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As of 3:30pm May 8 2009
After careful consideration ISA has decided to move forward with our summer 2009 programs in Guanajuato Mexico as well as our Fall/Year programs in Xalapa and Guanajuato. We will of course continue to monitor the H1N1 virus in our sites for any new developments. The ISA/USD Guadalajara program has been modified and will now take place in Madrid, Spain.

May 11, 2009 will remain the final deadline to withdraw from programs in Mexico for a full refund, or to defer to another ISA program without penalty for late changes. ISA must receive a completed withdrawal form or deferment by May 11th in order to honor withdrawal/defer policies. Any requests received after May 11th will be subject to ISA's standard cancellation policy.

Should you have any questions regarding this matter please contact Latin America Admissions Coordinator Alicia Gonzales (alicia@studiesabroad.com) or Central America Admissions Coordinator Juliette McGee (jmcgee@studiesabroad.com)



The following statement, issued May 4th 5:15 PM, summarizes ISA's response to the recent suspension of academic activities in Mexico as they relate to the outbreak of influenza.

In light of the fact that universities and colleges throughout Mexico will resume normal academic activity as of Thursday May 7, ISA will remain steadfast in its decision not to cancel any of the Summer 2009 programs in Guanajuato. The announcement by Mexican President Felipe Calderónd state governors for academic activities to resume is a clear indication of the diminishing effects the recent outbreak of influenza is having on daily life in Mexico. As always, the safety of ISA's students is a top priority, and for that reason, ISA will continue to monitor the situation, and inform program participants of any changes that may transpire.

ISA continues to receive information from a number of sources including the ISA offices in Mexico and several key U.S. governmental and international agencies including the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization(WHO) and U.S. Department of State. As more information becomes available, ISA will notify all students.

The refund policy as it pertains to ISA summer and fall programs in Guanajuato will remain in effect until the already stated date of May 11, 2009. On or prior to May 11th, ISA will reassess the situation and decide if this special exception to the refund policy will be extended to a later date.

Should you have any questions about this matter, please contact our office at (800) 580-8826 or e-mail alicia@studiesabroad.com



As of 4:00 pm, April 29, 2009

This is to advise all ISA students currently in Guanajuato or Xalapa, Mexico that ISA is requiring them to return home as soon as possible due to The World Health Organization's decision to raise the severity of its pandemic alert level to 5 from 4. Phase 5 is characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region. While most countries will not be affected at this stage, the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.

As of this time, ISA's current Mexico programs (ISA's Mexico Winter 2009 programs in Guanajuato and Xalapa) are officially cancelled. Our offices remain open, and our resident directors are available to assist students as they make arrangements to return to the United States. As mentioned before, ISA will arrange and pay for students' transportation to the nearest airport on the day of their flight.

ISA is also working with the host universities to arrange for students to complete their coursework from the United States. We have kept in daily contact with all participating students' home universities to ensure that they are apprised of the situation and to work collaboratively for their students' welfare.

This update supersedes ISA's previous statement that strongly recommended students to return to the United States, and offered support to students who chose to return home or remain in Mexico.


As of 2:30 pm, April 28, 2009

ISA is concerned for the safety of our students abroad, and we are continually monitoring developments with regard to the Swine Flu. ISA will provide support for any students currently participating in our Mexico programs who choose to return home from Mexico at this time. Those students who choose to remain in Mexico may continue to live with their host family and resume classes when they reopen but must stay in daily contact with the ISA resident staff. All ISA Mexico offices will remain open, and the office staff will be available to assist students as always

SUMMER PROGRAMS: ISA has not cancelled any summer programs in Mexico.

This decision is based on several recent changes in the Swine Flu outbreak.

  1. The World Health Organization's decision to raise the severity of its pandemic alert level to four from three on a six-point scale. Level four means there is sustained human-to-human spread in at least one country. Level six is a full-fledged pandemic, an epidemic that has spread to a wide geographic area. Phase 4 indicates a significant increase in risk of a pandemic but does not necessarily mean that a pandemic is a forgone conclusion. WHO Pandemic Alert

  2. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Recommendations: At this time, CDC recommends that U.S. travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico. Changes to this recommendation will be posted at CDC Travel Advisory. The U.S. Department of State refers to the CDC recommendation in its most recent travel alert, dated Tuesday, April 28, 2009. Details can be found at Dept of State Travel Advisory

  3. President Felipe Calderon of Mexico has closed all schools and universities until at least May 6th to prevent spread of the disease, and has recommended that people remain at home.

  4. The Airlines are still flying at this point, and many have indicated that they will honor changes in tickets without penalty. It is possible that this situation could change however, so we feel it is prudent to give students the option of flying home now while still possible if they choose. Associated Press Article

For those students who decide to withdraw from one of our Summer 09 or Fall 09 Mexico programs, between now and May 11, ISA will offer a full refund of the program cost. Please note that this refund policy is only in effect through May 11. On or prior to May 11th, ISA will reassess the situation and decide if this special exception to our refund policy will be extended to a later date. Of course, we will continue to assess the situation to modify our course of action.

We are monitoring the situation closely with appropriate health and international agencies such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, The US Embassy and Consulates in Mexico, The World Health Organization in Switzerland, and NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

Resources

Should you have any questions about this matter, please contact ISA's Latin American Admissions Coordinator, Alicia Gonzales at Alicia@studiesabroad.com.