México has continuously been a popular destination for U.S. students looking to study abroad, and ISA's México study abroad program, established in 1989, has been witness to this increasing popularity with U.S students. The allure of México as a study abroad destination can be attributed to numerous factors.

México's rich history and cultural diversity, spanning from its Mesoamerican beginnings and colonial heritage, are just a few of this country's alluring attributes. México's diverse geography which includes rainforests, pristine beaches and mountain ranges also contributes to this country's popularity.

México's world-renowned academic, artistic and cultural contributions can be attributed to some of the oldest institutions of higher learning in Latin America. This prominent academic heritage can be seen at both the University of Veracruz and the University of Guanajuato, the academic centers for ISA's study abroad programs in México.

After carefully: monitoring the H1N1 virus in cities throughout Mexico, ISA has decided to reinstate the excursion to Teotihuacan.

As of 3:30pm May 8 2009:
After careful consideration ISA has decided to move forward with our summer 2009 programs in Guanajuato Mexico as well as our Fall/Year programs in Xalapa and Guanajuato. We will of course continue to monitor the H1N1 virus in our sites for any new developments. The ISA/USD
Guadalajara program has been modified and will now take place in Madrid,
Spain.

May 11, 2009 will remain the final deadline to withdraw from programs in Mexico for a full refund, or to defer to another ISA program without penalty for late changes. ISA must receive a completed withdrawal form or deferment by May 11th in order to honor withdrawal/defer policies. Any requests received after May 11th will be subject to ISA's standard cancellation policy.

Should you have any questions regarding this matter please contact Latin America Admissions Coordinator Alicia Gonzales (alicia@studiesabroad.com) or Central America Admissions Coordinator Juliette McGee (jmcgee@studiesabroad.com)

Safety in Mexico: ISA has assessed the widely reported increase in violence in Mexico, and there are no plans to cancel any of our Mexico programs at this time. The decision to continue is based on a study of various reports, including those published by OSAC and the United States Department of State. ISA is also in direct communication with a network of contacts in each of the cities where we operate. The information gathered clearly suggests that the increase in violence is taking place in specific regions of Mexico, while the rest of the country is largely unaffected. The areas that have been affected by an increase in violence include the cities along the border with the U.S., the state of Sinaloa, and the beach resorts of Acapulco and Cancún. ISA does not operate programs or excursions in any of these areas.

ISA is closely monitoring news reports and communicating with staff and contacts on site. Program participants would be immediately notified of any heightened danger in these sites as the safety of ISA participants is of the utmost importance. As of now, ISA directors in Mexico have yet to see any fundamental changes affecting student safety in the sites where we operate.