5-11-99
Contacts:
David Acker, Agriculture, (515) 294-8454\
John Kluge, Veterinary Medicine, at (515) 294-1246
Michelle Szabo, Study Abroad Center, (515) 294-6792
Steve Sullivan, News Service, (515) 294-3720
ISU POSTPONES STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS IN CHINA
AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State University's College of Agriculture and College of Veterinary Medicine indefinitely postponed summer 1999 study abroad programs in China on Monday, May 10.
The programs were postponed in response to a travel warning issued by the U.S. Department of State following the bombing of the People's Republic of China embassy in Belgrade by NATO-coalition forces. According to the warning issued May 9, "the U.S. Department of State strongly urges American citizens to defer travel to the P.R.C. until the situation stabilizes."
The College of Agriculture's ISU China Study Abroad Program was scheduled to depart this Wednesday and includes 22 students, two faculty and two alumni. The Study of Veterinary Acupuncture in China was scheduled to depart this Friday and includes 25 students and three faculty members.
The decision to postpone the programs was made after consideration of relevant information from the U.S. Department of State, media and local sources in the U.S. and China, and partner institutions in the P.R.C.
"The primary concern for ISU in this decision is the safety of the students," said John Kluge, director of International Education Programs for the College of Veterinary Medicine.
The decision was made by the administrations of the Colleges of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine in collaboration with the Study Abroad Center, faculty coordinating the programs, and faculty from the department of foreign languages and literatures.
No other ISU study abroad programs are being considered for postponement at this time. According to U.S. State Department Travel Advisories, there is no indication that U.S. citizens traveling abroad should defer travel to any other destination as a result of the situation in China.
The colleges will make every effort to reschedule the programs to China. Students will be contacted directly by the program leaders to determine the best option for providing a safe and academically viable alternative to the postponed program.
Further information about the agriculture program is available from David Acker, director of International Programs for the College of Agriculture, at (515) 294-8454. Information about the veterinary medicine program is available from John Kluge, director of International Education Programs for the College of Veterinary Medicine, at (515) 294-1246. Information about study abroad programs outside of China is available from Michelle Szabo, Study Abroad Center, at (515) 294-6792.
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URL: http://www.public.iastate.edu/~nscentral/releases/99/may/studyabroad.html
Revised 05/11/99