At Broward College the health, safety and welfare of our students, staff and faculty is a first priority. The college is aware of the threat of the H1N1 virus, and as the fall term progresses, we can expect the incidents of flu viruses to become more prevalent. As you are probably aware, the World Health Organization has now declared a pandemic of the H1N1 virus. While a pandemic defines the number of cases of the flu, not the severity of the cases, it is important to take note of how quickly the virus can spread.
This communication is a guide to information on prevention and treatment of a flu virus, and provides links to first-hand information from the national Center for Disease Control. The leadership at the college is aware of the threat of the flu pandemic, and is taking measures to minimize the impact on our health and daily operations.
As the college receives information during the flu season, this space will provide updates. This web page will carry the most recent information, as will our telephone information hotlines: faculty and staff hotline: - 954.201.6600; students hotline – 954.201.4900, and our back-up hotline 954.779.2699
For general information about prevention and treatment – see the CDC’s latest H1N1 brochure :
For first-hand information from the CDC on what to do if you get flu-like symptoms, please click here.
For information from the CDC on how to take care of a person in your home who has flu-like symptoms, click here.
For information from the CDC on the recommended amount of time persons with flu symptoms should stay away from others
click here.
You also may be aware that scientists are working as quickly as possible to create and distribute a vaccine for the H1N1 virus. For a preview of the CDC’s planned distribution of the vaccine click here. You will note that targeted at-risk populations will be vaccinated first.
Guidance for students
Educate yourself
• Read all of the information listed above
• Follow general good health guidelines
(eating healthy, taking vitamins, exercise, rest and more)
• Practice safety and good hygiene measures
o Frequent and thorough hand washing
o Cough into your middle arm not into your hands
o Don't touch your eyes and face after touching shared surfaces that contain bacteria
Act responsibly
• Know instructors' attendance policies and respect them when you are not sick
• Faculty are more likely to accommodate your illness if you have been attending classes all semester
• Submit your work on time throughout the semester
• Help yourself and your fellow classmates
• Identify a buddy in your class to communicate any assignments to you and ask your instructor if there is a central place where assignments can be found
Students who get sick should:
• Stay at home (isolate yourself) until fever subsides and you are no longer contagious
• Contact your instructor to communicate your absence
• Contact your buddy to get your assignments
• Log-on to your instructor's blackboard page (if applicable)
• Be respectful of others and minimize the contamination of the college community
Students who cannot complete the term due to the H1N1
• The college will consider administrative withdrawals for students who are infected with the flu virus and miss a significant amount of class time and their grade is in jeopardy
• Students must present doctor’s statement that specifically states that the H1N1 virus was the reason for their illness
• Students cannot have violated their faculty member’s attendance policy before H1N1 infection, which must be validated by the faculty member
• All instances will be viewed on a case-by-case basis
For faculty related to the classroom
• Faculty may wish to review their policies pertaining to missed classes, examinations, late assignments and making up for missing assignments, so that students’ academic concerns do not prevent them from staying home when ill or prompt them to return to class or take examinations while still symptomatic and potentially infectious. Flexibility should also be considered for parents who must stay home to care for their families.
• Faculty should keep in mind that doctors’ offices and medical facilities may be extremely busy and may not be able to provide documentation of a student’s illness in a timely way.
• Faculty may wish to consider using Blackboard or their web site to provide ‘learning continuity’ for students (and themselves) that cannot and should not participate in classroom instruction because of flu-like symptoms. Blackboard provides the ability to electronically communicate with students, transmit assignments, return graded student work, and administer online assessments and a number of other instructional capabilities. Blackboard can also be used as a digital repository of class handouts, the syllabus, lecture notes, and so forth, which are protected by requiring students to authenticate.
• Faculty should encourage students to see an advisor before dropping or withdrawing from a course. Such decisions may have financial aid consequences.
Endorsed by the Broward College Faculty Senate on September 17, 2009
For faculty and staff related to the workplace
If faculty, staff or administrators have questions regarding leave policies or coverage under the Family and Medical Leave Act, please contact the Benefits Office in the Division of Human Resources and Equity at ext. 7613.
Facilities
• Campus and district facilities departments will clean and wipe down any infected areas should employees and students come to work or school with the virus. | 
CDC H1N1 brochure