• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

College Magazine

College Life, Dating, Career & Campus Advice

  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • Writer Course
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
  • Find your college or university
  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • Writer Course
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
  • Find your college or university
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

You are here: Home / Campus life / University of Florida / UF Cancels Study Abroad Trips Over COVID-19

UF Cancels Study Abroad Trips Over COVID-19

March 17, 2020 //  by Jessica James

FacebookTweet

The University of Florida alerted students on March 2 that several study abroad trips would be canceled as a result of the public health emergency known as the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Coronavirus outbreak crushed the dreams of UF students who wanted to study abroad.

China, Iran, Japan, Italy and South Korea are among the university-sponsored programs that were canceled, according to the alert. Travel programs that are funded by external agencies and administered through the UF Foundation and UF Division of Sponsored Research were canceled as well.

The panic developed after Florida experienced its first cases of the COVID-19 virus. A Santa Rosa County man and a Lee County man died as a result, according to the Florida Department of Health. Both victims recently returned from international travel. As of March 9, more cases of the virus were reported throughout Florida. According to the Florida Department of Health, by March 16, 142 Florida residents and 18 Non-Florida residents have tested positive for COVID-19. The number continues to increase because there is no vaccine for the virus.

Following the concern, UF canceled several trips to the countries that have experienced COVID-19.

Italy trip canceled COVID-19
unsplash.com

The effort is to limit UF students from contracting the virus and making sure that returning students are not affected. Students that are returning from any of the countries are required to self-quarantine and to stay off-campus for 14 days after their return, according to UF’s alert.

While it is an effort of safety, UF students are not pleased with the canceled trips. Mario Bennetti, 21, is a marketing major at UF. He was going to be studying abroad in Rome, Italy for the summer. He had his eyes set on making this trip since his freshman year and that he has been preparing for the trip since August, explained Bennetti. The trip was important because he wanted to experience European culture, said Bennetti. “I think UF was foolish to cancel the plans so quickly. The programs aren’t for another three months,” he said. “UF rode the wave and followed what a lot of other schools have done…”

It was more of a panic and even less of a decision, said Bennetti.

COVID-19 Cancellation
unsplash.com

“I have to re-plan my whole summer now,” he said. Bennetti voiced concern for UF’s lack of urgency to refund the money spent on the study abroad program.

Bennetti tweeted, “I’m glad UF study abroad can take a $375 deposit from my checking account in two seconds, but when the program is canceled it’ll take three weeks for them to send me an obsolete paper check in the mail.” He wants the money back so he can start preparing for other summer plans and its expenses, said Bennetti.

Lara Dusing, 20, is a telecommunications major at UF. She had plans to study abroad in Florence, Italy. This program was important to Dusing because she has never left the U.S., and it would be her first time traveling. However, she felt canceling the trips was appropriate. “UF is just trying to do the best they can to protect their students…,” said Dusing. “It’s impossible to predict what the virus will be like in the next few months, but I think UF made a smart decision.”

It is not determined whether UF will cancel other-study abroad programs.

UF Cancellations
facebook.com

Madeline M. Thompson, 22, is a material science and engineering major at UF. She plans to study abroad in Germany until she graduates. Thompson fears that her trip may be canceled as well. Thompson explained that while she agrees with UF’s decision to cancel short-term trips, canceling the long-term trips would not make sense. “It’s my decision if I want to risk infection,” said Thompson. “By the time mine ends (her program), this pandemic situation will be totally different.”

Her graduation will be delayed by one semester if the program is canceled, said Thompson. “It will cost me a lot of time and money that I’ve already invested,” she said. Aside from canceling trips, UF is taking more precautions for the COVID-19 virus. The university would install hand sanitizer dispensers throughout campus, distribute sanitizer to professors and custodial workers and install disinfectant spray systems, according to the alert.

FacebookTweet

Filed Under: Study Abroad University of Florida

About Jessica James

I am a student-journalist who has an endless passion for sports and entertainment. I am a junior at the University of Florida, in the journalism department.

You May Also Like

cultural identity and language

Language Abilities Don’t Define Your Cultural Identity, Unless?

easy recipes for college students

Top 10 Recipes Inspired by Hungry UF Student Gators

Away from Home and Feeling Gross: Being Sick My Freshman Year

ADHD or the Enemy? At Least My College Helped Me

UF Merch

10 Gifts for Florida Gators That They Actually Want

10 Most-Loved Professors at the University of Florida

Top 10 Ways to Be a Gracious Gator: Volunteering Opportunities at UF

How to Get the UF Experience: COVID-19 Style

My Most Important College Experience Was No College Experience

uf vs ucf

Chomp, Charge, Choose: 10 Ways the Swamp Beats the Bounce House

Best Places to Live at University of Florida

Not Everyone Tasted A Bar of Soap Growing Up and That’s Okay

No, Mom, I am NOT Going to UF

10 Ways to Get Politically Active at the University of Florida

study spots in gainesville

Top 14 Study Spots in Gainesville for UF Student Bookworms

Thinking About Transferring Schools? Here’s My Experience

Finding Safe Spaces: Top LGBTQ+ Resources at UF

transfer student

The Endless Thoughts of a Transfer Student

ufcareercenter

Top 10 Networking Events That Every Florida Gator Should Attend

influential students at UF

Top 10 Most Influential Students at the University of Florida

jobs at UF

Top 10 On-Campus Jobs for University of Florida Students

Top 10 Local Coffee Shops That All UF Students Need To Try

FSU vs UF

Are you a Gator or a Seminole?

University of Florida

8 Reasons Why UF Beats Out FSU For The Top Florida University

Previous Post: «UF students Stay Safe in the Swamp with UF’s GatorSafe App
Next Post: Top 10 Coronavirus Reads for All My Friends Still Partying Students partying»

Primary Sidebar



Trending Posts

Chill Colleges
2978

CM’s Top 10 Most Chill Colleges in the Country

climate change protest
308

Top 10 Colleges Where You Can Make A Difference in the Climate Crisis

food buffet
304

Top 10 Colleges with the Most Delicious On and Off Campus Food Options

64

The 10 Best Organizations You Should Donate To in 2021

41

Why Pixar’s “Soul” is Groundbreaking: Lessons for 2020 and Beyond

Featured Chapter: UCLA

Footer

logo

College Magazine is the national daily guide to campus life. Our articles for college students feature university rankings of U.S. colleges, college guides, academic advice, college prep, career advice, student health and collegiate dating tips.

Written by students for students, by a team of journalists from universities nationwide, we’re on the pulse of the college experience.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Colleges

  • College Guides
  • College Rankings
  • Campus life
  • Academics
  • Dating
  • Freshmen Year
  • Health
  • Party

Majors

  • All College Majors
  • Most Popular Majors
  • Choosing a Major

Intern

  • Internships Directory
  • How to Write a Resume
  • How to Write a Cover Letter
  • How to Interview
  • How to Get an Internship
  • How to Network

Money

  • How to Make Money
  • How to Save Money
  • How to Get a Job
  • Credit Cards 101
  • College Loans

Travel

  • Study Abroad
  • College Spring Break
  • How to Travel Cheap
  • Things to Do

Shop

  • College Packing List
  • Gift Guides
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

Copyright © 2021 College Magazine · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc.