The cross-cultural experiences to San Antonio, Arizona and Kentucky have been approved to continue as planned while the experiences to Germany/Central Europe and Guatemala are being postponed to later in the summer. This decision was approved by President Jane Wood, her cabinet, including Vice President of Academic Affairs and Academic Dean Lamar Nisly.
The faculty leaders of the experiences have been monitoring COVID-19 case numbers, restrictions, hospitalizations and death counts in their respective experience locations. According to Elaine Suderman, assistant director of cross-cultural programs, restrictions on international travel was the driving force in the decision to postpone the experiences to Germany/ Central Europe and Guatemala.
“At the advice of the travel agent for the Germany experience, we postponed that experience to July due to COVID-19 conditions, which led to lockdowns, travel restrictions and closures in Germany,” said Suderman. “The Guatemala experience was postponed for similar reasons.”
The domestic experiences show more promising signs as COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths continue to decline in the counties where they are set to take place.
“The trend for COVID-19 cases and deaths at each of the domestic locations are going down, and with more vaccines now available it seemed feasible for the domestic experience to safely travel,” said Suderman.
Suderman worked alongside Paul Neufeld Weaver, director of global education and leader of the San Antonio/ Rio Grande experience, in monitoring the situation.
“We requested that each of the leaders be in contact with our partners at the experience location to get information on how COVID-19 was affecting the area,” said Suderman. “Paul and I met with the leaders on several occasions to get updates and discuss the feasibility of the experience travelling in May.”
Cassie Mladek, junior elementary education major, is participating in the upcoming May 2021 experience in San Antonio/ Rio Grande
Valley. She is grateful for the university’s decision.
“Cross cultural trips are something the Bluffton students look forward to experiencing,” said Mladek. “I chose a domestic experience because I figured that they would have a better chance of actually happening.”
Mladek is comforted by the consideration that went into deciding whether or not the trips could safely take place and feels confident that the university has selected a safe option.
While students like Mladek look forward to their trips, graduating seniors whose experiences got postponed were given the option to take a virtual alternative if they are unable to participate in the experience at it’s new date.
Caroline Schutz, senior TESOL major who was signed up for the Germany/ Central Europe experience, is taking the virtual alternative taught by Martina Cucchiara.
“Although I am disappointed that I won’t be going to Germany and Central Europe, I think the university made the best decision given the circumstances,” said Schutz. “I am looking forward to participating in the virtual alternative because I think Martina will make the class interesting and engaging.”
Even though the domestic experiences have been approved, the approval is subject to change as COVID-19 conditions continue to change and evolve. Mask requirements, social distancing and other COVID-19 safety protocols will be in effect on the trips.
“We are continuously monitoring the situation in all locations and will make changes if needed,” said Suderman. “We are requiring all leaders to be vaccinated and all students to have a negative COVID-19 test within ninety-six hours of departure. It is true that we cannot guarantee one-hundred percent safety, but we trust that the leaders and students will take the necessary safety precautions to make the experience as safe as possible.”
