There are a number of high schools in this area that have spring break (April) trips planned abroad. They are trying to determine what to do for places where air travel is still allowed. Clearly…for places where air travel is restricted (out bound or in bound) they need to cancel.
An additional consideration is the closing of many historic sites abroad. The students are going abroad to see these things…and if they can’t, what are the tour organizers offering instead…if anything.
@doschicos i agree extreme. Which is my incredible frustration if my kid gets sent home.
It is also possible some countries have begun to encourage colleges to pull their students out. No one wants to be stuck with the tens of millions of dollars in medical bills the Japanese were, due to the cruise ship victims. For those hospitalized, this is an expensive virus to treat.
Nor do colleges have the resources to deal with all the rearranging, panicked phone calls, etc.
Clemson is bringing back all study abroad students no matter where they are studying. They have until March 8th to return to the U.S.
Wow, this seems unfortunate and overboard.
I expect the decision was reached after much discussion with insurers, doctors, and lawyers. Colleges sometimes insure these trips with outside companies to provide medical support and such, and there may be pressure there.
Ha! You would think so but NO. British Airways had so many restrictions and excuses and so on, plus the change charge was ridiculous. We just bought another ticket. The students will complete their coursework online.
The University of Tennessee is suspending all outgoing international travel because of the coronavirus, the chancellor announced on Thursday.
Previously, UT had suspended travel to China, South Korea and Italy because of similar concerns. All university-related international travel after March has been suspended indefinitely, UT-Knoxville Chancellor Donde Plowman wrote in an email to students, faculty and staff.
All international spring break trips sponsored by UT have also been canceled, Plowman said. Study abroad sessions in Italy and Japan scheduled to leave before June 15 have been canceled as well.
There have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported to UT. There were 33 students studying in Italy when UT canceled spring study abroad last weekend. All will return to the United States to finish out the semester.
Plowman also asked students, faculty and staff to “be mindful of domestic travel.”
“Governor Bill Lee announced Tennessee’s first confirmed case today, and other parts of the country have declared states of emergency as they work to contain the COVID-19,” Plowman wrote. “Please stay at home and don’t travel if you have respiratory symptoms.”
Employees traveling to conferences that have been canceled because of the coronavirus and cannot be reimbursed through other means will be reimbursed by UT, Plowman said.
“I understand that some of these restrictions may cause hardship, and I appreciate your cooperation,” Plowman said. “Our leadership team will continue to monitor the spread of the virus in Tennessee and beyond and will make the decisions we believe will best protect the health and well-being of our community.”
I brought this up in the Music Major forum, but someone suggested that I look at this thread. Our issue is a little different. My son was accepted to do a music festival in Vienna in June, which he would LOVE to do. He got a partial scholarship, but it will still be expensive. So far we’ve paid a $500 deposit, and bought an airline ticket which is nonrefundable, except that for an additional $300 he can change the dates for some time within a year (I never buy the travel insurance, as there seem to be so many restrictions and I wasn’t really expecting a pandemic!).
The next installment (a bigger one) is due next week, but I’m reluctant to send it in until I know whether this will actually happen, or if travel to Austria (awfully close to Italy, and confirmed cases are increasing) will simply be too risky by then. I’d hate to have him have to be quarantined or something.
The sponsoring entity (which also runs programs in other countries) told me that they’d send an email out by the end of this week, but so far we haven’t heard anything else. All the uncertainty is making me crazy (I’m sure it’s making them crazy too, as there is no way to predict)! But I don’t want to LOSE money on it, as it can certainly be used for other similar trips once things have calmed down again. I’m not sure I believe that the warmer weather will take care of it…
I’d touch base with the entity and ask if their plans or policies have changed. And if it is cancelled, will you get your $$ back.
If your son is healthy, given that he is young and the way the virus is presenting itself, he faces little risk.
There’s worse things than a 2 week quarantine. For something important to him, perhaps it is worth that sacrifice.
@doschicos , agreed that the risk to his health would be minimal (although, just being a mom, I’d hate for him to get sick at all!). And you’re right that one needs to take some risks and endure some bothersome things in order to do what’s really important–I will leave that part up to him. If it’s merely at-home quarantine, that would be no problem. I just don’t want him stuck somewhere else, if that’s a possibility.
I have contacted the organization, but so far they apparently haven’t made any decisions. It’s just that it would be nice to plan, and June is pretty soon. If he can’t go, it would be great to plan something else worthwhile for him to do during the summer other than delivering pizza or something! He can always stay home and work on his music, but even that will have its limits in keeping him occupied.
I think it is tough for these organizations with things changing day to day. Cases are picking up across Europe as well as here in the US.
Where is he studying? Half of my Ds friends are still in Europe.
There are more cases in France and Germany but Japan has a travel warning and France has no warnings at all. Economics I guess.
Or the people in charge are too pokey slow to keep up on changing risks. I’d also say it is political. Japan,however has been criticized for not doing enough testing and tracking with the implication they are underreporting.
Almost all of abroad student have returned or plan to return. 14 days of quarantine is endless to a college student. Especially if they have no symptoms. But that is what they are all doing.
Correction - that’s what they are all SUPPOSED to do. I know of one who ignored that and went out with friends to campus bars, etc. within hours upon returning home from Italy.
They have a very loose version of isolation, sadly. When testing is available hopefully behaviors will change.
Wake Forest cancels remaining Summer 2020 study abroad programs:
Dear WFU Summer Session II Study Abroad Students,
This email is to let you know that the decision has been made to cancel all remaining WFU-sponsored study abroad programs for Summer 2020. These Summer Session II programs include:
WFU/Barcelona: Legal Environment of Business
WFU/India: Culture, Communication, & History
WFU/London: Introduction to Western Theater (Worrell House)
WFU/London: College Chemistry II
WFU/Spain, France, and Switzerland: Global Perspectives in Food & Health
WFU/St. Vincent & the Grenadines
WFU/Vienna: Introduction to Philosophical Ideas
We realize that this will come as disappointing news to many of you, and we share your sadness about the loss of this particular educational opportunity. However, please know that health and safety are our primary concerns, and this decision was made with that in mind. Similarly, it is our hope that this earlier cancellation than initially anticipated will reduce some of the uncertainty you may be feeling about your plans for the summer.
All program deposits made to WFU will be refunded to your student accounts. Similarly, any scholarship funds awarded by GPS will revert back to the University. If you have made any program-related flight arrangements, then contact the airlines directly to make the necessary adjustments to your travel plans.
Thank you for your understanding during this challenging time. We look forward to working with you on future study abroad opportunities. Should you have any questions, please let us know.
Sincerely,
David F. Taylor
Assistant Dean for Global Study Away