Dear Vanderbilt Students:

Last night, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released information for consideration by institutions of higher education. Vanderbilt has taken the time to carefully review this message, and we believe our existing protocols and response measures reflect its guidance.

Vanderbilt’s first priority is our students’ safety and well-being. We continually monitor circumstances in each location where students are participating in university-approved study abroad. Vanderbilt always uses the CDC’s traveler health notices and the U.S. Department of State’s travel advisories as basic standards for reviewing risk in each country. Rest assured that our decisions to restrict university travel and modify study abroad programs in China, Italy, South Korea, and Iran were informed by these agencies, and that we continue to rely on their expertise every day.

At this point, we believe that the best way to ensure student safety abroad is to continue to work within our existing response frameworks and protocols, which have been developed in professional consultation with peer institutions and health and safety experts.

This situation is complex and can change rapidly.  Please take the time to read more about Vanderbilt’s response to the coronavirus outbreak at vu.edu/coronavirus, and considerations involved in university-approved study abroad programs at vanderbilt.edu/geo/study-abroad-coronavirus-faq/.  If you have specific questions, advisers in our Global Education Office are standing by to answer them (geo@vanderbilt.edu, or 615-343-3139).

We realize this is a difficult time and that you may feel concerned about the outbreak. Resources and support are available through a number of Vanderbilt services. Please visit the link at the bottom of the website vu.edu/coronavirus for additional information.

Vanessa B. Beasley
Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Dean of Residential Faculty