Syracuse University has restricted travel for students, faculty and staff in all SU Abroad programs due to the spread of the coronavirus. Students who violate the restriction could face conduct sanctions. 

The university has prohibited all travel from SU Abroad centers to countries with travel advisories ranked at Level 2 or above from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to an email sent Wednesday to students in the programs.

The CDC warns travelers to exercise “enhanced precautions” under a Level 2 advisory and recommends avoiding non-essential travel under Level 3 advisory, the most severe ranking. Travelers should take usual precautions, such as having appropriate vaccines, under a Level 1 advisory.

Students who violate the restrictions will be referred to SU’s Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities, according to the email.

“Our highest priority is the health and welfare of our students, faculty, and staff,” the email reads.

The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, is a respiratory disease experts believe originated in Wuhan, China. The disease has spread to 76 countries, infected over 93,000 people and killed over 3,000.

SU Abroad centers are not operating in countries with a Level 2 or Level 3 travel advisory — currently China, Italy, Japan, Iran and South Korea — the email states. SU suspended its abroad program in Florence, Italy, on Feb. 25 and has restricted university travel to China and South Korea amid the spread of COVID-19.

The university’s remaining abroad programs in London, Madrid, Strasbourg, France and Santiago, Chile, will remain open until further notice, according to the email. A Level 1 travel advisory is currently in place for the United Kingdom, Spain, France and Chile.

If the CDC raises the travel advisory for those countries, SU will reevaluate the programs’ operating status immediately, according to the email. The university will make a decision in consultation with the SUNY system, as well as the state health department and governor’s office.

“If the University does deem it necessary to suspend programming at additional Syracuse Abroad locations, we will work with each impacted student to formulate a plan to ensure coursework and academic progress continues,” the email states.

Students currently participating in study abroad programs can leave the programs at any time, according to the email. Those who choose to leave their study abroad program early should contact their program’s staff to discuss the financial impacts of their decision, the email states.

It is unclear if students will receive reimbursements if they leave the programs early. Students in the suspended Florence program who finish the semester online will receive a refund this month ranging from $1,700 to $2,100. 

Returning students may be able to finish the semester on campus, depending on guidelines from the state health department, the email said. The students could also finish classes remotely. 

Chancellor Kent Syverud announced Monday that SU is creating a plan for students to finish the semester online should the university suspend on-campus classes. There have been 11 cases of COVID-19 in New York state as of Wednesday evening.

“We appreciate your partnership and understanding while we try to accommodate students’ differing needs and academic requirements in response to an unprecedented global health situation,” the email states.

Published on March 4, 2020 at 7:02 pm

Contact Emma: esfolts@syr.edu