Pandemic Planning

Planning for

Continuation of Instruction

Dr. James Benson, Dr. Kathryn Hutchinson

H1N1 “The New Normal”

• High numbers of flu cases expected for 2009-10 academic year (seasonal flu + H1N1).

• H1N1 will not be tested for except in some cases requiring hospitalization.

• Individuals experiencing Influenza Like Illness (ILI) should immediately begin following the guidelines for self-isolation.

Duration and Severity of H1N1 Symptoms

• Most common symptoms include fever (100o) plus sore throat and/or cough. Additional symptoms include: vomiting, body aches, diarrhea, etc.

• Individuals tend to experience symptoms for 3 to 5 days.• Total time away from daily activities will average around 4 to

6 days (please note: those with underlying medical conditions may experience more severe symptoms and longer periods of illness.)

• A person with an underlying medical condition should consult their physician as soon as they begin experiencing ILI.

No Notes Required!

• CDC Guidelines encourage that Universities NOT require a doctor’s note for individuals to return to campus.

• Rethink Policies on missed classes and examinations and late assignments: These academic concerns may encourage students to return to class before the self-isolation period is over and while they are still symptomatic.

Resources and Communications

• The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene guidelines will be followed by the University.

• Other important resources are the CDC website and Flu.gov; The links for all of these websites are on the H1N1 (Swine Flu) Channel on the Edu site and Central.

• All updates to the Universities H1N1 plan are posted on the website.

• Emails, E-boards, Posters, Podcasts, and “Street Teams” will continue to be used as methods of communication on campus.

• Please visit the web regularly for updated information; it is likely as the flu season progresses that some guidelines may change.

To Vaccinate or Not?

• The CDC is recommending that all individuals that spend time in group setting be vaccinated for the seasonal flu.

• The H1N1 flu shot is expected to require two dosages given one month apart.

• If you have an underlying medical condition you are at higher risk for complications from the flu and may be particularly vulnerable to the H1N1 strain.  Speak with your health care provider to determine a plan now. 

Prevention Tips

• Practice Good Hygiene (Wash Hands Regularly.)

• Respiratory Etiquette (Have tissues in your Office.)

• Clean Surfaces Regularly (Does your classroom or lab require regular wiping of key boards, specific equipment??)

Please Let Us Know

• Inform the Dean’s Office if large numbers of students in a given class are absent. This information will be passed to Student Health Services.

• Inform Student Health Services if you have a real concern about a student; please provide students name and X-number.

• Please refer parents or community members who have concerns about the flu on campus to Student Health Services. Do not confirm or deny any specific information regarding illness on campus to these parties.

Planning for the Effect of Influenza on Your Class

• At this time, all faculty members need to plan for the possibility that an influenza epidemic may affect their classes this fall.

• Although we cannot predict specific problems caused by the A/H1N1 virus, the Provost encourages all faculty members to calmly make contingency plans as a precautionary measure.

What to do

• Discourage students from self-diagnosing H1N1. If students tell or email one another that they have the flu, this innocent gesture creates a high level of concern among parents, faculty, and the university community.

• Do not cancel class because a student is believed to have the flu.

• If an instructor becomes ill with an influenza-like illness report that fact to the Offices of the Department and Dean.

If an instructor becomes illhe/she should:

• Report that fact to the Dean and to your departmental office.

• Not come to campus.

– To avoid spreading the flu, the CDC has advised people with influenza-like illness to stay isolated until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever without the aid of fever-reducing medications

When an Instructor is ILL

• If an instructor is symptomatic and cannot work, he/she should notify the department and Dean of any anticipated absence and the probable duration. – When symptomatic one should not come to

campus.

When an Instructor is ILL

• Ask faculty to inform the department of such intentions. Communicate with students via email.  Inform the students of projected absences and any alternative learning activities.– If an instructor is symptomatic but feels

able to work at home, she/he may choose to use online methods to teach their course[s] while ill. 

When an Instructor is ILL: Planning for Continuation of Instruction

• If the course  of the illness is more severe or longer than normal and an instructor will miss several classes, she/he should also inform the department which units might be covered by a substitute, if one is available.  

When an Instructor is ILL: Planning for Continuation of Instruction

• As part of emergency planning, we recommend that course outlines [or other materials] that provide information beyond the official syllabus be deposited in the department.  – If it becomes necessary for a substitute

instructor to take sessions of your course, that material will be invaluable.

If Possibly Ill Students Come to Class

• Do not ask a student who is coughing to leave class, but the instructor may inform them that they are free to leave class.– Do not email the class informing them that

a student has H1N1.– All notifications of confirmed cases will

come through Student Health Services. • The cases this spring were not confirmed. In

all instances, there were some other illness that the student was experiencing.

If You are Contacted by Possibly Ill Students

• Faculty who are contacted by students, experiencing flu-like symptoms, should encourage the student to contact Student Health Services on their campus.

Understand the Potential Impact on Classes

• Given the on-going spread of the illness through-out the world and its possible spread to university campuses and schools in the New York area– All faculty members need to understand

the possible impact on their courses.

Plan for Absences

• If the illness spreads this fall, a faculty member who is teaching a class should be prepared for absences. 

• If absences in a specific class become extensive :– plan alternate learning activities that can

be conducted without face to face meetings.

• Extensive absences are expected be rare and last only a few days.

Think about Evaluating Students’ Work If Classes are Canceled

• If extensive absences are experienced, especially during midterms and the last few weeks of the semester, instructors may not only need to develop alternative learning activities, but also;– In rare instances, individual faculty may

need to develop methods for evaluating students' work that minimizes or eliminates group or class gatherings, including exams and presentations. 

Alternatives

• The choice of learning activities and evaluation methods would be up to the faculty member,

• But that choice might involve • administering on-line examinations rather than

examinations taken in a classroom; • papers instead of examinations (submitted online

through St. John’s Central or Blackboard); • individual projects rather than group projects; or

requesting groups to meet online.  • In planning for these options, we have asked the

Center for Technology Education to provide contacts for assisting faculty. Other resources include CTL, T3, and the University Libraries

A Reminder about Grading

• We understand that should the worst case emerge for specific sections of a course, making these changes may be a burden on the instructor, but we need to be as prepared as possible.

• Please remember that UIS permits you to submit grades for students as you determine them individually. It is possible to submit some grades while you continue to grade other students.

 

A Last Word

• The University has posted information on the A/H1N1 virus on its website.  You can access that page by going to: http://www.stjohns.edu/services/studentwellness/healthservices/resources/resources.stj 

• Contact information for Student Health Services for all NYC campuses is posted on this site. 

•  Resources about teaching during a pandemic will be posted on the Chairs’ web page.