Student Information General I have flu symptoms — should I come to campus? No. You should limit your contact with others to contain the spread of germs. If you have any concerns about your health contact your local general practitioner or the Student Health Center at (256) 824-6775. You can message the nurse through your Charger Health Portal. 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: 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 web-book an appointment at 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 You are encouraged not to return to campus until your fever has been gone for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication University Housing 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 your RA and your suite mates if you are unwell and believe you have contracted the flu, 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 Seasonal 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. 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. 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 Classes My class has a mandatory attendance policy – What happens if I miss class because of the flu? Mandatory class attendance policies may be examined on a case-by-case basis. If an exception is granted, an instructor may require a doctor's excuse, and students will be required to make up all missed course work. Students are reminded that they are bound by the UAH 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 if I miss multiple classes or have been hospitalized with flu complications? At times students may have to miss multiple classes due to an extenuating circumstance such as illness, death of a family member, etc. At such times, students can request for a letter from the Dean of Students documenting the reason for the class absences and that information will be sent to the student's faculty members. Please note this process should not be used for individual (one time) absences and the request does not imply that the absence will be excused by the faculty member. We encourage students to contact their faculty members directly about their absence.