Ball State Cancels All Upcoming Study Abroad Programs Over Coronavirus

Ball State University says it is cancelling all upcoming study abroad programs because of worldwide coronavirus cases. IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports.

Study abroad programs for this summer and next fall will be canceled. University spokesperson Kathy Wolf says that will affect about 50 programs, encompassing about 275 students.

The university says it’s not bringing back students who are already abroad. That’s a step some other Indiana schools are taking, like the University of Notre Dame bringing back all students and faculty from a study abroad program in Rome.

Earlier this week, Ball State officials said there would not be required quarantines for students traveling on this week’s spring break. Officials suggested self-isolation.  In a message from Provost Susana Rivera-Mills on Thursday, she asks faculty to adjust class absentee policies and consider online learning if students get sick and need to be out of class for an extended period of time.

Indiana currently has no cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. According to NPR, there are 19 states with at least one confirmed case of the virus.