The following message was sent on Jan. 31, 2020, to students, faculty and staff regarding novel coronavirus on behalf of the members of the Montana Western Safety and Security Committee, the Dean of Students and University Communications:

Coronavirus and Travel to China MUS Update: January 31, 2020

To the campus community,

Please be aware that the State Department has raised its Travel Advisory for China toLevel 4: Do Not Travel.

For the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff, the Montana University System (MUS) has prohibited all MUS sponsored or affiliated travel to China until further notice. Please be aware that any travel expenses incurred en route to and from China or in China while the MUS travel ban is in effect will not be covered or reimbursed by the MUS.

The travel ban is for China only and does not apply to trips to other countries.

The Montana University System is committed to protecting students, faculty and staff across our campus communities and is closely monitoring the situation in cooperation with state and county health officials. There are no known cases of 2019-nCoV infection in Montana, and the CDC states that the current risk to the American public of becoming infected is low.

We will provide updates as new information becomes available.

For reliable information on coronavirus visit:

US Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
World Health Organization (WHO)
Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services (DPHHS)

Thank you,

The members of the Montana Western Safety and Security Committee
University Communications
Dean of Students
406-683-7900