Dear Students,

I am writing to follow up on the email I sent to all Schools Abroad students yesterday.   When the message was sent, we were waiting to make a decision about the continuation of the Schools Abroad in Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay) and Cameroon.  The decision to suspend the other Schools Abroad yesterday was related to the elevation of the Centers for Disease Control advisory for European countries, as well as President Trump’s travel bans for foreign nationals traveling to the U.S. from certain European countries.  We were also concerned for our programs in countries close to Europe or in other regions with high numbers of COVID-19 cases.

This morning we received news that Argentina is beginning to suspend flights to and from the U.S. and Europe.  We believe that other countries soon to follow suit.  Despite the fact that confirmed cases of COVID-19 remain relatively low in your host countries, we are very concerned about the imposition of future travel bans and other restrictions around the globe.  For this reason, we are suspending the Schools in Latin America and Cameroon.  You should make arrangements to leave your host country and return home as soon as you are able.

Your Schools Abroad director will be in touch with you shortly by email with further details.

The decision to suspend programs abroad does not come easily.  Since the closing of our School in China at the end of January, we were aware of the possibility that the spread of COVID-19 could impact other Schools Abroad.  Never could we have imagined that we would be suspending all of our programs this semester.  It is truly a sad situation for everyone involved in international education, but in particular for you all, for whom the study abroad experience was to be a significant part of your college career.  I truly am sorry.

Sincerely,

Carlos Vélez

Dean of International Programs