On March 19, the U.S. Department of State issued a Global Level 4 Health Advisory – Do Not Travel, the highest possible level, instructing all Americans abroad to either return to the United States or prepare to shelter in place, given the global threat of the coronavirus outbreak.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How can a Gilman applicant who has decided not to study abroad withdraw an application?
A. Gilman applicants will need to contact gilman@iie.org or 800.852.2141, Ext. 1 to request to have their application withdrawn. Gilman applicants are always encouraged to reapply in the future, and withdrawing an application has no impact on their future application.
Q. Can a Gilman applicant edit the program information in the application system?
A. No, the application system is currently closed. All applications will be reviewed based on the program information that was included at the time of submission. The status of a student’s program will not impact the selection process. If awarded a Gilman Scholarship, recipients will be able to work with their study abroad advisor or program administrator to identify alternative study or intern abroad options.
Q. Will a Gilman application still be reviewed if a student’s program was delayed or canceled?
A. Yes, all submitted applications will still be reviewed and considered for a scholarship, regardless of the current status of the original program. If a student is selected to receive a Gilman Scholarship, the student will have two options:
- To defer to an in-person program starting between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021; or
- To select a credit-bearing virtual international program taking place between now and December 31, 2021. The following options are considered eligible virtual abroad programs, all of which must be credit-bearing:
- Online courses at an institution based outside of the United States;
- Via direct enrollment, an exchange program or a program provider;
- Virtual faculty-led study abroad programs;
- Virtual international internships;
- Virtual intensive language programs at an institution based outside of the United States; and/or
- Students may also propose internationally-focused virtual programs for review by Gilman Program staff.
- Online courses at an institution based outside of the United States;
Additional information and instructions will be provided at the time of award, which is anticipated for early July 2020.
Q. If an applicant’s summer 2020 or fall 2020 program has not been delayed or canceled, is that student still required to change programs?
A. Yes. If an applicant receives a Gilman Scholarship then those resources may only be put towards a program that begins on or after January 1, 2021, regardless of the status of the originally selected program.
As an alternative option, the Gilman Program will support virtual international opportunities (start dates between now and December 31, 2021) that are eligible for credit and at least two weeks in length for students at two-year institutions and at least three weeks in length for students at four-year institutions. More information will be provided to selected students, but they should prepare to work with their study abroad advisor or program administrator to identify alternative study or intern abroad options.
Q. When will selection panels be held?
A. The Gilman Program delayed the review of applications submitted in March 2020. Panels will be held from mid-May through mid-June 2020.
Q. When will March 2020 applicants know if they are selected to receive a Gilman Scholarship?
A. The Gilman Program anticipates notifying applicants and their advisors by early July 2020.
Q. Can a Gilman recipient still go on a summer 2020 or fall 2020 program that was not canceled?
A. No. All Gilman recipients’ in-person programs must start between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021.
Q. What should a Gilman recipient do if they will no longer be studying abroad?
A. If a student has already received their Gilman Scholarship funds but is no longer planning on studying abroad or enrolling in a credit-bearing virtual program, they should contact their Gilman regional advisor and will be provided with information on how to account for how they spent their scholarship funds (ex: $500 on non-refundable airfare, $200 on visa fees, etc.). Gilman recipients who do not study abroad will be asked to repay any unused scholarship funds.
Q. Can a Gilman recipient who has not yet gone abroad put the scholarship funds towards an online program?
A. Yes, recipients can use their Gilman Scholarship funds to pay for credit-bearing virtual study abroad or international internship programs that take place between now and December 31, 2021. The following options are considered eligible virtual abroad programs:
- Online courses at an institution based outside of the United States;
- Via direct enrollment or a program provider;
- Virtual faculty-led study abroad programs;
- Virtual international internships;
- Virtual intensive language programs at an institution based outside of the United States; and/or
- Students may also propose internationally-focused virtual programs for review by Gilman Program staff.
Q.How can a Gilman recipient defer an award?
A. Students who are changing to a different program or participating in a credit-bearing virtual program will be required to complete a ‘Program Change’ in the Gilman application system. Please see the step-by-step guide below. Once the student has provided updated program information, the student’s study abroad advisor will be prompted to certify the new program information.
