[KS] Study abroad cancellations

[Clark W Sorensen]

Robert,

We don’t have any UW-led programs in South Korea right now, but individual students go to South Korea all the time for various programs. Currently UW is asking students and faculty to apply for travel waivers if they want to go to South Korea (what the criteria for granting them is, I don’t know). Students already abroad have not been recalled.(There is a China ban in place). I expect to see more stringent regulations soon since Governor Inslee just declared a state of emergency due to multiple outbreaks of corona virus in Washington State. I am thinking I should be prepared to teach my spring course over the internet if necessary. Spring quarter doesn’t start until the end of March.

Clark

On Feb 28, 2020, at 1:10 PM, Robert M Oppenheim <rmo at austin.utexas.edu<mailto:rmo at austin.utexas.edu>> wrote:

Dear Korean studies list members,

The University of Texas at Austin is one of the North American universities that cancelled Spring 2020 undergraduate study abroad in S. Korea a few days ago, and recalled all undergraduate students already there.  Because of where we already are almost halfway through the Spring 2020 semester here in Austin, the affected students are not being allowed to register for replacement UT courses.  They are, instead, being required to withdraw for the semester, and actually must apply for readmission to the university in Fall 2020, although they have been assured that this is pro forma.

While I suspect that the situation is roughly the same at other semester-system universities that have recalled their Korean study abroad students, I am curious if there are exceptions or better alternatives in the works elsewhere.

Best,

Rob

Robert Oppenheim
Professor
Department of Asian Studies
University of Texas at Austin

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