General
Department Chair / Associate Deans will notify the Dean if their campus/site is experiencing high rates of absenteeism due to illness.
If an instructor is not Blackboard certified, they are encouraged to become so as soon as possible. The Blackboard certification will enable them to use remote tools available to SCOB in case of major flu outbreak. Please contact Mr. Lee Scarborough at lscarborough@troy.edu to be enrolled in a certification course for TOP I.
Faculty members should plan how their course loads may be taught in the event they become ill (for a few or many days).
Faculty (full time and adjunct) are requested to notify their Department Chair as soon as possible if they become ill. (Please ensure you have current contact information on your Department Chair.)
It should be the goal of the instructors to work with students during a possible outbreak so that classes can be completed and a minimum number of “Incompletes” would have to be assigned.
Faculty should inform a colleague about location of notes, powerpoints, tests, etc. In case faculty become too ill to guide class from home, it will be beneficial to have backup with access to class materials.
If a colleague is needed to assist, Department Chair will work with Blackboard administration to grant colleague access to Blackboard accounts.
Blackboard Courses
For illnesses expected to be less than week:
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Notify students through Blackboard of materials and assignments posted in Blackboard.
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If test is scheduled, work with Department Chair on getting person to proctor.
For illness expected to be more than a week:
- Department Chair will determine availability of faculty with qualifications to teach the classs.
- The substitute faculty member should follow the class syllabus as closely as possible.
Non-Blackboard Courses
Instructors should make every effort to become Blackboard certified, if not already.
Department Chair will determine availability of faculty with qualifications to teach the class. If substitute faculty member is found, the substitute faculty member should follow the class syllabus as closely as possible.
Student Absences
Students are expected to follow guidelines of the class syllabus, including notifying instructor of absences.
Faculty should keep in mind that in the event of a major outbreak, circumstances will be different and should take these into account when considering student absences.
Alabama State Health Officer Dr. Don Williamson is encouraging businesses and schools to waive any requirement for doctors to provide excuses for workers and students who have been absent because of flu. Public health officials are urging sick people to stay home until they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medicine.
Instructors may request some type of student verification and notification in lieu of formal doctor’s excuse for missed classes due to flu. The Executive Vice Chancellor / Provost or his designee(s) will serve as final arbitrator with regard to student excuses for missed classes due to flu.