Dear Tufts-in-London and Tufts-in-Oxford Students,
We write with the difficult news that we must suspend the Tufts-in-London and Tufts-in-Oxford programs and move to a remote academic format online. Yesterday we suspended our Tufts programs in Paris, Madrid, and Tübingen, which will also move to an online remote learning system.
The safety of our students is paramount, and unfortunately, the recent escalation in COVID-19 cases around the globe, the increasing mitigation efforts by local authorities, and the associated health risks of having our students meet in large groups and live in halls of residence are all factors that contributed to this difficult decision. We understand that this may be a great disappointment to many of you, and we want to help assist with this transition.
We need you to plan a return flight to your home in the U.S. or home country by Sunday, March 15th and depart the U.K. and your dorms no later than Wednesday, March 18th. You may leave earlier if you can make the necessary travel arrangements. If you already have a return ticket, you should contact the airline or vendor with whom you booked your flight directly to make changes. Tufts University will cover costs associated with changing your return economy ticket up to $2,500. Please keep all receipts and documentation for reimbursements at a later date. Any flights departing the U.K. after March 18th or to destinations other than your home of record are not eligible for reimbursement. If you do not have a return ticket or need financial assistance with flight costs, please contact internationalsafety@tufts.edu for assistance. You are each required to complete this travel form with your flight plans by end of day Sunday, March 15th. If you have questions or require further assistance with your flights, please contact Elisabeth Keegan by email or phone: 617-627-3981 or internationalsafety@tufts.edu.
Given the ongoing health crisis around the globe and your departure from an area with significant cases, you will need to self-isolate in your home country. Until you are symptom-free for at least 14 days from the day you leave the U.K., you should not be in close contact with others. You should not return to the Medford campus as Tufts has suspended all classes and on-campus activities beginning Friday, March 13th.
If you are an international student, please contact Heather Varnet at the I-Center (Heather.Varnet@tufts.edu or 617-627-3458) to discuss your visa status, as special circumstances are being provided due to this unprecedented situation.
The Tufts-in-London/Oxford program director and staff are available to assist you and answer any questions you may have as you prepare for departure. Please do not hesitate to reach out to them.
We know that this may cause students additional stress and anxiety. Please remember that you may contact International SOS for telephone counseling and mental health services: +44-20-8762-8008 or +1-215-942-8478.
We will communicate soon with information about the completion of your courses online so that you may finish your semester. We ask for your patience and will communicate those details to you as soon as we have them. We will also be in contact about financial adjustments once we have everyone safely home.
Thank you,
James M. Glaser
Dean, School of Arts and Sciences
Jiamin Qu
Dean, School of Engineering
Mala Ghosh
Senior Director, Tufts Global Education
Elisabeth Keegan
Assistant Director of Health and Safety, Tufts Global Operations
