Posted: March 3

Laurier has been closely monitoring the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation throughout the world. The following message provides an update on travel abroad in the coming months for the Student Exchange Program and other Laurier-sanctioned programs.

Laurier has extended its travel ban for all university-sanctioned travel to include those countries assessed by Global Affairs Canada as “Exercise a High Degree of Caution” due to COVID-19. To see more details on the decision please go to Travel update: Laurier Extends Travel Ban.

Student Exchange Program Winter 2020/Summer 2020

If the Global Affairs Travel advisory for any country is increased to the “Exercise a high degree of caution” due to COVID-19, Laurier will withdraw its offer to the students to participate in exchange as long as the student has not yet arrived in the destination country. In this situation Laurier International, in partnership with the Academic Advising, will work with the student to determine the best way to change plans for the semester.

If the student is already studying in an affected zone, the student may not be required to return to Canada. The student will need to respect and follow local procedures that have been communicated by Global Affairs Canada, the host university and the local authority. Laurier will work with the student to determine whether staying or leaving is the best plan in terms of safety and well-being.

If the Global Affairs Travel Advisory for any country is elevated to the “Avoid Non-Essential Travel” advisory, students already studying in the affected zone will be requested to leave.

Student Exchange Program Fall 2020

If a student has applied to participate in a Laurier exchange for Fall 2020 and the location is an affected area or becomes an affected area, Laurier will still be offering spots in those locations with the hope that the travel advisory is lifted by the start of the exchange. Students will have to decide whether they will accept or decline the offer. If a student declines the offer, they will have the opportunity to apply to the remaining open locations. Please see Receiving and Accepting Your Exchange Placement Offer for further information on how to decline your offer and related procedures.

Please note, there will be no student placed at a Chinese institution for the Fall 2020 semester because Canada’s travel advisory is still at an escalated level of Avoid Non-Essential Travel. Laurier does not send students to locations assessed at the third or fourth level (Global Affairs advisory).

Please keep up to date with the locations and intensities of outbreaks with the World Health Organization (WHO) Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation reports or the WHO situation map. Keep up to date with the Canadian Government’s travel advice by referring to the Global Affairs Canada travel advisory site.

For additional information about coronavirus, view Laurier’s frequently asked questions. You can also email coronavirusquestions@wlu.ca.

The COVID-19 virus has proven to spread quickly and the situation is dynamic and quickly changing. For this reason, we believe it is important to keep up to date, and keep in mind that as the situation grows and changes we are prioritizing communications and support for the most immediately effected students.

Laurier is here to support you the best we can regarding your health and safety, as well as your academics.