January Term Travel FAQs

When travel courses are approved in March, a brochure will be created with details for each trip listed on the Jan Term website. Multiple info sessions will be held by the instructor(s) in spring and fall.

For 2025 Travel courses, find info session information and brochure links here.

Travel course registration will occur via lottery (not through GaelXpress). Students who engage with the travel registration process will be assigned a lottery number and will then have the opportunity to enroll in a course. There is no priority registration for Jan Term travel courses beyond class standing (seniors, juniors, sophomores, first-years).

For 2025 Travel courses registration information, find the directions and details linked here.

It varies by course. Course fees are determined by the cost of airfare/travel, accommodation, excursions, etc. by destination. If you have a question about the fee for a course, email the course instructor.

For 2025 Travel courses, find course information and brochure links here.

Contact the instructor by email to let them know you are interested. They should meet with you individually or may schedule another session if there is enough student interest. They will only add students to a registration approval list who have received all of the information and agreed to all of the requirements.

If you are on a scheduled payment plan, you are up to date on those payments AND you have submitted the deposit, you will be cleared to register.

If you are a parent, you must be set up as an Authorized User by your student in order to pay. Authorized Users log in using the link below and follow the same instructions by going to the Deposits link (on the top menu bar) then select “Jan Term 2025” and then select your travel destination. https://secure.touchnet.net:443/C21320_tsa/web

Due to travel course constraints, we are unable to extend the deadline. If you have concerns about your financial aid/loan, please contact Financial Aid as soon as possible. 

• Phone: (925) 631-4370 or (866) 306-0390
• Email: finaid@stmarys-ca.edu

For 2025 Travel courses, review important dates and deadline information here.

If you do not register for a travel course, your deposit will be put towards your next tuition bill. However, if you waitlist for a course and are subsequently given a seat, you will be required to pay the course fee. 

Once a student enrolls in a travel course, they are responsible for the entire course fee. 

If a student can no longer travel, there is a possibility that another student on the waitlist may easily replace them. If this is the case, the funds will not be forfeited (though if there are incidental costs related to changing from one student to another, from an airline, for example, the non-traveling student is responsible for paying them).

This premise, though, includes a lot of caveats. For example, is there another student waiting to enroll and at what point in the travel cycle is a student withdrawing? Thus, it is not guaranteed that funds can be returned, unfortunately.

First-year students may only travel domestically. On rare occasions, an international course may be specifically designed and designated for first-year students.

First-year students are required to take 100-level courses, unless they enroll in a 400-level domestic travel course.

For a list of all 2025 Travel courses, click here.

If you enrolled in a higher-cost travel course, your scholarship will not be increased beyond the original awarded amount. 

If you enrolled in a lower-cost travel course, only 75% of that course fee will be covered by the January Term Travel Scholarship and the remaining award amount is forfeited.

Yes, however, please be aware that you will be charged tuition in addition to the travel course's fee.

Unfortunately, no. January Term travel courses are specifically for undergraduates enrolled at SMC.

During a normal travel year, you will learn this information at the mandatory post-registration meeting. You will need to complete all of the required forms, submit your passport (international course) or ID card (local or domestic), and upload your signed Health form to your course's Canvas site.

For 2025 Travel courses, review important dates and deadlines here.

Yes!

No. All U.S. Passports must be valid through August 2025. If your passport expires before then, you must renew and expedite it as soon as possible. Check the State Department website and follow the steps on how to apply for and/or renew passports: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html.

A beneficiary is someone who would receive any sort of insurance payment in the event of an accident.

It is up to you to choose, but generally, students name a close family member as their beneficiary.

By registering for a travel course, you are agreeing to comply with all processes and deadlines. Not meeting those deadlines prevents you from traveling in January Term. If you cannot travel home to see your primary care physician, please make an appointment with the campus’ Student Health Center or another local travel clinic. If you are planning on going to the Student Health Center, make your appointment right away in September, rather than waiting until November. They may not have open appointments at that point.

SMC’s Student Health Center consults with the CDC and State Department’s recommendations for the location and the individual country’s laws.

The January Term office shares that information with the instructors and the students during the mandatory post-registration meetings. They will also be posted on SMC’s Student Health Center Travel Health webpage once we receive the finalized lists.

Regardless of whether or not you chose to be immunized, a physician or health care provider will need to complete and sign off on your travel health form to verify that you have no medical condition precluding you from participating in January Term Travel.

Please note: If the destination(s) of the course requires proof of vaccination for entry, the January Term Office will not be held liable if you are barred from entry into said location and you will be accountable for determining and being financially responsible travel accommodations in the case of said event.

No, only those traveling internationally will need to submit a passport. You may upload your student ID or driver’s license in place of the passport.

Travel Deviation Policy – Enrolling in a travel course is a commitment to the course. Students registering for a Jan Term travel course agree to pay the course fee in its entirety and to the group travel associated with the course. The course fee includes the cost of travel to/from the destination country as determined by the course instructor. For this reason, students are strongly encouraged to travel with the group.

There are instances, though, when a student may want or need to modify their travel. In this instance, the following steps will be followed and failure to comply negates the possibility of a refund.

1. The student pays the entire course fee to the College at the appropriate time. 
2. The student gets approval from the course instructor for any travel deviations and must coordinate with the instructor to ensure that the group rate/contract is not affected. This can sometimes incur an additional fee and that fee will be charged to the student. The course instructor has the discretion to deny the deviation.
3. If approved, the student seeks approval of the travel deviation from the Jan Term Program Director. The Director, in consultation with the instructor, approves the amount of the refund at this time and in advance of travel. The Director has the discretion to deny the deviation.
4. The student completes the Independent Travel Release & Waiver of Liability and submits it to the Jan Term Office.
5. Refunds related to travel deviations will be processed after the conclusion of the course. 

Refunds will not be provided to Jan Term Travel Scholarship recipients for travel deviations.

All traveling students are covered under the College’s insurance (Chubb's Travel Insurance Services) and should be treated immediately, whether they are ill or injured. Any illness or injury should be reported to the instructor who will, in turn, reach out to the emergency contacts to come up with an action plan.

If a student has an emergency (whether abroad or at home), they are advised to go to the instructor to discuss the situation and the options. They will work with the January Term Office to figure out a solution or plan.

All courses will have mandatory pre-departure meetings and possibly assignments during the Fall semester. Please contact the instructor before registering for the course to discuss your options.