01 October 2024
Tonight, a barrage of rockets and missiles were fired from Iran into Israeli airspace. Students, staff, and faculty both on campus and off campus followed protocol guidelines and sheltered in place. The guidelines are to remain sheltering in place until 10 minutes past the last siren. We waited longer than this to give an all clear.
Students on campus congregated in one of the safe shelter zones – the student lounge – and remained calm with staff playing worship music and praying for peace. Staff are continuing to check in with students and colleagues to ensure everyone is well both mentally and physically. The collective sense is that everyone is doing well and returning to routine studies with a renewed awareness that the regional war continues despite it rarely touching Jerusalem.
JUC continues to monitor the situation by maintaining contact with local law enforcement, the U.S. Embassy, and other local and foreign government agencies operating in Israel to ensure that students, faculty, staff, and their families remain up-to-date and advised about safety matters.
We are grateful for the ongoing prayers and support of the JUC community. We continue to trust God's protection and provision as we pray for peace.
Oliver Hersey
President
Jerusalem University College
08 August 2024
The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and the expanded conflict along Israel’s northern border with Hezbollah has continued through the summer. Tens of thousands of people in the region have been impacted directly by aerial strikes and indirectly through displacement. Recent attacks against military leaders for Hezbollah and Hamas has led to Iranian and Hezbollah rhetoric promising appropriate response in due time. These threats have led to an overall concern in the region, and around the globe, that a broader protracted war in the region could ensue.
Despite the challenging and uncertain environment, residents in Jerusalem, and throughout Israel, continue to participate in work, school, and recreational activities in typical fashion. Local schools, government services, and shops remain open and active during this time, albeit organizations remain prepared to handle potential outages of power or shortages of food that could get disrupted from a direct attack. Per JUC’s General Emergency Response Protocol, JUC remains in its standard State of Readiness and also remains prepared for Emergency Action should it be deemed necessary.
In June, a small Short Term course did run successfully. Students were able to visit nearly all of the typical sites that students visit on the Pastor & Parishioner course.
At the end of this month, our staff and faculty plan to welcome 15 students to Jerusalem for orientation into the Long Term program. All students planning to travel to Jerusalem should do so with prudence and awareness of the situation. We recommend that all students in any Short Term or Long Term program purchase travel insurance, if possible. While JUC has no plans to activate the JUC Evacuation Protocol, there may be an event that happens which leads students to evacuate because their home institution or family or self preference is to leave Israel, it is important that all students remain aware of what the Emergency Protocol states:
“If a student decides to return home, JUC staff will help the student arrange private and secure ground transport to Ben Gurion Airport or to a safe Border Crossing into Jordan. If the latter option is best, JUC staff will help students arrange transportation from the Border Crossing to Queen Alia Airport in Amman. Students are responsible for any expenses incurred that are associated with any required emergency travel. JUC will support and assist with arranging ground transportation, however, JUC is not responsible to cover travel costs as they are incurred. If Ben Gurion Airport is inaccessible, transportation will be arranged to an airport that is accessible—either elsewhere in Israel or in Jordan. When possible, such decisions should be made in collaboration and cooperation with appropriate foreign and/or local security personnel in Israel and/or in Jordan.”
We continue to monitor the overall situation and trust that God will continue to watch over JUC as He has in the decades past. JUC is prepared to shift to online learning in the event that tensions escalate to the point where JUC staff and advisors determine that it is in the best interest of student safety and well-being.
Please continue praying for the students studying at JUC, the staff working to facilitate this experience, and the faculty who deliver our world-class education. I am grateful for the ways so many have continued to cover our institution in prayer over these past months, on behalf of my whole team and the Board of Directors - thank you.
Oliver Hersey
President
Jerusalem University College
15 April 2024
On Saturday evening, news outlets and IDF spokespersons informed locals living in Israel about a pending attack from Iran. Schools and field study activity throughout Israel were closed on Sunday and Monday initially.
As Saturday evening concluded, locals in Jerusalem and throughout Israel were further informed that hundreds of drones and missiles had been launched from Iran and other locations, which provided citizens with several hours of wait time before the ballistics would arrive in Israeli airspace.