Students who are planning to participate in the same program, but during a later term just need to update the program dates on the ‘Notice of Award’ page in the Gilman application system. Please see the step-by-step guide below.
Students with additional questions or concerns can contact a Gilman team representative at:
| For Gilman Scholars | Contact |
|---|---|
| Recent recipients, contact according to your region | Phone: 800.852.2141, Ext 3 |
| Middle East/Africa | GilmanAfricaMENA@iie.org |
| Latin America, the Caribbean, and North America | GilmanWH@iie.org |
| East Asia and the Pacific | GilmanEAsiaPacific@iie.org |
| Europe | GilmanEurope@iie.org |
| South and Central Asia | GilmanSCAsia@iie.org |
Q. If a recipient changes or defers their program, will they have to return any Gilman Scholarship funds?
A. No, Gilman recipients who change or defer their award to a later term (within the approved start dates of January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2021) do not need to return any scholarship funds.
Q. Can a Gilman recipient defer their award to a later term if they will be transferring from a two-year institution to a four-year institution?
A. Yes, if a Gilman recipient is transferring from a two-year institution to a four-year institution, they will be able to defer to a program that starts between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021. As an alternative option, the Gilman Program will support credit-bearing virtual international opportunities that take place between now and December 31, 2021.
Q. I am graduating in 2020. Can I use my Gilman Scholarship to participate on a study abroad program after I graduate?
A. The Gilman Program is allowing recipients who are graduating in 2020 and whose programs were cancelled as a result of COVID-19 to use the Gilman Scholarship to participate in a program, even if it occurs after their graduation date. Eligible in-person programs must start between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021. Credit-bearing virtual study abroad or international internship programs that take place between now and December 31, 2021 may also be an option. Please contact your Gilman regional advisor for next steps on deferring your award.
Note that this exception is specifically in response to COVID-19 and not applicable in future terms.
Q. Can the Gilman Program help Gilman alumni currently abroad return to the United States?
A. The Gilman Program cannot assist Gilman alumni who are currently abroad to return to the United States. The Gilman Program’s emergency travel assistance was solely to support students who departed immediately after travel restrictions were enacted. Individuals remaining in their study abroad countries should reach out directly to the U.S. Embassy’s Office of American Citizen Services for questions and support, if needed.
Q. Do Gilman Scholars who returned early need to complete their Follow-on Service Project?
A. Yes, Gilman Scholars who returned early will be required to complete their Follow-On Service Project within 6 months of their return to the U.S.
Q. How do Gilman Scholars extend their Follow-on Service Project deadline?
A. To request an extension, scholars need to log into the Gilman Alumni Portal and click the Follow-on Report tab to propose a new and reasonable deadline for the project along with a brief explanation of the extension request.
Q. How can a Gilman Scholar who has returned early revise their Follow-on Service Project Proposal?
A. If a Gilman Scholar who returned early is unable to complete their Follow-On Service Project as proposed in the application, they should contact gilmanrecipients@iie.org with the reason for revision and the new plan. Then they should summarize the new Follow-on Service Project plan in paragraph format by addressing the following questions:
- Briefly outline your proposed project to promote the Gilman Scholarship and international education. How will this project impact your home university or community? What are your project goals?
- What is your target population and how will your project impact this group?
- How will you integrate the impact of your experiences abroad into your project? What medium will you use to express your message? (ex: presentation, flyer, social media, etc.)
- What, if any, campus departments, student organizations, and/or community organizations will you collaborate with in promoting the Gilman Scholarship and international education? Have you already made contact with these groups?
Q. Do advisors need to edit certifications for applicants whose programs were canceled?
A. No. Advisors do not need to edit certifications for applications submitted if the programs were canceled. Students who are changing to a different program or participating in a credit-bearing virtual program will be required to complete a ‘Program Change’ in the Gilman application system. Once they have provided their updated information, advisors will be prompted to certify new program information. Note that students who are participating in the same program indicated on their application, but during a later term, they will not be required to get their updated program dates certified by their advisor.
Q. When will March 2020 applicants know if they are selected to receive a Gilman Scholarship?
A. The Gilman Program anticipates notifying applicants and their advisors by early July 2020.
Q. Where can I find additional State Department and CDC Guidance and Resources to provide students and colleagues?
A. Other resources for up-to-date information regarding the current global health conditions include, but are not limited to:
