Waterloo | Influenza Update

To All UW Faculty, Staff and Students:

21 September 2009

In late August, there was communication from Barbara Schumacher, director of Health Services, to members of the UW community providing information about staying healthy and steps to take should you develop symptoms of H1N1 influenza.

Questions have now arisen about the need for students to provide verification of illness if they cannot attend class, complete assignments or attend examinations. Effective immediately, and until further notice, verification of illness is not needed for absences resulting from the flu. This decision is based on advice received from health officials, and is consistent with practices at other institutions in Canada.

Absences resulting from other conditions still must be verified in the usual manner.

While students will not be required to submit verification of illness forms for absences due to suspected H1N1, the University is considering a protocol whereby students self declare their absence if they are seeking accommodation from an instructor for missed assignments, tests and the like. The method for doing so will be announced soon.

As is the current practice with verified illnesses, instructors are asked to make appropriate accommodation to deal with student absenteeism due to H1N1. Alternative arrangements for fulfilling course requirements are to be determined by each instructor, in consultation with the associate dean or chair as appropriate.

Further, and consistent with current practice, students remain responsible for meeting course requirements.

There will be communication regarding a reporting mechanism for faculty and staff absences when information is available.

Feridun Hamdullahpur

Vice-President, Academic, and Provost, University of Waterloo