Safety Update—Earthquake in Japan: January 8, 2024
The Learning Abroad Center, in conjunction with the University's Office of International Health, Safety & Compliance, is closely monitoring the recent earthquake in Japan. We will continue to monitor the situation and consult with our partners on the ground.
Safety Update—Earthquakes & Volcanic Activity in Iceland: November 13, 2023
The Learning Abroad Center, in conjunction with the University's Office of International Health, Safety & Compliance, is closely monitoring the earthquakes and volcanic activity in Iceland. We will continue to monitor the situation and consult with our partners on the ground.
Safety Update—Israel: October 12, 2023
While the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has been a partner with the University of Minnesota for many years, no students are approved for study abroad or other University-purpose travel in Israel until further notice given the state of war and the cessation of travel insurance by our provider of coverage for faculty and students.
Safety Update—Israel: October 9,2023
The Learning Abroad Center, in conjunction with the University of Minnesota's International Health, Safety & Compliance team, is closely monitoring the ongoing situation in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. The Learning Abroad Center has been receiving updates from our onsite partners at Hebrew University. At this time, we do not have any University of Minnesota students participating in the program at Hebrew University. We will continue to monitor the situation and consult with our partners on the ground.
Assassination in Ecuador: August 10, 2023
The Learning Abroad Center, in conjunction with the University's International Health and Safety team, is closely monitoring the situation in Ecuador in the aftermath of the assassination of Fernando Villavicencio. The current president has declared a curfew, as well as a 60-day state of emergency in an effort to prevent any further violence. The Learning Abroad Center has been in touch with our partner staff in Ecuador. At this time, we do not currently have any students in Ecuador and are not planning any changes to upcoming education abroad programming in Ecuador. We will continue to monitor the situation and consult with our partners on the ground.
Wildfires in Sicily: August 1, 2023
The Learning Abroad Center, in conjunction with the University's International Health and Safety team, is closely monitoring the wildfires on the island of Sicily, Italy. At this time, The LAC does not have any students in Sicily. Firefighters and local authorities have been working tirelessly to control the fires and ensure the safety of residents. The wildfires have neither directly impacted our staff nor our study center. Everyone in the immediate vicinity is safe and sound. We will continue to monitor the situation and consult with our partners on the ground.
Civil Unrest in Senegal: June 6, 2023
The Learning Abroad Center, in conjunction with the University's International Health and Safety team, is closely monitoring the ongoing civil unrest in Senegal in the aftermath of the conviction of the main opposition leader, Osumane Sonko, on charges of corruption of the youth. This conviction makes Sonko ineligible for the next presidential election cycle, which will occur in less than a year. Protests have focused on the larger cities. After a few days of movement restrictions in Dakar, the protests have started to settle down. The Learning Abroad Center has been in touch with our partner staff. At this time, we do not have any students in Senegal. We are not planning any changes to upcoming education abroad programming in Senegal, and we will continue to monitor the situation and consult with our partners on the ground.
Monkeypox: August 2, 2022
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the rapidly spreading monkeypox outbreak a global health emergency, the organization's highest level of alert. Despite the WHO declaration and the rising cases, the risk to most travelers currently remains low as most recent infections have been the result of close physical contact with someone infected with the monkeypox virus. Similar to COVID-19, the University of Minnesota continues to closely monitor developments related to monkeypox. We will assess new information as it becomes available from the CDC and the WHO, and we are vigilantly watching the status of worldwide travel.