SU Florence Abroad Ends Early Over Coronavirus Fears

photo by alexa dayo

At 5:00 pm today (Central European Standard Time), all Syracuse University students studying in Florence, Italy were told that they have until Sunday (March 1st) to return to the United States. Officials reportedly told students to make travel arrangements as soon as possible for fear that Italy will close its borders due to the spread of COVID-19, more commonly known as Coronavirus. 

“They basically said … we don’t want Italy to go on lockdown and you be stuck here without any means of leaving,” said Alexa Deyo, a SU student who is currently in Florence. 

Students were left with many questions as a result of this impromptu meeting. It is unclear as to whether the credits that students were completing abroad will transfer or if the school will reimburse students for any part of their trip. 

This decision comes in the midst of an increase in Coronavirus cases in Italy, including one confirmed case in Florence. 

On-campus students received an email from Steven Bennett, senior vice president for international programs and academic operations, regarding the decision at 3:45 pm Eastern Standard Time. The email describes the school’s reason for the evacuation, claiming that the decision was caused by concern for the abroad students’ safety and was influenced at least in part by global health experts. 

“We are working directly with our students to arrange their return to the United States,” Bennett wrote in the email. “We will do everything we can to minimize disruption to their academic studies and their lives.”

According to Bennett, the Florence abroad students may choose to return to the main campus for the rest of the spring semester, but they will not do so until after spring break. Their potential on-campus housing accommodations are still unknown.