February 29, 2020
Dear Tulane Community:
In response to the ongoing outbreak caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) the Department of State and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued a level 3 travel advisory for South Korea and Italy. This level 3 travel advisory recommends avoiding non-essential* travel to those countries.
Based on information from the CDC and public health and infectious disease experts, Tulane University is implementing the following travel guidelines and restrictions:
- Effective immediately, Tulane students, faculty, and staff MAY NOT TRAVEL to South Korea or Italy for university business or university academic purposes, including but not limited to study abroad, internships, academic work for credit, service, conferences or presentations, teaching, training, performances, recruiting or athletic competitions. Requests for exceptions to this policy should be sent to the Provost (provost@tulane.edu).
- Travel to South Korea or Italy for personal reasons is strongly discouraged.
- Hosting incoming visitors traveling from South Korea or Italy for university-related purposes (visiting lecturers, visiting scholars, researchers, etc.) requires prior approval of the school dean or appropriate vice president and the Provost before the visitor’s arrival.
- Students, faculty, and staff that are in South Korea or Italy for university business or academic purposes need to leave the country. The University is communicating directly with students in the impacted study abroad programs and is working with those students to ensure either their safe return to the U.S. or placement in other programs to minimize disruption to their academic studies.
Other University-wide Precautions (All Campuses)
- Individuals planning travel to South Korea or Italy that is not otherwise suspended above are strongly encouraged to contact their school dean or appropriate vice president and the Provost.
- Anyone who is considering hosting visitors (including family) from South Korea or Italy on university property is required to obtain approval from the school dean or appropriate vice president and Provost prior to the visitor’s arrival.
- Faculty, staff, and scholar travelers returning from South Korea or Italy are required to contact the Tulane Student Health Center** by telephone +1-504-862-8121 (8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) or +1-855-487-0290 (after 5:00 p.m.) within 24 hours of their arrival in the U.S. from South Korea or Italy and prior to returning to campus to arrange and complete a medical screening.
- Faculty, staff, students, scholars and visitors arriving from South Korea or Italy may be required to self-isolate for up to 14 days upon their arrival in the U.S. as determined by healthcare professionals in alignment with CDC guidance.
- Faculty, staff, students, and scholars contemplating travel to South Korea or Italy must adhere to the items above and are strongly encouraged to visit the CDC website for Travel Notices and Updates.
- Tulane will continue to follow this rapidly evolving situation and may modify these measures as further information becomes available. FAQs have been developed and are being updated as needed.
We encourage any student, faculty, or staff in South Korea or Italy to reach out to their sponsoring department, school dean, or the Provost for help or assistance during this time.
We continue this work to keep our community as safe and healthy as possible. Discrimination or harassment on the basis of someone's nation of origin has no place at Tulane. It is essential that everyone at Tulane remain supportive and welcoming towards all members of our community.
*Non-Essential Travel: University business or university academic purposes, including but not limited to study abroad, internships, to perform academic work for credit, service, conferences or presentations, teaching or training, performances, recruiting or athletic competitions.
**Tulane Student Health Center is coordinating screening for Faculty, Staff, Students, and Scholars.
Robin Forman
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
Patrick Norton
Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
