Wabash College continues to carefully monitor the ongoing situation associated with Coronavirus (COVID-19). The health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff is our highest priority.
As of February 29, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention raised its Travel Health Notice to Level 3 for Italy. Therefore, the College canceled the Spring Break immersion learning trip to Rome. The immersion learning trips to London and Ireland will go forward as planned.
Wabash administrators and health professionals continue to evaluate any changes that are occuring in other locations around the country and the world and will remain in close contact with the faculty leaders on all trips in the coming week and make adjustments if necessary. Should any student elect to not travel as part of an immersion learning course, he will be provided an alternate paper or project to allow him to maintain his academic standing in the class.
We continue to closely monitor recommendations and advisories from the U.S. State Department, the CDC, and the World Health Organization. We are also in close contact with the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), a leader in on-the-ground international study-abroad.
As acknowledged by the CDC, we recognize the virus will likely become more widespread. The College is building on the previously-developed virus outbreak plan should there be a need to treat and/or quarantine students on campus at any time in the future.
The best defense against COVID-19, as with all flu and respiratory diseases, is to take everyday preventive actions, such as proper handwashing and self-quarantining when ill. We are working with all students, faculty, and staff to educate individuals of risks they may have but also the potential risks they may be placing upon others by not making responsible decisions in their own disease prevention. On Thursday during the normal Chapel hour we will hold a special, mandatory Chapel Talk on COVID-19 and the prevention measures members of the Community can take.
We understand the uncertainty and rapid evolution can create anxiousness. We encourage our community members to seek accurate information from sources like the CDC and WHO, and to carefully assess social media, which may have inaccurate information. Those with questions, concerns, anxiety, or symptoms are encouraged to seek support and use campus resources such as the Health Center and Counseling Center for assistance. Additional sources of information include the CDC, WHO, and the U.S. State Department.