Around 2:00AM local time in Israel, alerts notified residents of rockets entering the airspace. JUC staff and students gathered in the Student Lounge per the Home Front Command instructions and advisements to shelter in place. Following Home Front Command’s advisement, students and staff waited 10 minutes for clearance and then were given the option to return to their dormitories.
The attack concluded with 99% of the drones, cruise and ballistic missiles being intercepted. Very little injury has been reported.
While I am saddened that this is our reality, I am proud for the swift action all students and staff took to ensure protocols were followed in a timely manner.
As of today, 15 April, the Israeli government lifted the ban on education and allowed all students to return to schools for classes. JUC students and staff are advised to abide by current U.S. Embassy guidance.
Spring Semester & Short-Term Programs
At this point in time, there is no clarity about how or if Israel will respond to Iran’s unprecedented attacks, which they launched in response to Israel’s attack on the Iranian Embassy in Syria. Staff at JUC remain in contact with local leaders working in security at the U.S. Embassy and British Consulate to ensure in-residence students can study and travel with the most current and accurate information in hand. Summer Short-Term programs remain scheduled for the groups currently registered as over 80% of sites and national parks remain open and safe.
We are aware that many around the globe are praying for JUC and for the peace of Jerusalem. Please don’t stop. God is truly our only hope for a better tomorrow to be found.
Oliver Hersey
President
Jerusalem University College
08 December 2023
The JUC campus remains secure and administration continues to monitor the situation closely. Much of the country remains open, and JUC is prepared to provide effective and safe running of field studies throughout the Land in the Spring semester. The current impact on our current programs remains as follows:
Long-Term Students
Students have completed the Fall semester. JUC was able to run field studies for the in-residence students during the remainder of the semester. Spring 2024 students are preparing to come and learn in residence starting in January.
Short-Term Students
The 2024 Short-Term programs during the month of May and onward are planned to proceed as scheduled.
Online Students
Fall 2023 online classes are complete. A new course selection is available for Spring 2024. View the online course offerings here.
17 October 2023
The JUC campus remains secure and the JUC administration continues to monitor the situation closely in light of the imminent ground invasion in Gaza. The current impact on our current programs remains as follows:
Long-Term Students
In-person classes have resumed. JUC will continue to follow the guidelines as they are issued by the U.S. Embassy, U.S. State Department, and Israel's Home Front Command.
Short-Term Students
The scheduled October Short-Term programs have been cancelled due to the logistical challenges caused by these unprecedented circumstances. Students registered for programs that are cancelled will have the option to defer their program to a later date or receive refunds. All programs in 2024 and onward are planned to proceed as scheduled.
Online Students
Online classes will proceed as usual at the scheduled day and time, unless students hear otherwise from their instructors. The Life and Times of Paul Field Study will proceed as scheduled 02-09 December 2023. There are no changes to this field study.
13 October 2023
On Tuesday, 10 October, the situation began to relax ever so slightly in Jerusalem. The border with Gaza appeared secure, alerts of rocket fire in Jerusalem ceased, traffic began to increase, and JUC resumed academic courses. On Wednesday, JUC welcomed Dr. Jon Kaplan to campus to discuss the inner-workings of the Israel - Gaza conflict with our Long-Term students. The week has progressively felt more stable in Jerusalem, yet we stand watchful with reports of an imminent ground invasion in Gaza.
The JUC leadership remains vigilant and sober-minded as it concerns the realities surrounding us. Coordination of safety and emergency response protocols have been established from constant communication with local law enforcement authorities in Jerusalem, the Security Teams and persons working in the U.S. Embassy, the U.S. State Department, local media correspondents, our expert and native faculty, and other diplomatic agencies serving other countries.
Amidst this harsh conflict, the JUC staff, faculty, and students bear heavy hearts over the violence and loss that has accompanied this time. With sadness, we also prepare for a shift on campus as some Long-Term students return to their home countries to complete their semester studies remotely.
