Prospects for Students Studying Abroad for Fall 2020

As the Marist Abroad office monitors the status and impact of COVID-19 throughout the world, they continue to prepare for students to study abroad in the Fall 2020 semester. Nonetheless, students planning to go abroad are also encouraged to create back-up plans for remaining on the Poughkeepsie campus. 

An email from the Abroad office updated students planning to go overseas in the fall of 2020, that they are “proceeding with study abroad plans with 100 percent commitment,” but pressed the importance of developing a back-up plan. There will be a decision point when the senior administration will “pull students” from their Poughkeepsie schedules to commit to their study abroad programs. This date has yet to be announced. 

In addition to registering for classes on the Poughkeepsie campus, students were told by the Marist Abroad office to make their 2020-2021 housing deposits if they planned to live in the resident halls. Marist Abroad said they are working carefully with the Housing Office and will provide more information regarding the fall semester as soon as they can. 

“Marist Abroad is moving forward with Fall 2020 study abroad while keeping a close eye on the COVID-19 situation around the world. I know many of you have questions about the ‘what ifs’ and what I can tell you is that we are working with several offices on campus to strategize for fall 2020,” the Abroad office wrote in the email.  

Although Marist Abroad is diligently working to construct a semester abroad, some students are apprehensive leaving the country due to the pandemic. Lauren Podest ‘22 will delay her abroad plans. 

“I originally planned on going to Florence, Italy for the fall semester, but with the circumstances at hand I am planning on going in the Spring of 2021,” Podest said, adding that she does not feel comfortable leaving the country for an extended duration during these uncertain times, even though Marist is still offering the program. “I am concerned with the economy and another wave [of COVID-19] hitting either Italy or the U.S. I want to be able to protect my family from this and if me staying at home or school helps, then that is what I am going to do.”