An Update about Study Abroad and the Coronavirus

Update as of March 2, 2020: After Italy was moved up to a Level 3 Travel Health Notice by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Saint Rose study abroad program in Italy was canceled, and all seven students studying there traveled home. Both the College and the College’s study abroad partner in Italy will be working with students so that they can complete their studies remotely.

The following message was shared with our Saint Rose community today by Saint Rose President Carolyn J. Stefanco:

There has been much coverage in the media lately about the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the impact it is having on colleges and universities. With Spring Break next week, and many of our students and faculty preparing to travel, I want to update the Saint Rose community on the policies we are developing in response to this rapidly changing situation.

We are asking that members of the Saint Rose community who travel to areas on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Alert Level 2 or Warning Level 3 list observe a 14-day self-isolation period away from campus. Fourteen days is the end of what the CDC lists as the incubation period for the virus. We will work with students so that this self-isolation minimizes the impact on their studies. Students who are returning from one of the areas on the CDC list should self-identify to the Vice President for Student Development, Dr. Shai Butler, at butlers@strose.edu and employees should self-identify to Jeff Knapp, Associate Vice President for Human Resources and Risk Management, at knappj@strose.edu.

In addition to individuals traveling for personal reasons next week, 72 students and their faculty have either left for or are leaving shortly for Faculty-Led Programs in Ireland and London, two areas that are not on the CDC list. Students and staff are also fulfilling the College’s mission with the annual community service trips to San Francisco and New Orleans. All of these trips are going on as scheduled. Out of an abundance of caution, and sensitivity to each person’s individual level of comfort, we extended the option to any student who wishes to opt out of their trips to do so. Students were told that any non-reimbursable out-of-pocket expenses that have already been made would be refunded.

There are also 16 students participating in semester-long studying abroad experiences, including seven students in Italy and one in South Korea, areas that are both listed on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Alert Level 2 or Warning Level 3 list. At this time, some of our students in the programs in Italy and the student in South Korea have elected to return to the United States. They will observe the 14-day self-isolation period, and complete their courses remotely. Staff in our Center for Global Affairs at Saint Rose are monitoring the situation and are in continuous communication with all study abroad students and their families.

The College is also updating its pandemic plan as the situation evolves. These updates will be shared with the community when needed.

Students received emails from the Student Development Office about the Coronavirus in late January and early February, outlining symptoms, prevention tips, and additional resources, and similar information was shared in our employee newsletter. These resources, including tips for preventing the spread of the virus, can be found on the CDC website.