| In the interest of speed and timeliness, this story is fed directly from the Associated Press newswire and may contain spelling or grammatical errors. |
UC cancels Beijing programs due to SARS concern
Friday April 18, 2003OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) The University of California has ordered 44 of its students attending classes at two Beijing universities to leave China immediately because of concerns over severe acute respiratory syndrome.
The university announced Thursday that it was suspending its education abroad programs at Beijing Normal University and Peking University, where a SARS case was recently confirmed.
Although no UC students have been diagnosed with the illness, concern for their safety in light of the continued spread of SARS prompted the university's action, said John A. Marcum, director of the Education Abroad Program.
UC exchange programs in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam remain open, but could be shut down if local health conditions deteriorate, he said.
``UC is monitoring events closely and is in constant contact with EAP staff abroad, as well as with the U.S. State Department, local U.S. embassies and host institutions abroad,'' Marcum said.
The university is helping the students called out of China arrange travel plans, secure academic credit for classes they will not be finishing, and learn about the symptoms of SARS.
The university said it would decide by May 10 whether to sponsor summer programs in Beijing, which are scheduled to begin in late June.
(