Ohio University announced Thursday that all university-related student travel programs are canceled because of the coronavirus.
All Spring Semester travelers must return from abroad by March 20, according to the Office of Global Opportunities, or OGO.
Students who are returning from a country with a level three warning from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must self-quarantine for 14 days after returning from travel. Those returning from a country with a level two warning are highly encouraged to also self-quarantine for 14 days.
“The most difficult part about the cancellation is accepting the fact that my dream is ending so abruptly,” Tyra Huxley, a sophomore studying energy engineering and Spanish, if the credits from this semester are still valid, said in an email. “I have wanted to study abroad in Spain since I was in high school, and I am very disappointed that I will not be able to finish my semester abroad.”
Huxley, who was studying in Spain, said she isn’t concerned about any financial impacts from the university. She did, however, have multiple trips planned and none of her flights or reservations are being refunded.
Students have three options to return to the U.S.: contact a travel provider or airline to rebook a flight, contact OU’s travel provider or call International SOS to request its support with booking a ticket, according to an email from OGO to students studying abroad.
The email did not mention reimbursements for students having to pay for new flights.
OU initially only canceled trips to Italy and South Korea. OU also canceled the Marching 110’s May trip to Japan.
All other OGO summer and fall programs are still on schedule.
