Due to the fear of the coronavirus outbreak, South Dakota State University has announced all school-sponsored international travel will be suspended until further notice. 

The university is including spring and summer term study abroad programs in the suspension. 

The suspension comes following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidance, in which they offered advice to institutions of higher education to suspend student foreign exchange programs. 

In an email sent to all faculty members and students, Vice President for Technology and Security Michael Adelaine urged those who are traveling internationally for spring break to “check advisories and alerts and plan for disruptions and possible changes to your itinerary.”

In an earlier email sent today (March 4), Adelaine outlined the precautions set in place for international travel.

“Any student, faculty, or staff member who travel to a country classified as a Level 4 or Level 3 for coronavirus outbreak is recommended to adhere to the voluntary 14-day self-quarantine per the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” Adelaine’s email read. “Any faculty or staff in that situation need to contact their direct supervisor or department head and students need to contact the Student Health Center upon returning to the United States.” 

Despite the suspension, students are able to make a request for a waiver of travel warning policy.  For more information on the coronavirus pertaining to SDSU, visit here.