Influenza Information

For Faculty

Message to Deans - September 10, 2009

September 11, 2009

To: Texas A&M University Faculty

Public health officials expect a very active flu season this year. We know that seasonal flu and the H1N1 virus are in Brazos County and likely to affect the Texas A&M campus. I am writing to provide some principles for how faculty members can best prepare for flu season and the associated possible disruption of instruction. This message contains some general guidelines that will allow you to act in caring and consistent ways if a large-scale illness emerges on campus.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the H1N1 flu lasts 3-5 days but people usually recover from it completely. The seasonal flu may be more severe and the duration may be longer. Flu viruses spread easily when people live in close quarters or share spaces like libraries, residence halls, and classrooms.

• It is important that the campus remain calm and that we carry on with all classes unless otherwise notified. Maintaining continuity is always helpful in times of stress.
• Texas A&M University will communicate widely as changes occur in the incidence of flu on campus.
• All members of the university community who become ill with possible or proven flu should self-isolate by staying home and away from others for a period of at least 24 hours after their fever abates (without the use of fever reducing medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen).
• Students who have the flu are asked to communicate with their instructors using the instructor's prescribed method of communication. Recognizing that many of you have covered communication procedures in your syllabi, I am encouraging all faculty members to reiterate how you want your students to contact you — telephone, email, etc. —if they must miss a class.

• We may not be able to follow established rules for excused absences. The CDC is advising universities to instruct students not to attend class if they experience symptoms, such as fever, a cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, or fatigue. However, the strategy of isolation presents problems when it comes to students being able to obtain verification of a medical absence. As an option, Student Health Services is posting a form on its website, titled "Explanatory Statement for Absence from Class for Influenza-like Illness." This form will be considered as sufficient documentation for class absences related to influenza-like illness. If you would like to use this form as documentation, you may direct your students to the Student Health Services website at http://shs.tamu.edu/.

  Students need to know that they will not be penalized if they act responsibly. Because the self-isolation period should be 3-5 days, most students will be able to make up the work missed.

• The Aggie Honor Code and the Student Conduct Code (Rule 24) apply to students who, because of illness, may need to make-up absences, exams, or assignments. During this flu season, we likely will not be able to require a medical professional to verify a flu-like illness for an excused medical absence. I recognize that this places a burden on you as instructors, especially when you have to consider fairness to all students and experience suggests that some students will abuse the situation. I urge you to understand that in this case we need to err on the side of caution and accept some possible abuse for the sake of ensuring that students follow the CDC instruction for self-isolation.
• Faculty members are asked to consider how they can best help students make-up missed classes, exams, or assignments. Placing as much course content as possible on a class website, including assignments and lecture outlines, will help students keep up with their assignments.
• Faculty members can respectfully ask an obviously sick student to leave class. Encourage the student to go home, self isolate, take care of himself/herself and wait 24 hours after fever is gone (without the use of fever reducing medications) before returning to class.
• Faculty members who are out with the flu are asked to work with their department heads to assure that courses continue to meet. Department heads should seek instructional coverage from peer faculty or qualified graduate students.
• In the case of severe illness on campus, Texas A&M will rely on the Pandemic Flu Response Plan (PDF) in making decisions regarding academic issues, such as course offerings, course credits, and grades.

The Aggie Family has a strong tradition of pulling together to meet a challenge. In the event of a significant flu outbreak, I ask that you respond with the integrity, respect, and optimism that I have always observed from the faculty at Texas A&M in times of stress. Thank you.

Karan L. Watson
Interim Provost and
Executive Vice President for Academics