Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to some common questions you may have in the event the college is severely impacted by an outbreak of the seasonal flu or the H1N1 virus (swine flu). For additional information about the flu and how to avoid getting ill, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.
General questions
What is H1N1 Influenza?
H1N1 influenza, also known as “swine flu” is a newly identified virus that can spread from people who are infected to others through coughs and sneezes. When people cough or sneeze, they spread germs through the air or onto surfaces (tables, handrails, etc.) that other people may touch. H1N1 influenza is not transmitted from pigs to humans or from eating pork products.
What are the symptoms of H1N1 Influenza?
Symptoms are similar to those for seasonal influenza. Those symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches and headache. If you have symptoms of influenza and are at risk for severe complications of influenza (children under 2 years old; pregnant women; adults over 65 years old; people with chronic lung, heart, kidney or liver disease; diabetes; sickle cell anemia; immunosuppression or receiving chemotherapy for cancer) you should contact your health provider.
How is the flu transmitted?
Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something – such as a surface or object – with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
What steps is the college taking to reduce the spread of influenza on campus?
The college is taking several steps to minimize the spread of influenza on our campus, based on guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These steps include:
- Asking that students and employees who experience flu-like symptoms or are diagnosed with the flu to stay home until 24 hours after their fever is gone.
- Installing hand sanitizer dispensers at various locations around campus, and encouraging everyone to wash their hands as frequently as possible. The CDC says this is the single most effective thing you can to do keep from catching the flu. The college has installed hand sanitizer dispensers in all computer labs on campus, and the Open Lab (N250) also provides Clorox cleaning wipes at the front desk so students can clean computer keyboards and mice before doing their computer work.
- Providing resources and technology alternatives to teachers and staff so that, even if they catch the flu, they can teach or work from home if they feel up to it.
- Providing written guidance to students and employees on how they can best avoid catching the flu.
- Implementing new cleaning schedules for the Open Lab (N250) and fitness center on campus.
Will the college provide vaccinations for the flu?
According to the CDC, vaccinations for the H1N1 flu will not be available to the general population until later in the fall. When the vaccine becomes available to the college, we will determine if providing this service will be possible.
Will the college provide masks for students and employees?
No. According to the CDC, masks are ineffective in preventing the spread of flu. You are of course welcome to bring one to wear, if you like.
Have there been any cases of flu at Bellevue College?
To date, there have been no confirmed cases that the college is aware of. If this status changes, we’ll update the home page of this site.
Will the college notify individual faculty members, staff members, or students who may have come in contact with an infected person?
No, the college will not contact individuals. Once we’ve received confirmation that a BC student or employee has contracted influenza, we’ll update the status on this site with that information. In the event a member of our college community contracts influenza, everyone on campus must assume they may have been exposed. One may come in contact with the germs anywhere: door handles, stair railings, etc.
Will the college close if flu cases on campus are confirmed?
The college will only consider closing if the outbreak becomes severe. College leadership will be monitoring the situation closely throughout the year and seek advice from public health officials if the illness begins to spread.
Will all campus events be cancelled (athletics, conferences, forums, etc.) if a school closing alert is issued?
If either Main Campus or North Campus were to be closed due to a severe outbreak of influenza, then all events taking place on the impacted campus would be cancelled.
How do I know if I have H1N1 flu?
H1N1 flu symptoms are similar to symptoms of the seasonal flu which are typically distinguished from a cold or allergies by a fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher (or 37.8 Celsius or higher). Symptoms may also include cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body ache, headache, chills, unusual fatigue, diarrhea or vomiting. For more information, review the If You Get Sick page.
How will the college notify me if the campus closes?
If the college (either campus) must close there are a number of ways this information is communicated. To ensure you get immediate notification from the college of an unexpected closure, make sure you are signed up for the Campus Alerts System.
Campus Alerts System
Go to http://bellevuecollege.edu/alerts/
This service allows you to sign up for alerts that are sent via e-mail or text message. Sign in with your student or employee identification number (SID) and your personal identification number (PIN).
College website
When the college must unexpectedly close and a message is sent out on the Campus Alerts System, an identical message is also posted on the college home page at www.bellevuecollege.edu.
www.schoolreport.org
If you are not a student or employee and do not have a SID and PIN, you may sign up to receive alerts from www.schoolreport.org, a public site that serves as a clearinghouse for emergency announcements from all schools in the Puget Sound region. You may visit the site anytime. This site also allows you to sign up to receive e-mail alerts issued by BC and other schools.
Phone message
Call the college’s 24 hour emergency status line at (425) 401-6680 for the latest announcements about closures.
What should I do if I catch the flu?
- If you are diagnosed with or suspect you have the flu, stay home. Avoid contact with others until at least 24 hours after your fever is gone.
- Alert your teachers or work supervisors via email (or other means he or she has provided) if you become ill with flu.
- If you feel up to it, remain in communication with your teachers or work supervisor and follow his or her advice about keeping up with course or office work.
- Do not return to campus until at least 24 hours after your fever breaks. The CDC also advises limiting your activities until you are at full strength. Overly strenuous activity can lead to longer recovery times.
Can I come to campus if I am feeling just slightly ill?
