Study abroad programs and nonessential student travel will remain suspended for the spring semester, according to an email sent to students Wednesday.

Provost Brian Blake announced in an email that in light of the spring semester’s virtual instruction, the University will suspend all study abroad programs for the remainder of the academic year. Blake said the Office for Study Abroad will contact students who had hoped to travel abroad in the spring to “provide guidance on changing plans.”

He said students enrolled in programs like the Global Bachelor’s program with an international experience requirement will receive additional information from their schools. Officials plan to hold “several” virtual question-and-answer forums to provide more information about the spring semester to students, he said.

“I also want to note that we recognize that the global citizenship, intercultural learning and exciting research opportunities that study abroad provides are an important part of the GW experience, and we look forward to being able to offer these opportunities again as soon as it is safe to do so,” Blake said in the email.