Important Coronavirus Update

Dear Bentley Community, 

President Davis-Blake and the Cabinet have been closely monitoring the updates and advisories about the coronavirus (COVID-19) worldwide.

On February 28, the Centers for Disease Control increased the travel warning advisory for Italy to a level 3, which advises against nonessential travel to the country. As a result and out of abundant concern for the health and safety of our students, today we requested that all Bentley students currently studying in Italy immediately return to their hometowns. The Cronin Office of International Education will work with these students and our partner universities in Italy to create plans to allow the students to continue their studies from home.

Additionally, we have decided to cancel Bentley-run spring break programs in Europe and Africa to ensure that no member of our community experiences delays or difficulties reentering the U.S. While none of the countries hosting these programs fall under the CDC’s current travel advisory, due to the rapidly changing international travel restrictions we felt it was the most prudent course of action to make sure students and faculty remain safe and are able to return to campus and continue their studies when classes resume on March 16. 

The Cronin Office of International Education has been in touch with all students currently studying abroad for the spring 2020 semester to ensure they have the support and resources they need. And that close communication will continue in the days and weeks ahead. Programs in China and South Korea have already been cancelled, and we are working with students planning to study in other affected areas to assess their academic options.

The risk of infection in Massachusetts continues to remain low, with only one confirmed case in the state. The Commonwealth’s Public Health Commissioner has said that citizens should continue with regular activities as normal. 

To ensure that all Bentley information about the coronavirus is easy to find, we have created bentley.edu/coronavirus to host university updates.

We will continue to provide university updates related to the coronavirus as new information and travel restrictions become available. As always, the health and safety of our students, professors and the entire Bentley community remain the university’s top priority.

The Bentley University Cabinet

Alison Davis-Blake
Donna Maria Blancero
Josh Brand
George Cangiano
Carolina Figueroa
Maureen Flores
Maureen Forrester
Christopher Joyce
Amanda King
Judy Malone
Andrew Shepardson
Bob Wittstein