Dear Study Abroad Students and Parents,
Lafayette College continues to monitor the latest information around the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), especially in locations where our students are studying or are likely to travel during their time abroad.
This email is designed to share information about our process and to provide clarity around communication.
The Decision Making Process
International and Off-Campus Education (IOCE) reviews country-specific information several times a day and is also subscribed to a number of travel-related and professional listservs for immediate updates. Additionally, we meet regularly with the College’s International Risk Committee (IRC) and the Incident Action Group (IAG) to discuss updates, benchmarks, and make decisions based on new information. These advisory committees are comprised of representatives from all administrative and academic sectors of the College.
We are specifically reviewing advice from the following sources:
Department of State
CDC
WHO
On Call (our international travel assistance partner)
Consultation with the leadership of peer institutions and program providers
Advice from local host governments
Communication
As long as COVID-19 remains a concern, I plan on reaching out to students and families at least once a week, regardless of whether there is new information to share.
When we receive program updates, my office will also contact students to offer support and to solicit any questions they may have. We also welcome your questions any time.
Programs with the Option to Return
Some programs that intend to maintain operations have given students the option to make individual decisions about returning. If you decide to voluntarily return from your program, it will be imperative that you understand how and whether your program will assist you with completing courses for full academic credit. Students who return early should not expect to move back into campus housing, though we would welcome your visits and attendance at events (if returning from a CDC level 3 country, we would ask that you self isolate for 14 days prior to visiting)
If you do make arrangements to leave your program early, please update us on your plans.
FAQs
We have compiled this FAQ sheet that may address other questions you have.
Reminders
Meantime, we would like to remind students to closely follow and adhere to the advice they are receiving from their host institutions. In addition to information that you are receiving from your host programs, it is important to continue following normal preventative measures to avoid infections. If you have not already done so, please read the communication to the campus community regarding COVID-19 which includes the following recommendations:
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
Cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue or your sleeve.
Clean surfaces, door knobs, keyboards with germicidal wipes.
Stay out of class/work when you are sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Additional recommendations specific to your status as an international traveler include:
Registering all travel with the Department of State (travel.state.gov) or your country of citizenship’s equivalent (U.S. citizens enrolled in Lafayette programs in Bonn and Madrid are already registered for their time in those cities, but should register any travel plans independent of the programs.)
Reporting any travel outside of your host city to your program.
When traveling independently, monitor travel conditions through sites such as the CDC and WHO.
If you do present with symptoms, you should let your program know immediately, so that they can assist with medical care. If this happens during independent travel, you should contact On Call to make arrangements.
All students on international programs are automatically enrolled and covered by On Call through Lafayette. You may also have additional local and/or international insurance coverage through your program.
Finally, we would like to sincerely thank our students and their families who have been patient as we navigate these uncharted waters. Please don’t hesitate to be in touch with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,