On March 2, Oswego State students received an email from President Deborah Stanley, explaining the school’s decision to cancel all international spring break programs due to the recent coronavirus outbreaks.

“I write to you today to to assure you that the health and safety of all members of our campus community, particularly those students currently studying abroad or planning to travel internationally, is of utmost concern for SUNY Oswego,” the email said.

The spring break trips to Italy, Japan, France and Ireland were all canceled. Students who signed up were told the school would try to reschedule programs to be at the end of May, should there no longer be a threat of the coronavirus abroad.

“Right now our faculty program leaders and my office are in the process of rescheduling these programs to May after graduation. So far all the professors and most of the students can go then, which is great,” Associate Provost for International Education and Programs Joshua McKeown said. 

“Thanks to our faculty and students’ flexibility and determination, it looks promising that students will be able to accomplish their travel and earn their credit.”

Students that are not able to attend the trip at a later time will receive full refunds, according to the study abroad office.

“I’m kind of bummed out, because I was so excited,” Leigh McMahon, a student enrolled in GLS 100 Global Cities: Dublin, said. “We were going over St. Patrick’s day. We were going to the parade, it’s a huge thing there. I’m bummed out personally. But I understand that it’s for safety, so I’m not going to be mad about it because they’re looking out for us.”

McMahon continued to say that the course will continue, although she is unsure what they will do moving forward. The final paper was originally going to be about their experiences abroad. 

The email that was sent went on to say that students currently abroad in Level 3 countries declared by the CDC, such as Italy and South Korea, are encouraged to return home. Other programs have not yet been canceled, but participants are being encouraged to connect with Oswego State to figure out travel arrangements and what may occur, like being quarantined, upon returning to the United States.

“It’s unprecedented in the nearly 19 years I’ve been here at SUNY Oswego. But we have had comparable and challenging experiences on smaller scales,” McKeown said. “I know we are responding properly and handling it confidently. We have outstanding leadership from our president and senior officials. Our faculty program leaders are dedicated and experienced, and I have a great office team.”

Faith Strohm, an Oswego State student studying in Tours, France, said there is not a huge concern in her city about the coronavirus.

“Tours is a relatively small city and the people at the institute are young and healthy, so the risk posed by the virus is limited. However, the situation is being taken seriously,” Strohm said. “We were briefed on precautions to take to avoid catching or spreading the coronavirus on Monday.”

Strohm is participating in a program through The College at Brockport, so Oswego State has not reached out to her to make arrangements home. However, she received an email from The College at Brockport over a week ago advising students to be cautious, but did not mention them needing to come home early, as of yet. She is supposed to return to the United States on April 25.

Photo provided by Abby Lombino