Study abroad programs through the end of the spring 2021 semester have been suspended in the interest of the health and safety of Fordham students. Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Dennis C. Jacobs sent an email to the Fordham community on Oct. 20 breaking the news. 

“I deeply regret that the global pandemic has disrupted our ability to facilitate transformative study abroad programs for Fordham students this spring,” Jacobs said. 

Fordham students had applied to a broad range of study abroad programs in 28 countries for spring 2021, Jacobs said. The Centers for Disease Control has issued a level-3 advisory regarding international travel, meaning travelers should avoid all nonessential travel. 

“The staff in the International and Study Abroad Programs Office are committed to work with every affected student and supporting them as they adjust their academic plans,” Jacobs said. Impacted students will be able to register for Fordham spring courses and have the option to reside on campus in spring 2021.

The decision to finally cancel all programs came after weeks of emailing students about upcoming meetings regarding the status of programs. Gabby Bindseil, FCRH ’22, who was planning to travel to Spain in the spring, said she had been expecting the cancelation for months. 

“My friends and I wondered at how and why our administration chose to string us along,” Bindseil said. “After we finally received an email about the Spain program’s cancelation, we breathed a sigh of relief, despite the bad news.” 

Although sponsored international travel will not be possible this spring, Fordham is introducing a number of virtual opportunities to support intercultural engagement. Faculty who normally teach at Fordham London Centre or in Granada, Spain will be teaching some of their most popular courses virtually next semester. 

The Fordham Abroad YouTube page released videos of abroad professors, allowing them to introduce themselves and their courses. Professor Geoff Snell, who teaches at Fordham London Centre, will offer his art and architecture courses virtually this spring. 

“You don’t have to know anything about art and architecture to take one of my courses, you’ll certainly know a lot about it by the end,” Snell advertised in his video. 

Fordham’s London Internship program placements will proceed virtually, and the International and Study Abroad Programs Office also expanded virtual internship opportunities this year to other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain. 

Matthew Tobin, GSB ’22, said he intended to study in London this spring and do the internship program through the business school. 

“I was planning on also traveling to other places if I had the chance,” Tobin said. “I’ll still be at Rose Hill next semester, but other than that I don’t have any huge plans because of coronavirus.”

All students who were scheduled to study abroad in spring 2021 will have the option to do one of three things. Either defer their applications to one of Fordham’s summer programs in Granada, London or Rome, defer with priority placement to the same program in fall 2021 or withdraw their application for a full refund. 

Elizabeth Hartnett, FCRH ’22, was planning on studying in London this spring, but deferred her acceptance to the summer.

“I definitely do want to go abroad at some point, but depending on COVID I may just wait until after college,” Hartnett said. 

While Fordham has worked to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus on its New York campuses, it does not have the same ability to ensure comparable health protocols can be implemented at each study abroad location.

“Fordham remains hopeful that, subject to the course of the global pandemic and availability of a safe and effective vaccine, we will be able to lift the suspension of study abroad in time for summer 2021,” Jacobs said.