Communications from the Campus about H1N1

To Faculty

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CLASS ATTENDANCE AND OTHER PROCEDURES REGARDING CONTAGIOUS ILLNESSES for Fall Semester, 2009

ATTENDANCE in class is both expected and required for most courses. Many classes are structured to include content during the class meetings that simply cannot be gained outside of the class time. This is obvious in subjects like speech, foreign language, lab sessions, and courses with group projects, peer review of assignments, lectures, and student or guest speaker presentations. Most faculty have already made provisions in syllabi and grading for the reality that students may miss one or more classes during a semester due to illness or emergency situations. Any waivers, extensions or rescheduling of assignments/tests/exams are up to the instructor or department guidelines. Such exceptions are not automatic or guaranteed, no matter what the reason for the student’s absence. However, given the likelihood that we will see a re-emergence of the H1N1 virus this fall and that a significant number of our students (or their dependents) may be affected by this illness we urge the faculty in the School of _________ to plan ahead for this contingency and to consider exceptional flexibility if we experience a pandemic.

In addition, there are some steps that the various campus centers for teaching and learning are suggesting faculty can do, to prepare to conduct all or more of their classes online, if that should become necessary. A version of that information is attached. It is important that faculty have at least a familiarity with these online teaching options.

Emergency preparedness planning has highlighted the importance of limiting exposure to contagious illnesses (including among others: influenza, colds, meningitis, and staph infection). To keep the spread of infectious illnesses to a minimum, faculty are encouraged to instruct students to stay home if they exhibit symptoms of these illnesses.

Symptoms include:

• Fever (greater than 100 degrees), chills
• Sore throat, headache, cough
• Body aches, fatigue
• Possible diarrhea and vomiting

On August 5, 2009, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommended that people with influenza-like illness remain at home until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever (less than 100° F [37.8°C] without the use of fever-reducing medications). This is a change from the previous 7 day guideline.

If students come to class exhibiting these symptoms, they should be instructed to return home to prevent the spread of the illness to others in the class and on campus.

Faculty are encouraged to think ahead and incorporate into their syllabi instructions regarding contagious illness related absences. When possible, non-punitive options/policies should be available so that students will not attempt to come to campus when they have these illnesses. Students may also need to miss class if other members of their households are sent home from school or work due to these symptoms/illnesses. The CDC, in addressing the concern that our health providers may be overwhelmed by a pandemic, have also recommended that people who are not seriously ill avoid going to their physicians. Thus, we will need to understand that students may not be able to provide a Doctor’s excuse.

Possible options (recognizing that not all are possible in all courses/types of assignments):

• Attach this memo or a modified version as part of your syllabus.
• Include in your syllabus a statement instructing students to stay home if they have the indicated symptoms and to fully inform the instructor of the situation as soon as possible.
• Require students at the beginning of the semester to identify other students in the class who will partner with them during the semester, sharing notes and information from classes that they may need to miss due to illness.
• Add materials to OnCourse so that students who miss class may have some opportunity for learning (lecture notes, tape-recording or video-taping of classes, handouts, additional readings, student notes).
• Build alternative assignments or deadlines into your class materials to allow for extended absences due to contagious illness. For example, back up exams scheduled a week after the original may prove to be prudent but could be implemented at the time of a potential outbreak. Provide guidelines and/or alternatives on student presentations/group projects.

Our School will endeavor to keep you informed as the semester progresses and the Office of Student Affairs, and Associate Dean ________ will be happy to address any questions or concerns that arise relative to this evolving situation. In the event that faculty (or their dependents) are affected by contagious illness, they should fully inform their Chair and/or Program Director as soon as possible and follow departmental policies and procedures for cases in which faculty have to cancel class meetings. Chairs and Program Directors are encouraged to communicate with the Dean’s office, in particular Associate Dean _____________, in order to coordinate policies and procedures pertaining to faculty (full-time and part-time) and the cancellation of classes or provision of substitute faculty.

We urge all faculty and students to make sure their emergency contact information is correct and up-to-date. The link to the IU-Notify information can be found on the OneStart page under the “Notifications” tab.

Resources:

http://www.iupui.edu/~prepared/procedures/
http://www.in.gov/isdh/23161.htm
http://www.acha.org/info_resources/06_Pandemic_Guidelines.pdf
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/08/19/flu
http://www.crlt.umich.edu/flu/index.php