From: Benjamin McCracken, JCMU Resident Director
To: All current students participating in the spring 2020 semester (including 2019-20 academic year students)
Sent: Friday, March 13, 2020 12:42 AM EDT
Subject: Today's meeting follow up
Everyone,
Thank you again for your understanding. As I told you, as of today, this semester's programing is suspended. This is based on MSU's decision to suspend all current education abroad programs. Pursuant to this we've asked you all to depart Japan by Tuesday, March 17, 2020.
JCMU is here to help you in making travel plans and will do what it can to help you. JCMU also requests that you seek help and or advice from your home institution as it may be able to assist you in other ways. Once your travel plans are confirmed please share those plans with the JCMU Hikone staff.
We ask that you comply with all of our exit procedures and JCMU rules as move forward, which includes going to City Hall to declare your departure as well as cleaning your rooms as best you can with this short notice. I understand there is a strong desire to stay in Japan, but I would reiterate that you should do your absolute best to comply with our request to leave Japan by March 17th.
For course credits, it is our goal to allow you to earn full credits for all your courses. For the electives (other than Japan & Nature which is now complete), you will be contacted by your professor and told how to proceed. For the Japanese language program, you will receive further instructions from your instructor.
If you need assistance on your return to the USA, whether that is with healthcare, housing, etc, we would ask that you contact your home institution to talk about those issues.
Many of you asked specific questions during and after the class. We will do our best to have answers for you. In the interim, I highly recommend contacting your home institution as well and asking about the support it may be able to provide.
Thank you again for everything. I hope to see you all back in Japan again in the future.
Benjamin J. McCracken
Resident Director
Japan Center for Michigan Universities
From: Chad Frost, JCMU Program Coordinator
To: Accepted Applicants of 2020 JCMU May and summer programs
Date: Thursday, March 12, 2020 at 4:20 PM (EDT)
Subject: JCMU May & Summer 2020 Program Cancellation
Greetings from the Japan Center for Michigan Universities (JCMU):
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and in alignment with recommendations by Michigan State University, the administrative agent of JCMU, all ongoing and upcoming JCMU study abroad programs will be suspended through the end of summer 2020.
What does this mean?
The JCMU May/summer 2020 program to which you have applied or been accepted has been cancelled.
If you wish to transfer your application to a future JCMU program that starts after summer 2020, please reply to this message or contact our East Lansing office.
Students who are unable to postpone for any reason may choose to withdraw their application. If you wish to withdraw, please respond to this email with your request and we will change your status in the JCMU Application Portal.
$100 JCMU Application Fee / Deposit
Students who decide to transfer their application to a future JCMU program will not receive a refund of their $100 JCMU application deposit at this time. Instead, the deposit will be transferred with their application.
Students who decide to withdraw their application will receive a refund of their $100 JCMU deposit. To be added to the list of refunds, please reply to this message with your request to withdraw.
Flight already paid?
If you have already booked your flight, please contact the airline to ask about a refund or obtaining a voucher which can be used in the future towards another flight. If the airline or your travel provider requires documentation to support your refund/change request, please contact us and we will gladly provide an official letter stating that the program has been cancelled due to concerns regarding COVID-19.
We greatly appreciate your patience and understanding as we all work to adapt to this unprecedented and rapidly-changing public health challenge. If there is anything we can do to assist you, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Best regards,
Chad
Chad Frost (he / him / his)
Program Coordinator
Japan Center for Michigan Universities
From: Kate Simon, JCMU Program Director
To: All current JCMU students; accepted/admitted Summer 2020; and JCMU partners, faculty, and staff
Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2020 3:32 PM (EDT)
Subject: JCMU COVID-19 Update (March 12, 2020)
Greetings from the Japan Center for Michigan Universities (JCMU):
We are writing with unfortunate news regarding JCMU programs. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and in alignment with recommendations by Michigan State University, the administrative agent of JCMU, all ongoing and upcoming JCMU study abroad programs will be suspended through the end of summer 2020.
What does this mean for 2020 spring semester participants?
This program is being suspended. Students should make plans to depart Japan by Tuesday, March 24, 2020, unless informed otherwise by their home institution. Additional information about travel arrangements, completing coursework remotely, and other logistics will be provided to students by JCMU staff in Hikone and posted on the JCMU website.
What does this mean for 2020 May and summer applicants and admitted students?
All JCMU programs scheduled to run May-August 2020 are being cancelled. Students may transfer their applications to a future JCMU program or withdraw their applications. Additional information will be provided by the JCMU staff in East Lansing and posted on the JCMU website.
We greatly appreciate your patience and understanding as we all work to adapt to this unprecedented and rapidly changing public health challenge.
