On March 12, the UC Education Abroad Program, or UCEAP, suspended its study abroad programs in Europe after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state department raised a travel advisory for Europe in response to the COVID-19, more colloquially known as the coronavirus, pandemic.
Going into effect March 16, the suspension comes in the wake of President Donald Trump’s ban of entry for travelers from Europe to the United States for 30 days. Students abroad are encouraged to return to the United States, according to an email sent to participants about the suspension.
According to the email, this ban will not affect American students and U.S. permanent residents coming home. Students who choose to come home may do so but will be screened and face quarantine or restrictions of movement for two weeks upon re-entry, according to the email.
It is currently unclear how this will affect students’ academic credit.
“We are actively working on an academic plan for each of your programs,” the email from Rachelle Gonzalez, UCEAP program adviser, reads. “We will communicate with you as quickly as possible with updates related to academic credit. We appreciate your patience as we work through this unprecedented event.”
UCEAP already made the decision to cancel summer study abroad programs March 10.
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