Students whose study abroad trips to China were canceled still have a chance to travel elsewhere or get a refund.
The UF International Center had a meeting Friday to finalize the decision to cancel the programs because of the coronavirus outbreak, said Leonardo Villalón, the dean of the UF International Center. The formal announcement was made Monday.
Students who paid a deposit for the study abroad fee will be reimbursed if they don’t travel. However, the center is giving some students the opportunity to relocate their trip or find a new program, Villalón said.
“It’s been a tough time to manage and monitor these things,” he said. “At the same time, safety and health have to be our first concern.”
A total of 143 student applications to study in China during the Summer were withdrawn, said Maria Selezneva, the study abroad adviser for Southeast Asian countries, but only 51 of those applications were formally completed. At least five students consulted with Selezneva about finding an alternative program, she said.
Villalón said only programs to China will be canceled, not those in nearby countries. However, he said his team are closely watching what could happen elsewhere.
“The spread of the virus is mostly due to the people moving,” he said. “So if we need to, something will change, but at the moment we are planning on going through with plans for other countries.”
Jenna Waterous said she was disappointed when her study abroad trip to China was canceled. The 21-year-old UF marketing senior said she was supposed to attend a one-week global immersion experience to learn about business in Shanghai. The UF Warrington College of Business relocated her trip to Slovenia and Croatia instead.
“I’m more understanding than upset, but I’m lucky since they basically made a new trip for us,” she wrote in a text. “You just got to be understanding in situations like this. The health of students comes before anything else.”
Waterous said she paid for her flight, the program deposit and her visa to China. Her visa was refunded and the deposit was applied toward the new program fee. The university offered to pay the fees for the flight change.
“I don’t know when I’ll get the chance to go again, but I’m sure I’ll get there one day,” Waterous said.
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
