The Colosseum in Rome has been a popular destination for St. Thomas students studying abroad at the Bernardi campus. St. Thomas canceled January Term study abroad programs for 2021 as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. (Photo courtesy of Althea Larson)
St. Thomas canceled January Term study abroad programs for 2021 as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the Office of Study Abroad announced Monday.
After reviewing guidance from the university’s Travel Risk Advisory Committee, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of State and the World Health Organization, Executive Vice President and Provost Richard Plumb made the final decision.
U.S. citizens are barred from entering all but eight countries, according to Associate Vice Provost of Global Learning and Strategy Tim Lewis, and the CDC ranks the U.S. as a high-risk country for contracting COVID-19.
“None of (the eight countries) are countries where we have study abroad programs,” Lewis said.
Last March, the university closed its Bernardi campus in Rome after a COVID-19 outbreak in northern Italy and canceled the remainder of its spring 2020 study abroad programs. Study abroad was also canceled for both the summer and fall 2020 terms.
St. Thomas will review plans for spring study abroad programs in October, according to the Office of Study Abroad, and planning is underway for summer 2021 programs.
Justin Amaker, Leila Weah, Mae Macfarlane, Mia Laube, Joey Swanson and Burke Spizale contributed to this report.