Sincerely,
Kate Simon (she, her, hers)
Program Director
Japan Center for Michigan Universities
From: Benjamin McCracken, JCMU Resident Director
To: All Current Spring 2020 Students
Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2020 2:15 AM (EDT)
Subject: 3/12/2020 Covid-19 Follow up
Everyone,
Thank you for listening patiently through my explanation today about the Covid-19 situation. I know that the information I provided can elicit a strong emotional response. As I said, this is perfectly normal. If you need to talk about your feelings please feel free to reach out to me or any of the other faculty and staff here at JCMU.
As I mentioned today, Eastern Michigan University and the University of Michigan Ann Arbor have issued mandates requiring their respective students to return to the United States as soon as possible. For these students, we've requested you move out from JCMU by Monday, March 16th and return to the United States as soon as possible.
JCMU is here to help you in making travel plans and will do what it can to help you. JCMU also requests that you seek help and or advice from your home institution as it may be able to assist you in other ways. Once your travel plans are confirmed please share those plans with the JCMU Hikone staff.
I expect information from other universities to come in over the next 24 hours. JCMU, as I mentioned in class, will follow MSU's recommendations and mandates. I will do my best to share those with you and any information I receive from your respective home institutions and the government as well.
For those leaving JCMU, we ask that you comply with all of our exit procedures, which includes going to City Hall to declare your departure as well as cleaning your rooms as best you can with this short notice. I understand there is a strong desire to stay in Japan, but I would reiterate that you should do your absolute best to comply with your university's recommendations.
For course credits, it is our goal to allow you to earn full credits for all your courses. We recommend that you continue to attend all your classes and do all your assignments up to you departure. Japan and Nature will finish tomorrow. For all other electives, you will be contacted by your professor and told how to proceed. For the Japanese language program, you will receive further instructions from your instructor.
If you need assistance on your return to the USA, whether that is with healthcare, housing, etc., we would ask that you contact your home institution to talk about those issues.
Many of you asked specific questions during and after the class. We will do our best to have answers for you. In the interim, I highly recommend contacting your home institution as well and asking about the support it may be able to provide.
Benjamin J. McCracken
Resident Director
Japan Center for Michigan Universities
From: JCMU Hikone Office Manager
To: Current Spring 2020 Students from Eastern Michigan University and the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Date: Thursday, March 12, 2020 at 1:52 AM (EDT)
Subject: Your flight information and Cocos refund
Dear UM and EMU students,
1. Please work on making reservation for your return flight immediately, and give me your flight information as soon as possible via e-mail. You are requested to leave Japan by Monday, March 16th our time.
I need:
If you need to use the phone for making reservation, you can use our office phone or
the Student Service Coordinator's office phone in the dorm.
2. Cocos refund
Bring your Cocos card to office #109 and you will be reimbursed right away.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Hikone Office Manager
Japan Center for Michigan Universities
From: Chad Frost, JCMU Program Coordinator
To: Accepted Applicants of the 2020 JCMU Criminal Justice in Japan program
Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at 5:49 PM (EDT)
Subject: JCMU Criminal Justice in Japan - Program Cancellation
Greetings from the Japan Center for Michigan Universities (JCMU):
We are writing with unfortunate news regarding the Criminal Justice in Japan program offered by JCMU in partnership with Grand Valley State University (GSVU) Professors Naoki Kanaboshi and John Walsh. In alignment with recommendations by GVSU related to the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19, the 2020 Criminal Justice in Japan program has been cancelled.
What does this mean?
The summer 2020 iteration of this program is cancelled. The faculty leaders have confirmed interest in offering the program during summer 2021 and JCMU will begin planning accordingly.
We will be in contact within the next week with instructions on how to transfer your application to CJJ summer 2021 (or another JCMU-sponsored program, if desired).
Students who are unable to postpone for any reason may choose to withdraw their application. If you wish to withdraw, please respond to this email with your request and we will change your status in the JCMU Application Portal.
$100 JCMU Application Fee / Deposit
Students who decide to postpone their participation until a later term will not receive a refund of their $100 JCMU application deposit. Instead, the deposit will transferred with their application.
Students who decide to withdraw their application will receive a refund of their $100 JCMU deposit. To be added to the list of refunds, please reply to this message with your request to withdraw.
Flight already paid?
If you have already booked your flight, please contact the airline to ask about a refund or obtaining a voucher which can be used in the future towards another flight. If the airline or your travel provider requires documentation to support your refund/change request, please contact us and we will gladly provide an official letter stating that the program has been cancelled due to concerns regarding COVID-19.
We greatly appreciate your patience and understanding as we all work to adapt to this unprecedented and rapidly-changing public health challenge.
Best regards,
Chad
Chad Frost (he, him, his)
Program Coordinator
Japan Center for Michigan Universities
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