USF cancels six study abroad trips due to coronavirus

TAMPA — Six study abroad trips planned for spring break have been canceled by the University of South Florida due to coronavirus, the school announced Tuesday.

Collectively, the change affects about 90 students who had planned to study in Greece, Columbia, France, Portugal, Canada and Iceland between March 14 and March 22.

USF made the decision “out of an abundance of caution” and based on recommendations by the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, according to a news release.

The affected students will receive reimbursements of what they paid for the trips, and USF is instructing them to request refunds or credits from airlines they booked flights with. Staffers in the university’s Education Abroad Gateway office are on standby to help.

“As a globally engaged university, USF passionately believes in the value of experiencing your world,” Roger Brindley, vice president of USF World, wrote in the news release. “As always, our primary obligation is to your health and safety.”