August 22, 2005 All study abroad programs in the United Kingdom have concluded for Summer 2005. A total of 467 MSU students participated in study abroad programs in the United Kingdom during the summer of 2005, with the majority of these students residing in London.

The Office of Study Abroad is currently arranging welcome back receptions for all London-based study abroad participants. There will be an opportunity for students to comment on emergency preparedness and response in relation to the July bombings in London. The Counseling Center will also give a presentation on post-traumatic stress. An invitation regarding dates and locations of these meeting will be e-mailed to students the week of August 29th.

In addition, a meeting for parents to learn more about the Office of Study
Abroad response to the London bombings is also being arranged for the
morning of September 10, 2005. As soon as a location is finalized, the Office of Study Abroad will mail invitations to all individuals identified by students as an emergency contact. Sometimes the person indicated is not a parent. If you are a parent of a student who would like to attend this meeting and does not receive a letter from our office, please contact our office at 517-353-8920.

August 5, 2005 The MSU Emergency Response Team met today to discuss the current situation in London and to specifically consider the Public Announcement that was issued by the U.S. State Department on Aug. 3, 2005.

Based on the full range of information available to us, MSU decided the following:

• No programs are canceled. All programs currently under way will continue as scheduled.
  
  Although the State Department Public Announcement is less restrictive than MSU's policy regarding public transportation in London, MSU has decided to maintain its ban on using the Tube (the London subway) for any program-related activity. In addition, we continue to encourage students to avoid the Tube for personal travel. We hope families will reinforce this advice. The State Department Public Announcement only states that Americans should "exercise caution when using public transportation" and neither the U.S. Government nor the British Government are advising people to avoid the Tube. However, in the interest of prudence, MSU will continue its ban on the Tube for the duration of the summer programs.

MSU is allowing students and faculty to utilize the public bus system in London. Although buses have been the targets of past attacks, all information we have indicates that the bus system remains at a considerably lower level of threat than the Tube.

• Faculty leaders of programs have been instructed to ensure that no program-related activity involves transportation on the Tube. Alternate modes of transportation (such as buses or taxis) should be arranged for program-related activities at no additional cost to students.

Families should be aware that the Office of Study Abroad has already registered each of our students with the U.S. Embassy in London, so students do not need to follow that advice in the Public Announcement. However, we have advised students that if their personal travels will take them outside the UK, it is advisable to register with the U.S. Embassy in each country visited, so that they may be contacted in the event of an emergency. Registration at any US Embassy can be done via the Web.

In addition to registering with the U.S. Embassy in any other country students may visit, we are asking students to let their faculty leaders know of any travel plans they have during their program. They do not need to report post-program travel plans, but we strongly recommend they communicate them to family at home. Students are also reminded that in all travels they can call the MSU 24/7 International Emergency Assistance number (517-353-3784) if they are in need of assistance abroad.Please feel free to contact the Office of Study Abroad with any questions.

July 25, 2005 We are continually monitoring the situation in London. Based on all of the information we have received from official sources, peer institutions and our on-site staff in London, we are not canceling any programs at this time.We have sent a senior administrator to London to help us assess the situation and talk one-on-one with Michigan State University faculty and students. Based on our assessment of the situation, MSU has strongly advised students and faculty to avoid the Underground (London's subway system). The best information available indicates the use of public buses and conventional rail transportation is permissible. The threat to these other means of transportation appears to be considerably lower than that of the Underground. We also encourage students to heighten their own personal security awareness. Any student currently enrolled in a study abroad program who might wish to withdraw should communicate with the Office of Study Abroad. If you have any additional concerns regarding safety and security abroad, please refer to our Safety/Security page at http://studyabroad.msu.edu/safety/index.html, or call the main number at the Office of Study Abroad during regular business hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m EST at 517-353-8920.

Our after-hours, 24/7 emergency assistance line is for EMERGENCIES only. That number is 517-353-3784.