To the USU Faculty and Staff,

 

With the start of the flu season rapidly approaching, I am writing to alert you of the importance of the challenges we may face during the flu season as the H1N1 virus (swine flu) continues circulating worldwide.

 

Utah State University has implemented a plan for managing the occurrence of the H1N1 flu on our campuses. This plan was developed by the University Emergency Management operation over several months and follows guidelines for universities set forth by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the advice of the Bear River Health Department and our university physician, Dr. Jim Davis, M.D.

Despite the anticipated short disruptions to an individual’s routine caused by cases of the flu, USU should be able to carry out its educational mission and important out-of-the-classroom activities during flu season. However, if a student, faculty or staff member becomes ill they will be asked to stay home until they are well.

 

With that in mind, I am requesting that you think about your class policies regarding attendance, work deadlines, exam make-ups and the like in order to encourage sick students to remain out of class until they recover. Consider in advance how you will address a situation in which large numbers of your students are ill and cannot attend class for three to five days. Perhaps making some of your course materials available online if you have not already done so would be a good solution. Also consider how you will answer student inquiries about making up work, receiving incomplete grades or missing class when participation is an important component of the course. It is important to have a plan in place that treats all students equitably and does not pressure them to attend class when they are ill. I want to emphasize that I understand there is no solution that will fit all classes and there is no intent on the part of the university to mandate any specific academic measures or accommodations.

 

The university takes the health of the university community very seriously and plans to do everything possible to promote the health and minimize the effect of the flu on its students, faculty and staff.

 

Sincerely,

 

Stan L. Albrecht

President