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UC Suspends India Education Abroad Program

In the wake of a U.S. State Department travel warning issued today, the University of California suspended its Fall 2002 Education Abroad Program (EAP) in India.

Concerned about the safety of its students, on Monday UC put the program on hold in view of the military buildup and the threat of war breaking out between India and Pakistan. At the time, UC had said it would re-evaluate the decision if the security situation in the region improved.

Today's State Department warning "strongly urges American citizens currently in India to depart the country…Tensions have risen to serious levels, and the risk of intensified military hostilities between India and Pakistan cannot be ruled out."

Fifteen students were scheduled to travel to India later this summer for study. No UC EAP students are currently studying in India.

UC has two EAP sites in India, at Delhi and Hyderabad. UC will leave in place its infrastructure and staff in India to prepare for the eventual return of UC students.

Such actions are not without precedent: In recent years, the University temporarily halted its Education Abroad activities in China following the Tiananmen Square uprisings, in the Middle East during the Gulf War, and in Indonesia during the 1999 civil unrest. Most recently, the University suspended its Israel program this term because of safety considerations.

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