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Scenes from the University of Rhode Island

Letter from Provost DeHayes

To faculty, about academic year 2009-2010 planning and H1N1 flu virus

August 27, 2009

Welcome back! I hope you had a rewarding and productive summer. This is an especially exciting time as we welcome our new President, Dr. David Dooley, into The University of Rhode Island community.

This upcoming year may also be an unusual one as we, and every other university across the country, confront the H1N1 (swine) flu virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), our students are in the age group (ages 5-24) that is most susceptible to this virus. Furthermore, students living in close proximity to each other on- and off-campus exacerbate their vulnerability. Because the virus is highly contagious, the CDC is strongly urging that anyone with the flu or flu-like symptoms refrain from attending classes and other community events. Typical symptoms will include rapid onset of fever plus sore throat or fever plus cough.

As a large proportion of our URI community is in the high-risk group, we must plan accordingly. Based on CDC projections, 30% to 50% of our faculty, staff, and students will likely develop flu-related symptoms this academic year. A coordinating committee from the University has been actively engaged in H1N1 planning. In order for us to be prepared, I am asking that we pull together as a community and assist each other and our students to ensure the success and continuity of our academic, research, and service missions.

First and foremost, I ask that each of you please include the following (or similar) language on your syllabi:

SYLLABUS STATEMENT

Illness Due to Flu
The H1N1 Flu Pandemic may impact classes this semester. If any of us develop flu-like symptoms, we are being advised to stay home until the fever has subsided for 24 hours. So, if you exhibit such symptoms, please do not come to class. Notify me at 874-xxxx or xxx@uri.edu of your status, and we will communicate through the medium we have established for the class. We will work together to ensure that course instruction and work is completed for the semester.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have posted simple methods to avoid transmission of illness. These include: covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing; frequently washing your hands to protect from germs; avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth; and staying home when you are sick. For more information, please view www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits.htm. URI information on the H1N1 will be posted on the URI website at http://www.uri.edu/news/h1n1.html, with links to the www.cdc.gov site.

In addition, I ask you to do the following to minimize the health risk to faculty, staff, and students and to ensure a pathway to academic success for students confronted with the flu.

  1. Using electronic communication media (e.g. email, online, Sakai), be prepared to alert students throughout the semester of any modifications to the syllabus or changes to the class schedule.
  2. Please adjust your class attendance policy to ensure that students who are ill with influenza are not penalized for missing class. We do not want ill students in class spreading the virus. Students who become sick need to know that they have your permission to stay home and get better without incurring any penalty. Based on guidelines from the CDC, please do not require students to get a note from a health care provider. Given the possibility that many people may seek care or advice simultaneously, the CDC is advising that people seek care only if they have underlying risk factors or emergent symptoms.
  3. Be attentive to your own health and encourage departmental planning to address illness among faculty and staff. Our hope is to minimize the cancellation of classes. Options include having colleagues cover classes, and, if comfortable and appropriate, using online activities, such as Sakai, podcasts, video conferencing through Skype, email, etc. to ensure delivery of course materials. For those of you needing remote library research assistance, you can contact the library via instant messaging.
  4. While we want to be flexible and caring toward our students, we do not want to relax academic standards or expectations. Please think about alternative ways to effectively manage your course(s) and accomplish your learning goals under unpredictable circumstances.
  5. Please support student learning in situations where students have had to miss class. This may include making class notes available and/or being flexible with makeup assignments and exams. Student learning must continue; we do not want students to be inappropriately assigned "incompletes" or feel compelled to drop classes because they were ill for a few days.

Thank you for your thoughtful attention to this serious matter. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact my office (874-4410 or 4408). It is an important time for our campus community to pull together in support of each other and our students and to ensure the integrity of our academic enterprise.

Return to main H1N1 page

Prevention

It is important for all faculty, staff, and students to take the following flu/respiratory disease precautions:

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too. Do not share drinks, utensils, cigarettes, etc.
  • If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Throw used tissues in the trash.person washing hands
  • Wash your hands with soap and water frequently, particularly after you sneeze, or use an alcohol-based hand gel.
  • Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
  • Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

As this is not a gastrointestinal viral infection similar to the norovirus, intensive cleaning for food facilities (beyond normal cleaning) is not needed.

Medication and Vaccinations

Generally, Tamiflu is prescribed for individuals with flu who are either hospitalized, have a chronic medical condition (as listed above, under Treatment and Response), or have a suppressed immune system. Tamiflu for influenza is not a cure, although it can reduce symptoms and decrease length of recovery time by about 24 hours.

The following vaccinations are expected to be available fall 2009:

  • Seasonal Flu Vaccine: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that all students get vaccinated for the seasonal flu. This vaccine will be available for students at no cost.
  • Novel H1N1 Vaccine: Recent recommendations from the CDC have placed individuals under age 24 in the top priority group for receiving the H1N1 vaccine.

More information will be available in the coming weeks regarding how and when this vaccine will be given.