City College’s health services department has been posting signs around campus that tell students to stay home if they are sick because it may be the flu and to only leave their residence to get medical care.
“Don’t freak out, take care of yourself, stay home and notify professors of your absence,” Dotti Cordell, City College director of health services, said.
Cordell said that all district staff and professors have been instructed to make accommodations for students who believe they have the flu or for that matter the H1N1.
“Professors will try to send lecture notes to students via e-mail and extend test or paper deadlines,” added Cordell. “We want students to stay home. If you have a fever greater than 100 and or have cough or sore throat then you have the flu and if you have other symptoms then it could be the H1N1.”
English professor Elizabeth Meehan agrees with the district policy on being accommodating to students that get sick.
“It’s important to be flexible and let students stay home and have them e-mail work and call if they have questions about assignments,” she said. “My policy is to allow students to turn in work a week after it was due if the student had to miss class because of illness.”
The center for disease control (CDC) is advising students that if you have the flu to stay home and wait 24 hours after feeling better before returning to school. If you get the H1N1 (or the swine flu) the recommended time is five to seven days
“I believe almost all students are concerned about their education and will only miss class if they are truly sick, but some may use the excuse to stay home without being sick,” Cordell said of the concern students will use the being sick excuse to skip class.
City student Myesa Calvin said she would stay home if she gets the flu and if she sees a sick students on campus she would tell them “go home.”
“I think its gross to come to school all sick. I don’t wanna get sick; I have kids at home.”
Rachel Gonzalez, a child development student, said it worries her to have to miss school if she gets the flu.
“I can’t afford to miss class. I have to be there, but I will stay home if I have to, but I wont if I have like a cold.”
Cordell advises to have a thermometer, to have medicine on hand and to have professors contact information to notify about having to miss school.