The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point has canceled international business internships in China this spring due to the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in Asia.

A program sponsored in conjunction with Sichuan University in Chengdu from May 20 to June 15 has been halted by Gary Mullins, chair of UWSP�s Division of Business and Economics, David Staszak, director of International Programs, and Jin Wang, associate dean of the College of Letters and Science who was slated to lead the trip. A group of about 15 students and Wang were scheduled to depart next month for the university�s second annual internship program in China.

In a memo to students, the trio said, "The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a worldwide caution and our own Center for Disease Control (CDC) has issued a warning that states, �CDC advises that people planning elective or nonessential travel to mainland China and Hong Kong; Singapore; and Hanoi, Viet Nam; may wish to postpone their trips until further notice.� We have consulted with medical personnel on the UWSP campus as well as at UW-Madison who are recommending that we cancel our planned trip to China.

"Student health and safety has always been our highest priority, and on the basis of this information, we are suspending for this year the planned business internship program to China that was scheduled to depart on May 20. It is important for you to understand that this has nothing directly to do with the war in Iraq or the threat of terrorism in general - we are convinced that the risk to your health because of SARS is too great right now to travel to China. This is not an easy decision."

The memo indicated that another internship program to China would be anticipated next May if the threat of SARS has abated.

Last year 12 students who traveled with Wang were immersed in Chinese corporate life, lectures and field trips.

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sclanton/vc/No China