Following the latest Centers for Disease Control advisories on international student travel, Roger Williams University has canceled all university-sponsored international travel during spring break.

The CDC recommendations, titled “Guidance for Student Foreign Travel for Institutions of Higher Education,” suggest postponing or canceling student foreign exchange programs, and read: “Given the global outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), institutes of higher education (IHE) should consider postponing or canceling upcoming student foreign exchange programs. IHE should consider asking current program participants to return to their home country. Those overseeing student foreign exchange programs should be aware that students may face unpredictable circumstances, travel restrictions, challenges in returning home or accessing health care while abroad.”

According to Jill Rodrigues of the university’s communications and marketing office, this measure is being taken out of an abundance of caution to minimize the campus community’s risk of exposure to coronavirus and to prevent a situation in which students and faculty might become stranded internationally should travel restrictions be implemented while they are overseas.

The Roger Williams community has already experienced a COVID-19 program interruption, as a number of students participating in their Florence, Italy study abroad program have been brought back to the United States after the CDC rapidly elevated Italy to Level 3 Travel Warning as the number of COVID-19 cases multiplied in less than a week. Those students returning from Italy have been asked to remain in their homes, following CDC recommendations to self-quarantine.

According to Ms. Rodrigues, the university is following the same practices and protocols for COVID-19 as they would to prevent the spread of the common flu. “We are advising students and employees who feel ill to stay home and to take preventive measures to limit the spread of flu and other similar viruses,” she wrote in an email. “RWU is continuing to monitor COVID-19 developments and to follow the guidance from the CDC and Rhode Island Department of Health. University officials are meeting regularly to make preparations to respond to events as they transpire and are communicating frequently with students, faculty and staff.”