Official Office of Study Abroad Response to Events of 9/11

We all mourn the tragic loss of life and the events of this past week. Under the circumstances, we want to tell you what MSU and its Office of Study Abroad are doing about the university's study abroad programs.

At this time, we are NOT canceling any current study abroad programs, or programs slated to begin winter break, spring semester or next summer because of the events of last week. Our program locations have been chosen after consideration of safety and security factors. We have conducted recent reviews of program country sites and are doing so on a continuous basis. As is always the case, we monitor the safety and
security conditions of our study abroad sites, using government information, such as from the U.S. Department of State, private sources, and the best advice of faculty and others who are in, or have recently been in, the country.

At this point in time, we have no reason to believe that there is undue risk for study abroad students in any of the countries to which we currently send students, or are planning to send students this coming year. In fact, there has been a great deal of support and good will on the part of our colleagues and counterpart institutions abroad, and they are offering special support to U.S. students currently with them.

Be assured that we will not offer programs in locations that have not passed review by the Office of Study Abroad and the University's Study Abroad Risk and Security Analysis group.

Should the University decide to cancel a specific program prior to its departure, students enrolled in that program will receive a full refund of fees paid. If it is determined that a program already underway must be canceled, the University will bring the students enrolled in that program home and will issue appropriate refunds to participating students.

We will continue to monitor the conditions in each of our study abroad locations and will provide updates as events warrant. Feel free to contact the Office of Study Abroad with questions.

The Office of Study Abroad, as well as program faculty, will keep students updated with the latest information.

We encourage students to continue to plan for their MSU study abroad experience.

Contact information:
Office of Study Abroad
109 International Center
East Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 353-8920

Drafted by the Office of Study Abroad and reviewed by the University Study Abroad Risk and Security Analysis group, September 19, 2001.