In the wake of the recent global outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, the University now is considering the cancellation of study abroad summer programs in Hong Kong and China. The International Studies Office will issue its decision by the end of this week.
SARS has claimed the lives of over 80 people worldwide and has infected over 2,400 people since its initial appearance in November 2002. The disease originated in Asia and has claimed the most lives there.
The China Gateway Program is the largest of three summer abroad programs in Asia sponsored by the University and will accommodate 28 University students if it takes place.
"This program is designed for students throughout the University who have had no prior exposure to Chinese language or culture," Economics Prof. and Program Director Bruce Reynolds said.
Other Asian study abroad programs may be affected as well. The architecture school is considering canceling its program in Beijing, and the Commerce School recently cancelled a program that included study in Hong Kong.
"The University of Virginia has a uniform cancellation policy for all programs and the trigger for that cancellation policy is the State Department's travel warnings," International Studies Office Director Rebecca Brown said.
The State Department recently upgraded its travel advisory to warning status for Asia due to the SARS outbreak, Brown said.
The State Department makes decisions regarding advisories and warnings based on information it gathers from the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization and other international health sources.
A group of University faculty and administrators will meet Thursday to discuss potential program cancellations. The office of the vice provost for international affairs will construct a proposal and present it to University Provost Gene Block. A decision regarding the programs will be made in the near future, Brown said.
Student safety is a main concern of those evaluating the program's fate.
"The great difficulty is not what we do know about SARS, but what we don't know," Reynolds said.
Program participants offered dissenting reactions to the pending decision.
"I feel like if you let these things stop you from traveling, you're never going to go anywhere," said second-year College student Doug McCollough, who plans to attend the China Gateway Program. "I'm definitely for continuing the trip."
Another student spoke to the program's distance from the outbreak.
"We're going to go to Shanghai, and there haven't really been any cases of SARS in Shanghai that I know of," said second-year College student Hadi Irvani.
The U.S. State Department has taken precautions with government employees traveling to the region.
"There are restrictions on state department employees' travel to Hanoi, China and Hong Kong," said C.T. Forrester, a State Department SARS working crew member. "Any state department official has to get specific clearance for travel to that region."
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