As I meet daily with our students and staff, I have reflected on two Bible passages in particular. The first is applicable to our context as the prophet Habakkuk wrote these words in part of his “prayer journal with God.” Habakkuk is living in Jerusalem during a time when war looms in the distant horizon as the Babylonians are making their way south. After wrestling with God, expressing his frustration, and hearing from God a word for what is to come, Habakkuk concludes with the following words: “The LORD God is my strength, He makes my feet like the feet of a deer enabling me to walk in the high places.”
You might know what the Ibex deer looks like prancing along the most difficult terrain imaginable in the wilderness. So, too, can our God—our strength—make our feet in times of trouble. May we remember that we serve and worship a God who makes our feet swift with wisdom to traverse the challenging road ahead. The challenging road of distance learning. The challenging road of a semester interrupted. The challenging road of studying with war in the background.
The second passage continues to bring me peace as we develop plans for the future and pray that God continues to give us wisdom and intel along the way. The writer of Proverbs states in 16:9 “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” We have planned and prepared for the situation we are in, and we trust that God will establish our steps just as he steadies and establishes the feet of the deer in the highlands of the Negev.
Oliver Hersey
President
Jerusalem University College
09 October 2023
The conflict in Israel continues and the situation remains fluid. All of our Long-Term students are safe, and the JUC campus remains secure. We are monitoring the situation closely, and we continue to receive real-time security information from the U.S. Embassy and other trusted sources. The Fall 2023 programming and field studies will be adjusted as needed with priority placed on student safety. If you are a Long-Term, Short-Term, or Online student, please see your notification below:
Long-Term Students
Classes at the beginning of this week will be held online in accordance with Israel’s Home Front Command guidelines. We will continue to follow these guidelines as they are issued. Should students desire or need to return home prior to the end of the semester, our faculty will ensure that they are able to complete their course requirements. Students who remain in the land for the continuation of their program can be reassured that JUC staff will work to maintain a calm and steady environment where students can continue working on their graduate degrees or study abroad programs. JUC will remain flexible in course scheduling and field studies in light of the unknown circumstances caused by the conflict.
Short-Term Students
The scheduled October Short-Term programs have been cancelled due to the logistical challenges caused by these unprecedented circumstances. We share in the disappointment that this cancellation causes, but we feel this decision is in the best interest of those involved as nearly the entire Short-Term program is out in the field. To those who are impacted by this situation, JUC will issue further information about how to proceed. Students will have the option to defer their program to a later date. All programs in 2024 and onward are planned to proceed as scheduled.
Online Students
Classes will proceed as usual at the scheduled day and time, unless students hear otherwise from their instructors.
The Life and Times of Paul Field Study will proceed as scheduled 02-09 December 2023. There are no changes to this field study.
07 October 2023
Conflict has resumed between Gaza and Israel. Early Saturday morning (local Jerusalem time), Gaza fired a barrage of rockets toward Tel Aviv and other cities in the southern part of Israel. Jerusalem was also targeted.
For those who are currently enrolled in JUC Long-Term in-residence, online, or upcoming Short-Term programs, please be assured that we will keep you informed about the matter as we continue to gain more insight into the situation on the ground here in Israel. At this time, there are no changes to your program.
Israel has responded with heavy air strikes, and Gaza has boasted about militants infiltrating Israel. We know this is true to a degree based on reports of damage and death in the localized areas surrounding Gaza.
The mood on campus among our Long-Term students and staff remains steady and content. The campus is secure, and safety measures are in place. We also remain in constant contact with our security advisors serving in the U.S. Embassy located in Jerusalem.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email us at info@juc.edu. The U.S. Embassy website will also provide updates and alerts for your awareness. Please join me in praying for peace in this land and for God’s protective hand to remain upon JUC. Thank you for praying for us.
Oliver Hersey
President
Jerusalem University College
06 June 2023
Israel's Ministry of Health has officially eliminated all Covid-19 restrictions for foreigners entering the country, including proof of health insurance coverage for Covid-19. Travelers are no longer required to bring this documentation with them.