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Director of International and Off-Campus Studies updates St. Olaf on SARS

By Carole Leigh Engblom
May 8, 2003

As director of International and Off-Campus Studies at St. Olaf College, alumnus Patrick Quade is involved in sending students off campus to study -- both domestically and abroad -- and with receiving international scholars from China, Thailand, Tanzania and Sweden.

So, naturally, he is concerned with the SARS epidemic that has students, tourists and others cancelling plans to visit China.

"As of May 7, we have had only one incident involving SARS," says Quade. "We have two students who graduated from St. Olaf in 2002 and were selected as China Fellows at East China Normal University (ECNU) in Shanghai, an institution with which we have an exchange agreement. The two graduates have been teaching English at ECNU during this past year.

"Because of restrictions imposed by the Chinese government on travel, the two students were unable to complete their plans to travel in China during the next two weeks," he says.

This restriction, along with parental concerns, prompted the students to terminate their fellowship at ECNU and return to the United States earlier than anticipated, on May 12.

St. Olaf currently is selecting its Visiting Scholars for 2003-04 from Thailand and China. College officials have discussed the SARS issue with the institutions involved, "but we all agree that we should continue planning for the scholar programs for next fall," Quade says.

St. Olaf will have more than 45 students in Asia next fall, primarily in China, Thailand, Korea and Japan.

"We will reassess the situation in July to make any adjustments, if necessary, to the various programs in which these students are enrolled," Quade says.

The college keeps abreast through a variety of sources -- including the Centers for Disease Control, the U.S. State Department, other countries' foreign service offices, Overseas Security Advisory Council and partner institutions in various countries.

Safety issues for off-campus study typically are addressed in orientation sessions before students leave campus, in published materials they receive before their departure, and through contact with parents and host providers before and during the experience.

"The health and safety of our students and the faculty who lead these trips is a top priority," Quade explains, "along with our goal to promote international education and cross-cultural learning."

Contact Carole Engblom at 507-786-3315 or leigh@stolaf.edu.