Summer Trip to China is Canceled
The following letter was shared on February 11, 2020 with families of students who planned to study abroad in Spain with USN.
Dear Families,
University School of Nashville has been following the news of the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in and around the Hubei Province of China. Beginning in December 2019, the spread of the virus raised concern for the school as student safety and well-being is a paramount value for our sponsorship of international travel experiences.
As of February 11, 2020, University School of Nashville has decided to postpone the Summer 2020 China trip indefinitely. This feels like the most appropriate course of action, given the rapidly evolving dynamics of the situation. Our decision was made in consultation with the school’s risk management team, the trip’s sponsors and chaperones (Ms. Huang, Mr. Luffman, Ms. Cracraft), and after review of a host of legal briefings on the topic. Moreover, our internal review of the pertinent information provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and perhaps most strongly, the U.S. State Department Travel Warning (Level 4: Do Not Travel), dictated that postponing the trip seemed the best course of action rather than creating an alternative itinerary for East Asia. The recently upgraded travel restrictions, as outlined by the WHO, warn of sudden changes in abilities to move into, out of, and around China that further support our decision. By postponing this trip now, we protect each family’s investment in the trip as maximally as possible.
We will monitor the further spread of the Coronavirus and make a determination about the viability of our summer 2020 Spain trip in the coming weeks.
Understandably, this is disappointing news. Ms. Huang, Mr. Luffman, and Ms. Cracraft have spent considerable time working with our partner, Real China, to create a meaningful experience for our students. Still, student safety is our chief principle. We’ll certainly continue to look toward future explorations of China in the coming years.
Should you have questions about our decision, please reach out to me directly.
All the best,
Dr. Quinton P. Walker
Head of High School
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Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
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University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.