Professors
The H1N1 flu is still an important cause for concern. No one knows exactly how hard the virus will strike our campuses, but we do have to prepare for all possible scenarios.
You may be asking yourself about the University's preparedness or may be receiving questions from your students about the flu's potential effect on their academic activities. This message therefore aims to brief you on what has been done so far, with a special emphasis on the University's academic planning; it also puts forward a few suggestions to help you with classroom-related planning.
A pandemic-management framework has been set up.
Through its Office of Risk Management, which is in constant contact with public health agencies, the University has established a framework for dealing with a flu pandemic and has designed a pandemic plan to contend with its effects. The University has also set up a Emergency Co-ordination Team on which several sectors, including academic affairs, are represented. The committee meets once a week and ensures proper follow-up for all flu-related operations.
Protecting health has been an important focus.
As early as this summer, the University focused on measures designed to prevent the flu and its spread. It also launched a large-scale awareness campaign (posters, flyers, info cards, etc.) and continues to both relay information through its website and answer questions by phone. What's more, hand-sanitizer dispensers have been installed campus-wide, especially in high-traffic areas, and housekeeping services have been increased where the potential for contagion is highest. We will also be posting information about flu vaccination clinics on the web site.
We have a detailed plan for managing academic activities in case of a flu outbreak.
Among other actions taken, the University has set out a series of measures in case the flu causes changes to or disrupts academic activities. Specifically, it has established guidelines (principles and procedures) to support decisions that will have to be made in the wake of an H1N1 outbreak (Guidelines Regarding Academic Activities), developed plausible scenarios with specific action plans, drawn up the list of academic regulations that may be affected by any change to or interruption of academic activities, crafted a detailed decision-making structure, and created an advisory committee responsible for informing and guiding those having to make decisions.
We are confident that these measures will allow us to deal effectively with most potential scenarios.
What you should do as a course instructor
Beyond the academic planning needed for all of the University's activities, it's also important to implement "local" measures, that is, measures for the classroom itself. Below is a list that you can consider for your courses:
- Encourage your students to regularly check the H1N1 website or to contact the H1N1 Infoline at 613-562-5555.
- Ensure that courses and student assessments continue.
- If the flu strikes a large portion of the University community, absenteeism may be higher than normal and may extend over a few weeks. Your cooperation as an instructor is therefore crucial for courses to continue and for exams to take place. Below are a few useful options whose suitability of course depends on the size of your class and on the material at your disposal:
- Ask students to form teams of three or four to share note-taking in case of absence.
- Make your course material and course notes available electronically.
- Use technology (Skype, for instance) to reach your students at home.
- Prepare your final exam earlier and tell the academic secretariat where you've filed it.
- Plan alternatives for evaluations that might be affected by student absences (oral presentations, group work, practical work, etc.).
Rest assured that you can count on our full cooperation during these exceptional circumstances, and do feel free to share your comments or suggestions with us.