courses for full credit. Any changes or updates will be communicated to you.

Here is a list of canceled classes, and information on withdrawing and getting a refund.

In most cases, yes, but the classes will be offered remotely. Information will be provided by your instructor regarding the specific delivery methods for your late start classes. A few classes have been cancelled.

Here is a list of canceled classes, and information on withdrawing and getting a refund.

Under the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, Santa Monica College has ensured that students can continue their education by transitioning all courses and services online. Students are still in contact with the same distinguished faculty and continue to earn credits toward graduation.

While the alternative teaching and learning methods we have had to put in place are certainly different from a traditional in-person campus environment, we hope students understand that continuing their education is the college’s top priority.

Our Faculty, administrators and student staff will serve students throughout the spring, summer and fall semesters remotely. 

SMC students continue to have access to many services covered by their tuition and fees, including technology enhancements made to help virtual learning a possibility.  The International Education Center provides a full complement of services to international students;   The Center for Wellness and Wellbeing offers remote appointments; The SMC Library continues to offer online support for students; The Health and Wellness center provides assessments, follow-up care, and referrals via telehealth;  and the college’s Tutoring and Counseling services are available through a variety of remote platforms. These vital services supported by tuition and student fees are ongoing and require continued support.

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 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 in the summer or fall semesters 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 counselors at smc.edu/AskIECC.

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.

F-1 students can receive assistance from IEC Counselors by filling out a request at smc.edu/AskIECC or by telephoning 1-310-434-4218. Counselors are available via email, phone, chat or Zoom.

F-1 students can receive assistance from IEC Staff, including Immigration Specialists, Health Insurance Specialist, Package Program Specialist, Housing Specialist and other assistance by e-mailing IntlEd@smc.edu, or by telephoning 1-310-434-4217.

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

• A visual guide and clarification about the process

• 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.

Reinstatement workshops and employment workshops will be offered online. Details will be posted on the IEC web page as they become available.

In-person social activities have been cancelled or postponed. On-line social activities are currently being planned. Information will be shared with you once details are confirmed.

Please complete, sign, and submit the Request 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.

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

To obtain a travel signature for your I-20, you will need to do the following:

• Please complete the I-20 Travel Signature Request Form

• Email the Travel Signature Request to the International Education Center (IEC) at IntlEd@smc.edu from your SMC student email.

• IEC will reissue and send you a new I-20 with a valid travel signature electronically through your SMC student email account.

• Print all three pages of your I-20 and Sign it.

• Print the SEVP regulations sheet that was included in the email you received. Have these regulations with you when you reenter the U.S.

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.

Important: You may use this I-20 to reenter the U.S. for the summer or fall as long& as you have maintained your F-1 status during the spring 2020 semester. To Maintain your F-1 Status for the spring 2020 semester, you must be enrolled in 12 credits or be approved for a Reduced Course Load (RCL).  You can maintain your status even if you have left the U.S. so long as you complete your remote and online courses.

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.

Students can request a refund for parking fees by emailing parking@smc.edu. Refunds will be made on a pro-rated basis. Please remember that if you do park at SMC, you will need to buy a daily permit for $11.

Pro-rated amounts are:

• CCPG Spring 2020 Permit ($30): $23

• CCPG Spring 2020 Updated Permit ($33): $25

• Spring 2020 Permit ($85): $65

• Spring 2020 Updated Permit ($93.50): $71.50

Please download the waiver form.

Email completed waivers along with unofficial transcripts/AP scores to: successandengagement@smc.edu.

The VRC has been closed since March 9 due to their move to their new location: Invictus Lower Level of the Cayton Center. VRC remains closed to the public for Spring 2020 term due to COVID-19 safety protocols.

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.