Due to the recent epidemic of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in China, two students from the College who were studying abroad in Hong Kong and Beijing have returned to the United States without completing their semesters abroad.

As soon as the outbreak began, William Hoffa, director of the College's study abroad program, began trying to contact the four students studying in China this semester. Two were in Hong Kong, one was in Beijing and one was in Shanghai. Three of the four students immediately responded via email and two of them indicated after consultation with their parents that they had decided to return from abroad due to the epidemic. The fourth student has yet to reply.

According to Hoffa, the program in Beijing has closed and the program in Hong Kong has lost most of its students.

The College does not have a policy under which it asks students to return. Students' decisions regarding study abroad are left up to them and their families, according to Hoffa. However, the College has pledged to help the returning students make up incomplete courses.

There are various options available for students who return from abroad without having completed their courses. Students may enroll in summer courses, elect to take more than four courses during regular semesters or work over Interterm. In addition, each of the study abroad programs has offered opportunities for students who decide to leave to get credit by completing some, if not all, of their coursework once they return to their home countries.

Director of the Health Center Warren Morgan said that all students who report respiratory symptoms to health service workers are being screened to see if there is a chance the symptoms may indicate a possibility a student has SARS. "The risk is not as significant to young and presumably health people," said Morgan, but he noted that health services is monitoring the situation.

Morgan said that while the College does not have an official policy regarding quarantining students who may be returning from areas where SARS is prevalent, College officials are monitoring the situation and may consider implementing a formal policy over the summer.

Morgan advised students planning to travel to China or other areas where SARS cases are common to keep in contact with their trip leaders as the situation unfolds. "The highest risk is to people volunteering in the health care field," said Morgan.

Morgan also advised students to expect delays and inconvenience when entering and leaving SARS-infected regions.