The university has canceled all exchange programs in Japan due to concerns about the ability of the host institutions to provide adequate health and safety infrastructure should the situation with COVID-19 deteriorate.
The below emails were sent to students impacted by the cancellation of all exchange programs in Japan.
To those who had not yet departed for their exchange program:
Hello. My name is Russell Ganim and I am the dean of International Programs at the University of Iowa.
I am writing to give you an update regarding your spring semester exchange program in Japan. Recently the CDC named Japan as a country where “there is sustained community transmission of COVID-19”. This has prompted a decision to cancel UI student exchange programming in Japan this spring semester.
I realize this news may be very disappointing. At this point we can offer you the option to defer participation in a UI Japan exchange program to Fall 2020 (NUFS and Kanda only), or we can work with you to identify other fall study abroad options. Otherwise, we can simply cancel your exchange program participation for Spring 2020 and waive associated course, administrative, and application fees. Please consult with Ana Jimenez (ana-jimenez@uiowa.edu) about deferral, cancellation, or other programs.
Please contact Professor Yumiko Nishi (yumiko-nishi@uiowa.edu) in the UI Japanese department to discuss the plans to stay on track with your studies in Japanese.
If you have not traveled to Japan yet, please contact your airline to request a ticket cancellation and/or credit toward future travel. Some airlines will waive ticket change or cancellation fees under these circumstances, so do ask about that. If you purchased travel insurance, that coverage may also help you with any ticket change fees your airline does not waive.
Please know that we are deeply sorry about the disappointment and hardship this news brings. We are here to lend our support and assistance.
To those who had already departed for their exchange program:
Hello. My name is Russell Ganim and I am the dean of International Programs at the University of Iowa.
I am writing to give you an update regarding your spring semester exchange program in Japan. Recently the CDC named Japan as a country where “there is sustained community transmission of COVID-19”. This has prompted a decision to cancel UI student exchange programming in Japan this spring semester.
I realize this news may be very disappointing. At this point we can offer you the option to defer participation in a UI Japan exchange program to Fall 2020 (NUFS and Kanda only), or we can work with you to identify other fall study abroad options. Otherwise, we can simply cancel your exchange program participation for Spring 2020 and waive associated course, administrative and application fees. Please consult with Ana Jimenez (ana-jimenez@uiowa.edu ) about deferral, cancellation, or other programs.
Please contact Professor Yumiko Nishi (yumiko-nishi@uiowa.edu) in the UI Japanese department to discuss the plans to stay on track with your studies in Japanese.
If you are already in Japan, it is especially important for you to contact your airline as soon as possible to request a ticket change so you can leave to return to the U.S. as soon as it is feasible to do so. We anticipate multiple travelers will be seeking ticket changes, and this may intensify in the coming days. I encourage you to monitor the Department of State website for updates.
If your change fee is not waived by your airline, the University of Iowa will assist with reimbursement of ticket change fees if you are changing your ticket to return to the U.S., up to $500. Any change fees incurred beyond $500 may be considered for reimbursement on a case by case basis. Please submit a receipt for any ticket change fees beyond what is covered by your program to Liz Wildenberg de Hernandez (elizabeth-wildenberg@uiowa.edu) after your return. Liz can also be contacted if you require financial assistance in order to be able to change your ticket.
Personal Health Monitoring
For self-protective health guidance, please see www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.
Further Guidance
I encourage you to monitor the CDC and Department of State travel advisory websites for updates (links above). If you are a U.S. citizen, register your independent travel plans with the U.S. Department of State through the "Smart Traveler Enrollment Program" (STEP) so you can be easily contacted if there are updates for U.S. citizen travelers.
Please know that we are deeply sorry about the disappointment and hardship this news brings. We are here to lend our support and assistance.
Sincerely,
Russell Ganim
Associate Provost and Dean
International Programs
University of Iowa