Study Abroad Office Reopens Japan Programs This Summer

The UC Education Abroad Program reopened exchange programs in Japan on April 21 beginning for this summer.

UCEAP moved to lift its ban on Japan exchanges after the U.S. Department of State lifted its travel restrictions on April 14, which previously eliminated insurance coverage for UC students in Japan.

The UCEAP Insurance Plan — which covers 100 percent of fees associated with accidents and sicknesses — is mandatory coverage for all UCEAP students. The plan provides medical expense benefits, extended home country benefits, accidental death and dismemberment benefits, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation of remains, emergency reunion benefits, gap insurance and extension of benefits, as well as coverage for natural disasters and political and security evacuations.

Of the six UC exchange programs and eight UC full immersion exchanges, exchange programs with the University of Tsukuba and Tohoku University — two universities north of Tokyo — will remain suspended for fall. UCEAP is in the process of redirecting UC students slated to enroll in these two programs to others.

“We’re not sending students to [those two universities because] we are concerned they don’t have enough time to rebuild because they were hit the hardest by the earthquake, tsunami and power plant [damage],” UCEAP Regional Director Mary McMahon said.

The programs are slated to begin at the start of the next regularly scheduled UCEAP term at each university, which is Spring 2012 for Tohoku University and Fall 2012 for the University of Tsukuba.

The rest of the eight partner universities, however, will reopen for exchange programs. These universities are Hitotsubashi University, International Christian University, Keio University, Osaka University, University of Tokyo and Waseda University.

Students are also required to avoid travel within a 50-mile radius of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Students found in violation of this policy will be dismissed from the program.

All students must also notify the Study Center, the local U.S. Embassy and their families of all travel plans. Students must sign out before any travel through MyEAP, a website for UCEAP students.

Students are informed of these regulations in the UCEAP Student Guide and in both the UC campus and on-site orientations.

The Office of Risk Services within the UC Office of the President is monitoring the situation in Japan with the university’s travel and risk insurance partners, and will continue to post travel alerts associated with public safety.

The students who were accepted to the spring 2011 UCEAP Japan programs but were unable to participate were refunded the full cost of the program. They will be allowed to enroll in a Japanese language and culture program for this summer.

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