Sean Ganas is video interviewing prospective students from China. Bancroft School's Director of Admissions was traveling to to Shanghai next week to do the interviews in person -- but his trip was canceled because of the coronavirus.
Ganas, "I'm usually there for a couple weeks and in the span of a couple weeks I'm usually interviewing 75-80 kids."
The global health emergency is affecting Bancroft's foreign exchange program. Fourteen Chinese students are at Bancroft now. All of their families back home are healthy and doing well.
The Head of Bancroft School Trey Cassidy, "I think everyone's concerned about family back home in China. We are and we've been in touch with the families. We've had conversations with them to make sure they know we're paying attention and are aware of what's happening."
Ganas says people in China are doing what they can to stay healthy. Ganas, "It's sad for them. I actually just interviewed a little boy, a sixth grader from China. He's stuck in his house all day long. He can't leave."
Assumption College doesn't have any students abroad in China this year, but the school is keeping close tabs on students in other countries. They also have students from China studying in Worcester.
Assumption Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs Eloise Knowlton, "They all made it back because our semester started before this had really grown to the magnitude that it's grown."
Back at Bancroft, Ganas is planning to give a virtual tour of the school to prospective students. He doesn't expect the coronavirus will impact future enrollment.
Ganas, "I'm eager to go back as soon as it's safe and as soon as the CDC says i can go back."