Arcadia, Penn State, Rutgers shut down all spring break study-abroad trips due to coronavirus
About 270 students were scheduled to travel to Ireland, Italy, and other countries later this month over spring break.
Arcadia University, which has routinely sent the majority of its students to study abroad at some point during their four years at the school, has shut down all global travel scheduled for spring break later this month due to the coronavirus.
It’s the first time in the program’s 27-year history that such a step has been taken, the university said. More than a dozen trips were planned, some to countries not yet under alert for the virus.
“As we navigate the global disruption of the coronavirus (COVID-19), Arcadia University is taking the unprecedented step in suspending the travel portion of the spring 2020 preview courses,” Jeff Rutenbeck, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, said in a statement to the university community. “... This decision was made with thoughtful consideration and diligence to protect the health and safety of all members of the Arcadia community, which is always our first priority.”
Pennsylvania State University also announced Wednesday morning that it was canceling all university-affiliated spring break trips out of the country, for both embedded courses and student organizations. More than 800 students and faculty were scheduled travel to about 40 countries, a university spokesperson said.
“We understand that this decision is disappointing to many in our community, but it was not made lightly,” said Nicholas P. Jones, executive vice president and provost. “We made this decision out of an abundance of caution, understanding that things like quarantine requirements, available transportation options, and open and accessible public sites vary from location to location, and are changing daily. Some countries appear to be low risk right now, but that could change at any moment and there could be significant disruptions for our students while abroad and upon their return.”
Potential exposure to the virus also was a factor, he said.
Penn State will work with students to reimburse their costs, the school said. The university also will help the students with housing over spring break.
Rutgers University also this week announced the cancellation of all Rutgers-sponsored study-abroad semester programs, international spring break programs, and Rutgers faculty-sponsored study-abroad programs.
“We also recommend that Rutgers faculty and staff curtail Rutgers-sponsored international travel, particularly to those areas identified by the CDC as areas in which COVID-19 has been identified,” president Robert Barchi said in a statement to the university community.
About 200 students are currently involved in international study abroad, he said.
At Arcadia, about 270 students were scheduled to travel, said Dan DiPrinzio, an Arcadia spokesperson. Places that were to be visited included Ireland, Italy, Vietnam, England, Oman, Japan, France, Costa Rica, South Korea, and China.
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A campus of 3,700 undergraduate and graduate students based in Glenside, Arcadia has topped the Institute for International Education’s list of master’s degree-granting institutions in the percentage of study-abroad experiences it offers students. Although current numbers weren’t available, in the past more than 80% of students traveled abroad at some point during their education.
The university said students whose trips were canceled will have a chance to go abroad next academic year, and the money they paid will be applied to next year’s trip. Those who cannot travel next year will have their $595 fee refunded.
Arcadia will provide housing to students who were scheduled to travel over spring break, the school said.
Semester study-abroad programs in Europe, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa are continuing.
“We are seeking to balance our concerns for students’ health and well-being and their need to make academic progress, while responding thoughtfully to the dynamic challenges at hand,” DiPrinzio said.
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