COVID-19 causes KY universities to make study abroad students come home
Colleges and universities around the state are suspending their study abroad programs and making the enrolled students return home as quickly as possible.
The changes are in reaction to the worsening coronavirus outbreak in Europe, as well as updated travel alerts from the Centers for Disease Control and President Donald Trump’s announced travel restrictions.
Although schools were making students in Europe come home, the status of students in other countries depended on conditions in the area.
WKU calls back students in Europe
WKU sent an email to some of its study abroad students Thursday night, informing them that “travel recommendations have reached the point where WKU policy requires that you return home as quickly as possible.”
“I know this is terribly disappointing for you, but your health and safety, and the health of our community are our primary concerns,” Caryn Lindsay, WKU’s director for study abroad and global learning, said in the email. “Aside from the likelihood of further rapid spread of the virus throughout the world, we are very concerned about travel restrictions that countries are imposing — often with no notice — that could disrupt your study abroad experience in the future. It could become very difficult for you to return home.”
The email also explained what students should expect when they return home. The following comes from the email:
- “At this time, we do not have specific information about how you may be screened at your first port of entry into the United States. Be prepared to have your temperature taken and to provide specific information about where and when you have traveled.
- “You may receive different information upon arrival, in which case, follow those directions. The Barren River Health Dept. advises that you should watch your health during travel and for 14 days after returning home and seek medical advice if you get sick with a fever, cough, or have difficulty breathing. We encourage you to self-quarantine during those two weeks.
- “Please call the Barren River District Health Dept. as soon as you can upon your arrival. If you do not live in their district, please call them anyway, identify yourself as a WKU student returning from study abroad, and ask for their instructions.”
WKU’s email said many host organizations have made accommodations for students to finish their coursework online, which WKU supports.
Centre to suspend European programs, not Mexico
Centre will suspend two of its biggest study abroad programs effective March 20, according to Lori Hartmann, interim director of the Center for Global Citizenship International Studies. One is in Salzburg, Austria, and the other is in London.
Those programs will continue in an online-only format on April 6.
The delay until March 20 will help make sure the students have time to get their travel plans adjusted, Hartmann said. She said she’s not currently concerned with travel restrictions impacting students’ return trips.
“I don’t anticipate problems, but we haven’t been able to anticipate anything that’s happened in the last week,” Hartmann said. “So I won’t promise anything.”
Hartmann said the college waited as long as it did to make the decision because it had a support system of faculty in each study abroad program with the students to provide guidance and support.
Centre has another major program in Mérida, Mexico, which is not yet suspended.
“My guess is they’ll probably come home later but not immediately,” Hartmann said.
University of Kentucky tries to get students back quickly
UK president Eli Capilouto released a statement Thursday saying the university was contacting all its students studying in Europe and helping them make plans to come back to the United States as quickly as possible.
“Our top priority has been, and will continue to be, the health, safety, and well-being of every member of our campus community,” Capilouto said in the statement. “We will keep you informed as this fluid situation continues to evolve.”
UK is working to assure the students are able to finish their coursework once they return.
“We are working with these students, as we have with previous students who returned from abroad, to make sure they can continue their studies, whether that’s online or through some other alternative learning platform,” UK spokesman Jay Blanton said in an email.
University of Louisville suspends all study abroad programs
U of L has suspended all of its study abroad programs, according to a campuswide email from university President Neeli Bendapudi. The suspension is part of an immediate international travel suspension, which lasts until April 30.
Despite classes being suspended, students, faculty and staff in some countries were allowed to stay. Others were told to return.
Northern Kentucky University cancels upcoming programs
NKU announced on its website that it was canceling a pair of spring break study abroad trips to Spain and Prague. The university also canceled a program in Italy that was scheduled for May.
This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 10:21 AM.