ECU continues to monitor coronavirus, suspends ECU Tuscany program for semester

In response to an elevation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s travel warning for Italy, East Carolina University has decided to cancel its ECU Tuscany program for the spring and summer semesters.

Even though the students and faculty are based in Certaldo Alto, a small village in Tuscany far from the most heavily impacted areas in northern Italy, administrators decided, based on the CDC elevating the risk level to 3 (avoid nonessential travel) in Italy, to suspend the program for the coming months.

The Office of Global Affairs is working with the 31 students and six faculty/staff members currently in Italy to ensure their safe return to the United States this week as flight rebooking allows.

“While this is disappointing news for the those involved in the program, we made this decision with the health and safety of our students and staff as our priority,” said Dr. Jon Rezek, assistant vice chancellor for global affairs at ECU. “ECU students and staff have been in an area unaffected by the coronavirus to date; however, the situation in Italy is rapidly evolving and based on the CDC’s travel recommendation, the program’s cancellation was the most prudent decision.”

Students currently enrolled in the program will be given options for completing their coursework online and will be provided refunds in accordance with the study abroad refund policy, Rezek said. Students and staff will be asked to self-quarantine off campus according to CDC guidelines.

Rezek added that study abroad programs to China, South Korea, Japan and Italy have been canceled for the summer term in accordance with ECU policy REG 02.30.01 which follows U.S. Department of State elevated-risk travel advisories.

“We continue to closely monitor the situation worldwide,” Rezek said. Study abroad programs to other destinations will be evaluated as CDC and Department of State travel warnings are updated.

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Note to media: Dr. Jon Rezek, vice chancellor for global affairs at ECU, will be available to the media at 3:15 p.m. today (March 2) at the International House, 306 East Ninth Street, near the new Main Campus Student Center.