COVID-19 Updates

For any questions not outlined here, contact Richard Bland College of William & Mary iRBC Recruitment Representative.

• Where can I find more information and updates with respect to what is happening on campus as a result of COVID-19?
  •  Please refer to the Richard Bland College of William & Mary Coronavirus website for the most up to date information regarding COVID-19. Students should also monitor their school email accounts for messages from Richard Bland College of William & Mary and iRBC Student Success Program staff. Many of our iRBC teams also use WhatsApp and other messenger services to stay in touch.
  • For general U.S. updates, please refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• What does the upcoming school year look like for my student?
  • RBC will remain fully open on campus for the 2022-2023 academic year, keeping safety procedures in place as recommended by the Center for Disease Control. Most classes will return to an in-person format with limited options for asynchronous or synchronous online courses.

• What is RBC doing to keep campus safe?
  • RBC has implemented a safe and secure plan which is revised based on updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• What if my student cannot attend classes in person?
  • The plan is for international students is to take full-time schedules in-person. Students will work with RBC Learner Mentors to register for the correct courses during the fall semester. International students who are unable to attend classes completely in-person will be evaluated on a case-by-case scenario by both iRBC advisors and the RBC Student Success Team.

• Will there be a decrease in tuition/fee costs?
  • Given that the live instruction, student support, and connection with students will continue to remain at the high standard that you have come to expect from RBC, our tuition fees will remain unchanged for the upcoming terms.

• What are the procedures in place in case there is an incident on campus?
  • RBC has quarantine plans in place in the case that students, faculty, or staff will need to self-isolate including deep cleaning of any area involved in the incident. Areas and rooms are reserved in on-campus residence halls should a student need to quarantine and isolate. RBC’s rural setting and small class sizes are an advantage in these cases as this allows for little to no contact from campus outsiders. Our current student health insurance plan (CISI) is applicable to any student who may contract COVID-19. Students will receive health coverage for testing and treatment related to COVID-19.

• Does my student health insurance cover COVID-19?
  • Students’ insurance covers COVID-19 testing and treatment. Please keep in mind that eligibility for testing is based on screening measures in place by local healthcare providers (i.e., you must have symptoms or be otherwise eligible based on local requirements).

Future Student and Student Recruitment & Admissions Operations

• Should I still apply to study in the U.S.?
  • Yes! While COVID-19 has disrupted school schedules and other aspects of daily life, we encourage students to stay the course with their plans for education in the U.S. The U.S. and the rest of the world will recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and we want students to be ready to enroll at our partner institutions and achieve their goal of earning a U.S. degree as soon as possible.

• What if I can’t send the required admissions application documents right now?
  • Due to school closures and other limitations, we understand that you may not be able to submit certain required documents right away. Once you submit your admissions application and all available documents, one of our recruitment team members will contact you to assess next steps. In some cases, we can waive, substitute or delay the need for certain requirements to keep the admissions process moving.

• TOEFL/IELTS testing centers in my area are closed. What should I do?
  • Many students are able to demonstrate English proficiency by taking the Pearson Versant Test (PVT) or Duolingo English Test. Both tests can be completed remotely, rather than at an in-person testing center.
  • The Pearson Versant Test (PVT) is available free of charge and can be arranged by contacting your recruitment representative. Please reference the U.S. recruitment representative contact list at the bottom of this Q&A list.
  • For more information and to register for the Duolingo English Test, visit https://englishtest.duolingo.com
  • In addition, we encourage you to visit the ETS (TOEFL) website for information about remote testing options now available in a limited number of countries.
  • Please review the available English proficiency test options and minimum scores for your preferred program.

• If I pay my enrollment deposit and later am unable to travel to the U.S. because of embassy/consulate closures, travel restrictions or other circumstances beyond my control, can I obtain a refund?
  • If students are unable to travel to the U.S. because of circumstances beyond their control, including embassy/consulate closures or travel restrictions we will offer students the chance to defer to a future term or refund their deposit.

• What is the deadline for applications?
  • We are working with our institutional partners to be as flexible as possible with deadlines. We will update the information on the following site as conditions warrant.
  • Richard Bland College of William & Mary iRBC Important Dates page.

• What is the deadline for enrollment deposits and required documents to obtain an I-20?
  • We are working with our institutional partners to be as flexible as possible with deadlines. We will update the information on the following site as conditions warrant.
  • Richard Bland College of William & Mary iRBC Important Dates page.

*Changes may occur before the semester begins to ensure the upmost caution is taken and all students, faculty and staff are in the safest classroom and campus scenarios.