Transcript Back to the Bay 2009 Plenary Session

H1N1 – Swine Flu
Faculty Information and
Guidelines
Sue Opp
Chair, Academic Senate
2009
A Little H1N1 Background
• ‘Flu’ is caused by viruses.
• H1N1 is the name of the virus and is a
more appropriate title than ‘swine flu’.
• It has been called swine flu because
testing indicated it was similar to
influenza viruses found in some pigs
(swine).
• It turns out to have some swine, some
bird, and some human influenza genes.
H1N1 Viability on Objects
• It can remain viable for 2-8 hours
• But can be killed by heat (close to boiling)
• And by chemical germicides including
chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, soap, iodinebased antiseptics, and alcohols
• The virus may be transmitted when a
person touches a contaminated surface
and then touches his eyes, nose or mouth.
How can someone tell if they
have H1N1 or the seasonal flu?
• Like seasonal flu, H1N1 can vary in
severity from mild to serious to deadly.
• The symptoms are essentially the same –
fever or chills and cough or sore throat.
• Transmission of both is generally human
to human or contact with contaminated
surfaces.
• It’s very hard to tell them apart and doesn’t
matter for our purposes!
Reducing the Chances of
Becoming Ill
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue
and throw it away
• Wash your hands often with soap and
water or hand cleanser or wipes
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
• Avoid close contact with sick people
• Do not go to campus if you are sick!
What should I do if I become ill?
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Stay home for 24 hours after fever is gone
Rest and drink clear fluids
Avoid close contact with others
Get medical attention from your medical provider
if you have:
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Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in chest or abdomen
Sudden dizziness or confusion
Severe, persistent vomiting
Symptoms improve but come back worse
There is no “one size-fits all”
solution for dealing with H1N1.
Topics to consider:
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Attendance as part of class grade
Students with family illness
Requirement of doctor’s note
Make-ups for tests, presentations,
assignments, discussions
• Incompletes, withdrawals, etc.
• What to do if you are sick
Attendance Guidelines
• Students with symptoms of flu (fever of
100oF or above and cough or sore throat)
should stay home until the fever has been
gone for 24 hours
• Recommendation: Students who are
sick should not be penalized for nonattendance.
Attendance Guidelines
• Students with symptoms of flu (fever of
100oF or above and cough or sore throat)
should stay home until the fever has been
gone for 24 hours
• Recommendation: Students who are
parents of children not allowed to
attend school because of school
closure or illness should not be
penalized for non-attendance.
What if the course objectives may not
be met without student attendance?
• Laboratory activities
• Discussion groups – consider using
Blackboard discussion groups if possible
• Performances
• Presentations
Certain circumstances may necessitate a
student taking an incomplete or withdrawal.
Doctor’s Note
• You may request a doctor’s note to verify
illness.
• Students may go to the Student Health
Service to see a doctor.
• If the SHS finds they are unable to
accommodate these requests, they will
notify us.
• Use your best judgment!
Make-ups for Missed Work
• Each faculty member is allowed to develop
his/her own policy on make-ups for missed
exams, assignments, presentations, etc.
• We encourage you to be flexible as students
should not be coming to class when sick with flu
symptoms.
• Consider alternative assignments or ways to
meet course objectives.
• Remember to clearly indicate your policy in
your course syllabus.
Incompletes
• A student may be offered a grade of
incomplete if:
– A discrete portion of the work remains to be
completed.
– That work may be completed without needing
to retake the course.
– The student will be able to pass when the
work is completed, i.e., the student may not
be failing the course currently.
Withdrawals
• A student may be allowed to withdraw:
– Before the end of add/drop by dropping the
class online.
– After the end of add/drop but before the end
of the 7th week with instructor’s signature
indicating approval.
– After the 7th week only by providing
verification such as a doctor’s excuse, and
with approval of the instructor, chair, and
registrar.
What to do if YOU are sick!
• If you have a fever of 100oF or higher,
don’t come to campus!
• Consider developing assignments and
discussions that may be completed online
using Blackboard.
• Inform your Department office so that they
may post information for your class.
• Return only after you have been without a
fever for at least 24 hours.
Remember: How to Protect
Yourself and Your Students
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and
warm water!
• Use waterless hand cleaners/disinfectants
containing alcohol, if you can’t use soap and water.
• Cough into your sleeve or into a tissue that you
throw away.
• Use approved disinfectant wipes to clean
keyboards, desks or other surfaces that have
multiple users.
• Avoid close contact with sick people.
Should you tell SHS if your
students are sick?
• The Student Health Service may want to
begin tracking how many students are sick
at a later date.
• You may want to ask students to email
you if they are sick, even if you do not
have an attendance policy for class.
• If suspected or confirmed cases of H1N1
occur on campus, we may need to know
how many are in certain classes.
More H1N1 Questions?
Contact Dr. Cathy Coulman, SHS