As COVID-19 continues to spread around the globe, the health and safety of everyone in the University community remains our top priority. After monitoring the situation over the last three months, the University of Pittsburgh has decided to cancel all academic travel components of our spring 2021 study abroad and study away programs. Instead, we will offer students the opportunity to enroll in a small menu of virtual global experiences (e.g. internships, consulting projects, research) and courses with our partners from overseas that complement Pitt’s offerings.
The earliest that the University of Pittsburgh will offer study abroad and study away programs with academic travel components will be summer 2021. I have been working with staff in Pitt Study Abroad and Study Away so that any summer programs we offer will operate in a high-flex format. Offering programming in this way will allow us to pivot between academic travel and in-person instruction to fully virtual engagement in real time as conditions fluctuate.
These are not decisions that the University takes lightly. We understand that this decision will have numerous implications for the students. However, especially in light of a new wave of infections in Europe and other popular study abroad destinations across the globe, it is prudent to be cautious and to take all reasonable precautions to protect our community, including the potential for any member of our community to become stranded abroad, should circumstances shift suddenly.
Pitt’s Global Experiences Office will be in contact with interested students and faculty, and Jeff Whitehead(whitehead@pitt.edu) is the point of contact for study abroad and study away programing.
Along with our peer institutions in the U.S. and around the world, Pitt is trying to make the most informed choices possible in a quickly evolving situation. We appreciate your support in our ongoing efforts to cultivate globally capable students while protecting the well-being of our entire community.
Additional Resources
- COVID-19 Standards & Guidelines: Global Programs & Experiences (currently under review)
- Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management
- Power of Pitt: Building a Healthy and Resilient Community
- Office of the Provost
- Office of International Services
- Pitt Global/University Center for International Studies
Regards,
Ariel C. Armony (he, him, his)
Vice Provost for Global Affairs
Director, University Center for International Studies
Professor of Public & International Affairs and Political Science