H1N1 Continuity Plan Teaching Support Page

DU's H1N1 Flu Updates Blog

Following is the University of Denver's H1N1 Academic Continuity Plan along with resources and support for faculty members.

H1N1 Academic Continuity Plan for Faculty

As you are aware, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has indicated that college campuses across the country will experience outbreaks of the H1N1 virus.  DU is working closely with the Colorado Department of Public Health and will comply with all CDPH and CDC guidelines to respond to the pandemic, including all specific recommendations for institutions of higher education. Because DU is committed not only to safeguarding the health and welfare of our faculty and students, but also to fulfilling our educational mission and commitments, we have developed an academic continuity plan in preparation for an outbreak. 

The CDC is not currently recommending that institutions cancel classes; therefore, we would like to have in place by the beginning of the quarter the means necessary to keep our classes running in the event that H1N1 hits the campus.  We are basing our response on the CDC expectation that the normal course for H1N1 flu is 3-4 days.  CDC recommends that people with novel H1N1 flu avoid contact with others as much as possible and stay home from work or school for "a period of 3 to 5 days in most cases" (http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/exclusion.htm). 

Each faculty member will need to develop and communicate a course continuity plan in case you become too ill to teach for several classes and/or in case a number of students become ill and miss several class sessions.  Your course continuity plan should include the following:

Preparation

1. Use Blackboard, Course Portfolio, or TWEN as your main course communication tool. If you have your own instructional website, you may continue to use it as long as there are mechanisms in place that allow for private communication with individual students on how to handle assignments and exams. Students should be made aware of those mechanisms at the beginning of the term.

CTL Suggestions: Sign up for CTL's expanded offerings of Fall workshops to learn how to use Blackboard, Course Portfolio and DU CourseMedia. You can also take advantage of our how-to guides and self-paced Blackboard Basics online course. Create a short assignment (online syllabus quiz, download an online document, send an email to the instructor) for the first week of class that will ensure your students know how and where to access your online course materials. Consider the possibility of altering your attendance policies to allow for high rates of student absenteeism and/or include a disclaimer in your syllabi that allows for changes mid-quarter if circumstances warrant.

2. Create alternative assignments that can be completed outside of class and submitted electronically.

3. Include in your syllabus expectations for minimal absences, requirements for completing all course and field work, and instructions for requesting an incomplete in the event of extended student illness.

4. Be prepared to hear from worried parents. Check for release information on the Faculty Tab on webCentral, and assure parents that DU is following CDC guidelines. Explain that systems are in place to ensure the continuity of student learning should their students find it necessary to miss classes.

Instructor Illness

1. If you feel flu symptoms, stay at home and notify your chair/dean and chair's assistant that you are ill and must miss class. Flu symptoms include an illness of sudden onset with a high fever (generally over 100.4 degrees F), sore throat and a cough. People with flu often may have a headache, runny nose, fatigue, body aches, and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting.

2. Notify your students electronically that class is cancelled, and instruct them to complete alternative assignments.

CTL Suggestions: Emails to students can be sent through already established courses in Blackboard, Course Portfolio, or through webcentral. Think through the goal of your class - what is it you really want students to be able to do at the end of each class session? Be able to solve a certain kind of problem? Critically analyze an event or thoery? Brainstorm the various ways that students can acheive these goals through homework or out-of-class assignments. For example, ask students to pose a thought-provoking question to the class in an online discussion and to respond to at least two other students' questions; have students submit one-page analysis of the weeks' readings, have students solve a problem using the resources you've provided, etc. Consider collaborating with a colleague in your department to review each other's course assignments, continuity plans, and to assist each other in the event of instructor illness. Take advantage of more than 20 developmental programs available from Student Life that can be scheduled during your class in your absence.

3. Follow CDC recommendations and take good care of yourself to avoid serious flu complications.

4. Please be in contact with your chair/dean regarding your health and your plans to return to class.

Student Illness

1. Remind students of CDC guidelines regarding the normal course of the flu and expectations for absences.

2. Explain to students that they may complete the assignments electronically to make up for class absences. They will be responsible for completing all missed assignments, but they may need additional time.

CTL Suggestions: Students can submit assignments electronically through email or through Blackboard. In Blackboard, students can submit files through the Send Homework or Digital Dropbox features, including audio files. If you would like assistance using Blackboard to create electronic assignments, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Consider recording and posting your class sessions using Lecture Capture technology. Students who miss class can watch and listen to the recording and respond to a few questions from you to make up their absences. With a good microphone this technology can capture class discussions in a small class.

3. Inform students that if they are too ill to return to class and miss more than three course meetings, this may be sufficient grounds to assign a grade of "I"/incomplete.

4. Should a student be absent for a prolonged period, refer him or her to information regarding the following: course withdrawals/incompletes, medical stop-outs, tuition refund policy/appeal, and academic exceptions.

 

Faculty preparedness is essential to managing the pandemic should H1N1 hit DU's campus.  We appreciate your support in addressing this critical public health issue.  For more information, please visit: www.du.edu/flu