Saturday, September 05, 2009 4:21 AM,
I just received this memo from the university administration regarding H1N1, which I am sure you are all more than a little aware of. We are all, of course, concerned, while at the same time, we would like the process of the university to continue. Given that, I am reproducing the memo, with my comments as far as EE 306 is concerned. First, absolutely, if you have the symptoms, stay away from others. This means do not come to class and do not join study groups in person. However, since I do not take attendance, that issue is irrelevant. Re: study groups, use telephone and on-line mechanisms. Not as effective, of course. But better than infecting your group partners. AND better than having ZERO interaction. Re: office hours, send your TA email rather than infect him/her in person. Or, ask if you can telephone him/her and do so at a time convenient for the TA. If this becomes problematic, we may have to set up some "Office hours by telephone," where the TA holds his/her office hours by telephone. We will cross that bridge if/when necessary. You have already seen my responses to email. Hopefully, this will not increase the email to the point that nothing else gets accomplished by me this semester. But if so, better that than having some of you get terminally ill from H1N1. I recognize that this memo could provide opportunity for some to use it as an excuse to not get their work done on time. I caution you to not use this as a way to game the system. It almost certainly won't work, since EE 306 requires you to keep up with both programs and problem sets. In the last analysis, your performance in the course is a function of performance on the exams and to an extent on the programs. Further, the nature of the exams is such that if you have let the programs slide, you will find some exam problems a lot more difficult. So, please read the memo, and please act responsibly. Some of you may have to drop the course downstream and try again in the Spring if H1N1 prevents you from doing the work in a timely way. I assume the Univesity will modify its drop penalty appropriately. For now, let's see if each of you can keep H1N1 from getting in the way, while at the same time not acting irresponsibly if you find yourself with symptoms. Good luck with the rest of EE 306. We do have a lot to do this semester, and I hope each of you stays with us for the entire ride. Yale Patt Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2009 15:29:54 -0500 From: Kevin Carney <kcarney@mail.utexas.edu> Subject: Official H1N1 Memo to faculty: Vice Provost Gretchen Ritter To: "GroupMail distribution: A73CCA9794CBAE4BAF": ; -BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE- M E M O R A N D U M TO: All University Faculty Members FROM: Vice Provost Gretchen Ritter DATE: September 4, 2009 SUBJECT: H1N1/Class Absences, Fall 2009 Guidelines Fall 2009 is expected to be an active influenza season with the risk of both seasonal and novel H1N1 flu viruses. University communities are particularly vulnerable to the spread of illness. While students have been instructed to stay away from campus if they have symptoms, there is concern that some will come to class because of attendance rules, risking further spread of the virus. In an effort to mitigate this risk, and in light of University Health Services recommendation that students self isolate if they show signs of illness, it is important that faculty be flexible with students who miss class due to influenza-related illness. The Dean of Students Office will assist with notification of faculty and verification for students who are absent due to illness. Students that visit University Health Services will receive verification of their visit. However, some students may not be able to verify their illness since they may be advised to stay home when ill unless their symptoms warrant further treatment. Faculty should be flexible in such cases. For up-to-date campus emergency information and recommendations on the H1N1 influenza, please refer to the following website: http://www.utexas.edu/emergency/. We recommend that faculty provide this website link to their students and communicate the following information to their classes as well: - - Students who are ill with flu-like symptoms should NOT come to class or have close contact with other students (e.g., study groups). They should NOT return to class until 24 hours after fever has abated. (Faculty should follow the same guidelines.) - - Faculty may wish to refer to the Honor Code to remind students that both abuse of a more lenient absence policy and attendance in class while contagious are incompatible with our code of individual responsibility. If students have the following "influenza-like" symptoms, they should call the UHS 24-Hour Nurse Advice Line at (512) 475-6877. Professional nurses will help students determine whether or when they need to see a healthcare provider and what to do to feel better. - - Fever higher than 100 degrees F plus a cough and/or sore throat - - body aches - - fatigue - - nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea - - Kevin Carney Senior Administrative Associate to Vice Provost Gretchen Ritter (512) 232-3312 -BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE- Version: GnuPG v1.2.1 (FreeBSD) iQCVAwUBSqF5SJVDMk6jFuzBAQGnywQAk2zmtqMpbAS2wDvppcvy30vkoDYQPk5k Wa9NHJZSnJk2JTro95PWq7LB1ej1YVDur9jiBbmLUafLbmX+3xLX5TfcX5t76u85 Yba/eJqMNeZ4Nu/1G6E8VgDEP8m3UVjqvaihpIjkKGOd2csvUYf6L++fbJG9q4Yt IN4Ih//ymr4= =//Vh -END PGP SIGNATURE- To determine the authenticity of this message, please see <http://www.utexas.edu/computer/security/keys.html>.