No, please don’t come to campus. We ask everyone who feels they have or are coming down with the flu – even if the symptoms are not acute at the moment – to stay home, in order to avoid spreading illness to others on campus.
How can I best avoid getting the flu in the first place?
The CDC provides the following advice for minimizing the possibility of catching flu:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. If you don’t have a tissue, use the crook of your elbow.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
- Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
How can I best avoid spreading the flu to others?
The CDC suggests following these steps to avoid spreading flu to others:
- If you are sick with flu-like illness, the CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.
- Keep away from others as much as possible.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue, or with your arm, when coughing or sneezing. Put your used tissue in a waste basket. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.
What should I do if I am exposed to someone with flu?
The CDC provides this advice:
- Maintain a reasonable distance from the person.
- Do not shake hands or make other physical contact.
- Offer the individual a mask if you have one or a tissue and ask the person to cover their mouth and nose if they should need to cough or sneeze.
- Use a sanitary wipe after the person has left to clean those areas of your work station that the person has touched.
- Wash your hands.
What do I do if I become acutely ill while I’m on campus?
BC is not able to provide medical assistance. If you need help arranging transportation home or to a medical facility, contact the Student Programs office at (425) 564-6150, if you are a student; if you are an employee, contact your supervisor.
Where can I learn more about flu?
Visit the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov.
Student questions
What should I do if I miss class due to illness?
Notify your instructor(s) if you are sick and cannot attend classes or complete assignments on time. Find contact information for your instructor(s) in your course syllabus or in the college directory. Your instructor will request current contact information from you such as e-mail and phone information.
What will happen to my class if my instructor gets the flu—will it be cancelled?
Your instructor, or in some cases division staff, will notify you in the event of class status changes or cancellation. Be sure to ask your instructor at the beginning of the quarter what his or her emergency communications plan is for your class.
How will I know if the college closes?
Emergency info is sent or published in many ways at Bellevue College. More information about this is included in the general FAQ.
Faculty questions
How can I help sick students stay current with class assignments and lectures?
The college provides you with a variety of online tools available to keep lines of communication open and assignments accessible from a home computer. Consider providing students with a detailed outline including scheduled chapter readings and assignment due dates. It is important to update contact information and establish a MyBC Class Site for your course during the first week of the quarter. Get more ideas and help with these tools and resources in the Faculty Flu Toolkit.
If the college closes, how can I keep my courses running?
In the unlikely event the college campus closes, academic activities will be temporarily suspended. Campus closure announcements will be posted on the college website and you may call the 24-hour emergency phone line at (425) 401-6680 to get an update. It’s also recommended you sign up to receive e-mail or text alerts using the Campus Alerts System so you are alerted immediately in the event of a school closure.
What should I do about my class if I become sick?
Plan ahead! Although the H1N1 flu virus is not a particularly severe strain, it is characterized by a sudden onset, high fever and fatigue, usually extending for 3-5 days. Prepare for an extended absence by organizing 5 days of online activities or 5 days of substitute lesson plans for each of your courses. Program Chairs should have direct access to your back-up lesson plans and can help you coordinate a list of appropriate substitute teachers when needed.
May I send a substitute instructor in my place if I’m sick?
Program Chairs must approve any substitute instructors for missed classes.
Can I use Blackboard or MyBC Class Site online tools for my class if necessary?
Changing a traditional lecture course to an online or hybrid course during the term is an option for instructors familiar with Blackboard Vista or MyBC Class Sites. In the event of a major flu outbreak, Blackboard fees will be temporarily waived. Keep in mind a student’s accessibility to and familiarity with online tools are critical and you’ll need to provide support where needed. See the Faculty Flu Toolkit for more information about supplementing your course with online teaching options.
What should I do about extended absences or incomplete coursework if students are out sick or if the entire college closes?
Up to one-third of students on campus may miss a week or more of classes over the fall term. You may want to consider offering make-up assignment options for non-sequential course material. Finding creative ways of covering essential material outside the classroom will be a challenge this fall. As professionals it is important to collaborate with colleagues in finding reasonable solutions without compromising course integrity.
If a student gets sick, should they report it to the college and if so how?
Emphasize to your students the need to report extended illnesses to you and their other instructors. Students are most contagious when running a fever so insist they stay home until at least 24 hours has passed since their fever has dropped below 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius) without use of fever-reducing medication. Consider incorporating a more flexible attendance policy fall term to discourage students from attending class during an illness.
Employee questions
How will my time away from work be counted if I am diagnosed with the flu, or if the college closes?
Absences due to illness will be covered under existing college policies. You’ll need to report any hours you do not work due to illness. If the college closes, time away from work will be handled in accordance with college collective bargaining agreements and college policy.
How can I prepare my department for employee absences in critical positions, or to operate entirely from home in a closure?
Employees should review the Plan and Prepare for the Flu Guide for Employees and the Plan and Prepare for the Flu Guide for Faculty featured on this website to come up with a plan before anyone in your office gets sick.
How can I, as an individual, prepare for working at home? How can I check e-mail from home?
Review the Plan and Prepare for the Flu Guide for Employees. This section provides help on how to check e-mail and access your computer and other resources remotely to work from home.