for professors with ill students
A letter from the Dean of Undergraduate Studies
To Instructors in Undergraduate Courses:
I wish to inform you about the spread of H1N1 influenza in the undergraduate community and the implications for student absences from classes and exams.
After some initial cases of H1N1 influenza among graduate and professional students, the virus has now been identified in the undergraduate community. Dr. Eleanor Davidson, Director of the University Health Service, reports that there were initially a few pockets of H1N1 influenza cases, but now there are cases arising throughout the undergraduate residential community. Dr. Davidson and her colleagues are treating students in accordance with CDC guidelines, in most cases telling them to self-isolate by staying in their rooms or returning home when that is nearby. However, the increase in the number of confirmed cases along with those students concerned about symptoms or other ailments has at times exceeded the capacity of the University Health Service to see all students who wish to be seen immediately. They are doing careful triage in order to make certain that they see students with risk factors (asthma, diabetes, seizure disorders, etc.) who may have H1N1 influenza and other students who need treatment, while advising others by phone or email.
This means that students will not always be able to produce documentation of having been seen at the University Health Service when they miss a class or exam. Under our policies, students who are unable to attend classes because of illness are expected to notify their instructors and make appropriate arrangements. Instructors are expected to give students the opportunity to make up an examination or work that is missed, provided the make-up work does not create any unreasonable burdens. I urge you to err on the side of accommodation in light of the current health situation.
In general, there will be no reason to point a student to Undergraduate Studies when they cannot provide medical documentation, as there is no particular information that we will be able to provide. There will, of course, be times when you think the student should meet with his or her dean in Undergraduate Studies. On those occasions, I hope that you will recommend that they be in touch with us by email or phone while they are ill.
I appreciate your help as we seek to manage both the health of our community and our academic mission. Please feel free to contact me or one of my colleagues in Undergraduate Studies if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey Wolcowitz
Dean of Undergraduate Studies