The COVID-19 international outbreak and global pandemic situation continue to disrupt the landscape of international travel, guidance and restrictions on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis. Updates from international health, safety and security benchmarking organizations over the previous weeks continue to confirm the increased uncertainly of the global travel landscape in relation to COVID-19 outbreak:

Based on guidance from the CDC and in an abundance of caution, the university has suspended all university-affiliated student programs and travel in international locations through the end of Summer Term 2020. This includes:

• All programs offered through Learning Abroad and the Office for Global Engagement
• All international travel programs offered through Eccles Global and the David Eccles School of Business
• All global internships offered through the Hinckley Institute
• All programs offered through, managed, and/or coordinated by all other university colleges and departments
• All Go Learn programs offered by Continuing Education & Community Engagement
• All Alternative Spring Break programs and ASUU activities, both in the United States and internationally
• All independent or individual registered student travel to international locations for university activities (internships, service-learning opportunities, international research, etc.)

The decision to cancel all Spring and Summer 2020 university-affiliated student travel to international locations was made in consideration of the rapidly changing international travel environment. Many international academic partners and providers have already canceled Spring and Summer programs at this time, and the uncertainty of future travel restrictions limits anyone’s ability to guarantee students’ safe travel—and access to—international sites, centers of medical care, traveler support services and resources. Furthermore, there are no assurances that normal activities (both domestic and international) will be able to resume in the near term.

In light of the growing number of foreign and U.S. restrictions on inbound/outbound international travel, the university is also requiring all international travelers currently abroad on university-affiliated travel to return home (*the only exception to this directive is for travelers currently participating in programs at the Utah Asia Campus). With rapidly shifting circumstances worldwide, our ability to support university travelers is eroding and changing quickly, and we want to provide the best support possible. University of Utah’s main campus students studying at the Utah Asia Campus for Spring 2020 should note the specific instructions related to UAC activities, outlined below.

We recognize these university travel directives may create hardships for some, and we are working to provide appropriate accommodations. Students who are currently abroad and have concerns about their program and travel should work directly with their on-site and university study abroad coordinators. For students whose study abroad credit may be necessary for spring graduation, study abroad coordinators, international program directors, and program staff across campus will be working with students to help them understand options available and make alternate arrangements regarding the necessary credits.