University Cancels Study Abroad Program “Indefinitely” Due to Coronavirus

Joshua Ceballos/Investigative Editor

In the face of the massive coronavirus outbreak in China, FIU has canceled its study abroad program in the country indefinitely.

The University announced this week that as of Monday, Jan. 27, study abroad courses in China would be canceled, and the seven students who were participating will be brought back stateside where they will continue their studies.

FIU offers study abroad classes in China for programs in language and culture, business, and hospitality, according to the Office of Study Abroad.

The cancellation announcement comes on the heels of another decision by the University due to coronavirus: students at FIU’s hospitality program in Tianjin, China will be holding off on in-person classes as the campus closes for the foreseeable future.

The hospitality program is located at the Tianjin University of Commerce campus, about 700 miles from Wuhan, China where the virus outbreak is centered, and hosts students from China to take FIU courses. 

According to Ivonne Yee-Amor, spokesperson for Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, FIU classes were scheduled to resume on Feb. 3 after the Chinese New Year vacation, but the outbreak of the virus has led the campus to be closed until further notice by TUC.

In the meantime, hospitality classes will be held online rather than in person.

“Due to the Coronavirus concerns, FIU classes will now resume online on Feb. 3 and will resume in person when TUC reopens,” said Yee-Amor in an email to PantherNOW. “There are approximately 1,000 Chinese students enrolled in FIU’s hospitality management program.”

Yee-Amor said that due dates have been modified for these students so they can stay on track. She also said the school is being flexible and making accommodations for Chinese students who do not have online access in their hometown.

“Some students live in a town where they’re a little remote, and they don’t have internet access daily, so they won’t have set deadlines for projects until the end of the semester,” she said.

Anyone returning to the U.S. from China is urged by the University to monitor their health closely for one to two weeks.