Marist College Shuts Down Italian Campus

POUGHKEEPSIE – Marist College has 163 students studying in Florence, Italy this semester. The spread of the coronavirus has caused the CDC’s upgrade of Italy to a Level 3 status which means “avoid non-essential travel,” and as a result, Marist has moved to close the Florence campus for the spring 2020 semester and has encouraged students to return home.

In a letter to parents, the president of the Poughkeepsie-based college, Dennis Murray, said, “This decision presents immediate challenges for the 163 students studying in Italy this semester. Marist is supporting these students in a number of different ways, including assistance with travel. After they return to the US, we will contact each of them individually to plan their coursework for the rest of the spring semester, either online or through directed study. We are committed to ensuring that all students remain on track for their anticipated graduation timelines.”

Given the students are leaving a country that has been designated Level 3 by the CDC, Murray said students will not be permitted to visit any Marist location until after a self-quarantine of 14 days in which they show no signs of illness.

He said students currently living in residence halls and in the local Poughkeepsie community should not host returning Florence students on campus until after this 14-day period.
Murray said as spring break draws closer, he would “strongly advise against international travel, as both the epidemic and its impacts on travel across the world continue to evolve.”

Marist has created a dedicated webpage to serve as a central point of information about the coronavirus, which includes College policies and other related communications. It will be updated regularly as circumstances warrant. The site can be accessed at https://www.marist.edu/coronavirus-updates

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