Student safety continues to be paramount as West Virginia University officials continue to monitor more than two dozen individuals studying out of the country this semester.

“The military action were now seeing following Sept. 11 has prompted the U.S. State Department to issue a worldwide caution,”said Tammy Nesbitt, coordinator of WVU s Study Abroad Program. WVU has 27 students studying overseas this semester in a dozen countries.

The caution states the military action begun Oct. 7 may result in strong anti-American sentiment and retaliatory actions against U.S. citizens and interests throughout the world by terrorists and those who are sympathetic to or otherwise support terrorism.

The advisory urges Americans in Afghanistan to depart the country. WVU has no students studying in Afghanistan or the Middle East. Americans elsewhere are urged to monitor the local news, maintain contact with the nearest American embassy or consulate and to limit their movement in their respective locations.

“Were asking our students to stay in contact with program directors at their sister institutions, with us and their parents,”Nesbitt said.”Were encouraging them to follow the state department guidelines as well,”she added.”Their safety is our top concern.”

The University is doing its best to keep abreast of current information and will change its recommendations if that is necessary, Nesbitt added.