OSA's Response to Armed Conflict in Iraq

Updated March 21, 2003

For several years MSU has monitored our study abroad sites and countries for security and safety, and even more so in the last few years. In light of the hostilities that are underway in Iraq, the director and staff of the Michigan State University Office of Study Abroad are assessing what, if any, impact the hostilities are having on our program locations and students throughout the world.

At this point, the MSU Study Abroad Risk and Security Assessment Committee has suspended the Summer 2003 International Internships program in Istanbul, Turkey. This decision was based on the March 19th travel warning to Turkey, issued by the US State Department.

However, based on information from government and other sources and as advised by MSU's Study Abroad Risk and Security Assessment Committee, we have no plans to cancel other programs or bring home students currently abroad.

At the same time, we will be continuously monitoring events and updating our assessments, including whether conditions abroad in any particular location require cancellation or other programmatic changes.

As more information becomes available to us, we will post updates on this web site.

If you are an MSU student abroad, link to any announcements issued by the US State Department for Americans abroad. Please read these announcements carefully and follow any recommended procedures. Also, heed the advice of local authorities regarding safety and security of your area. And please remember that your first point of contact should be your local faculty or resident director, or the international programs staff at your host university.

As the Office of Study Abroad learns more information, we will provide students abroad as well as faculty leaders and on-site directors with additional updates.

-- The MSU Office of Study Abroad Staff