The University of California announced Thursday the suspension
of its study abroad programs in China due to the threat of Severe
Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
The Education Abroad Program notified the 44 students
participating in the programs of the decision late Wednesday night,
Beijing time, said EAP representative Bruce Hanna. Students were
studying at Peking University and Beijing Normal University.
Hanna said the UC, with EAP’s advice, made the decision
now because the risk of SARS seemed to be increasing and getting
closer to the students. SARS is a new form of deadly pneumonia that
appears to be spreading swiftly in Southeast Asia and other parts
of the world.
EAP had been monitoring local health conditions and were made
aware of a Peking University faculty member being diagnosed with
SARS over the past weekend, Hanna said.
He added that cases were breaking out around the university as
well. Four of the participants from UCLA were attending Peking
University.
“It was just too close, too much of a risk. … There were
too many unknowns,” Hanna said.
None of the students have shown symptoms of the disease, but
expressed relief when EAP informed them of the suspension, he
said.
EAP would offer students assistance in their travel plans, if
needed, Hanna also said.
In addition, EAP plans to offer students help in completing
their coursework and transferring it to the UC system, said Emily
Mohajeri Norris, EAP administrative director at UCLA.
She said that counselors would review coursework and attempt to
secure as much academic credit as possible for the students.
Those students who were on financial aid would receive financial
assistance as well, Hanna said. EAP will cover any charges that
students may have to repay.
Though the UC currently has no plans to suspend other programs
in Asia, they are closely monitoring programs in Hong Kong,
Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam.
The UC is monitoring events closely and is also in constant
contact with EAP staff abroad and other health and safety
departments, said EAP Director John Marcum.
Still students can leave the programs from these countries
voluntarily, Norris said.
EAP plans to make the decision about whether to operate its
summer programs in China by May 10.
“We are hoping the SARS issue will be more under control
by then,” Hanna said.
Some UCLA students planning to participate in the summer program
said they would not change any plans unless they were forced to do
so.
“I will be going over unless it is cancelled,” said
second-year applied math student Annie Ma. Ma was informed of the
possibility of a cancellation by EAP this week.
“I don’t have many concerns about SARS because it
even happened in the United States. … It doesn’t make much
of a difference,” Ma said.
Despite the SARS epidemic, students have not been discouraged
from studying abroad in China, Hanna said.
“The programs continue to increase in registration. … I
am still optimistic that (SARS) will get under control and the
number (of applicants) will continue to go up,” he said.