By Eoghan Duran | October 25, 2021
The University at Albany is without any international or study abroad programs for the fall and winter semester, with the spring being uncertain as of now.
Director of Education Abroad Renee DeCelle said that the decision to suspend winter abroad programs was made Oct. 6.
“While there are no definite answers on when education abroad programming will resume, programs abroad are not expected to all re-open at the same time,” said DeCelle. “Instead, when education abroad relaunches only a limited number of programs and destinations will be available, evaluated based on global travel conditions, health and safety guidelines, SUNY System Administration re-opening protocols, and UAlbany priorities.”
Students are currently unable to apply for any study abroad programs for the Spring 2022 semester, as the university waits for the approval and guidance from the SUNY System Administration. The process of re-opening programs and destinations is ongoing.
In the meantime, DeCelle stated that the Education Abroad team will remain open to assist and guide students in preparing for global education in the future.
Although UAlbany students are not able to travel abroad, the university has begun to welcome international students back to campus. The university has seen a significant drop in international enrollment in 2019 and 2020, with only 1,432 and 1,237 enrolling. Prior to the pandemic UAlbany had 1,834 international students enrolled in 2017, and 1,711 in 2018.