Student Information - General

I have flu symptoms – should I come to campus?
No. You should limit your contact with others to contain the spread. If you have any concerns about your health contact your local general practitioner or the Student Health Center at (256) 824-6775. For more information on the Student Health Center, visit their web site.

What should I do if I become sick with flu symptoms?
If you get symptoms of influenza:

• Contact the Student Health Center by phone or email and tell them you have flu symptoms. If you are diagnosed with flu by a private physician you should still notify the Student Health Center.
• Notify your instructors by phone or email that you will miss class because you have flu symptoms.
• If you have a moderate or severe illness, or belong to a group at higher risk of severe illness, you should call your general practitioner or the Student Health Center
• Otherwise, stay at home until you are better
• Before visiting your doctor or the student clinic, call ahead to see if you can be put in a separate waiting area and ask for a mask if you are coughing or sneezing
• Do not return to campus until your fever has been gone for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication

Student Information - University Housing

I live on campus - how is this being managed?
In addition to the University’s Communicable Diseases Plan, those responsible for University Housing have been meeting regularly to develop contingency plans to manage students who may become infected. Currently, plans are in place to provide in-suite meals to persons who are self-isolating. The Student Health Center is prepared to make "house calls" to diagonse and triage housing residents who report flu-like symptoms.

What should I do if I have to self-isolate because of flu-like symptoms?
As a student in a residence hall you are asked to ensure that you notify the Student Health Center at (256) 824-6775 and also your RA and your suite mates if you are unwell and believe you have contracted H1N1 Influenza, are exhibiting influenza-like symptoms, or if you have been diagnosed with the illness.

If you are a resident of University Housing but live nearby, you are asked to consider recovering at home in order to lessen the chances of spreading the infection to your suite mates.

I live on campus - What preventive steps can I take?
Follow these steps to prevent the spread of H1N1 Influenza:

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Cover coughs or sneezes using your elbow or shoulder instead of your hands when a tissue is not available
• Practice good hand hygiene. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective
• Frequently clean your living quarters. If you live together with other students, you should frequently clean commonly-used surfaces such as doorknobs, refrigerator handles, remote controls, computer keyboards, countertops, faucet handles, and bathroom areas.
• Avoid sick people. If others around you have flu-like symptoms, encourage them to go home, and report their condition to the appropriate health clinic and to the appropriate university faculty, staff, or administrator.
• Plan to monitor your health by checking for fever and other flu-like symptoms
• Talk to your health care provider. Find out if you should be vaccinated for seasonal flu and/or H1N1 flu.
• Self-isolate in your room if you are sick with flu-like symptoms.
• Be prepared in case you get sick; keep on hand a seven-day supply of over-the-counter medicines, alcohol-based hand sanitizers, tissues, and other related items

Student Information - Classes

My class has a mandatory attendance policy - What happens if I miss class because of the flu?
Mandatory class attendance policies will be examined on a case-by-case basis at this time – flu-related absences will not require a doctor’s excuse, however, students will be required to make up all missed course work.

Students are reminded that they are bound by the UAHuntsville Student Code of Conduct (Chapter 7 of the Student Handbook). Providing false or misleading information regarding an absence may be grounds for disciplinary action.

Will the university notify my instructors of my absence or should I?
You are responsible to report your illness to your professors. You should notify them by phone or email as soon as you become ill. You should not wait until you recover and return to class.

What happens if my faculty member is too ill to teach?
Academic departments are in the planning phase of looking at a higher than average absence rate. It may be that course work will be available online or another alternate delivery method in order that both faculty and students are accommodated during the H1N1 pandemic.

What happens if the infection rate increases to a point that the campus must close?
Academic departments are in the planning phase of looking at online and other alternate methods of instructional delivery that will allow academic continuity. Should the university need to close the campus, you will receive information through your official UAHuntsville email account, the local media, and the UAHuntsville web site on how to access your class material. This H1N1 informational web site and the university's Emergency web site will be updated with that information as well.