Faculty Role:

Influenza

Mood disorders/Substance abuse

Diabetes

Seizures

Influenza

The faculty should be aware of the contagious nature of the ‘flu. A student who is infected will need additional rest. They may not be able to attend classes for several days. Requiring a student who has the ‘flu to attend classes can lead to the infection being spread to more people. Having the student with the ‘flu participate in physical activity may increase his/her fever, and prolong the illness.

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Mood disorders/Substance abuse

Faculty members should be familiar with the signs and symptoms of depression, anxiety and substance abuse, including: lack of interest, excessive sleeping (the student may be missing classes), being tearful over little things.
Faculty should be willing to approach a student who is having difficulty and ask if there is a problem. They should be aware that this might take several attempts.
If the student appears to be having problems, even if the don’t admit it, they can give them the phone number to Counseling and Testing Services in Potter Hall (745-3159).

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Diabetes

Faculty need to be aware that students in their classroom may suffer from diabetes. This is a disease with long-term complications, but also the risk of an acute complication associated with extreme blood sugar levels.
If a student becomes lethargic, or combative, this may be a sign that their blood glucose level is falling. If the blood sugar level gets very low the student may become unconscious.
Most students in college should be familiar with how their body responds and be proactive in treating blood sugars that are falling.

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Seizures

Faculty should be aware that students in your class may have a history of seizures. They should be ready to assist a student who is having a seizure, by removing them from objects that may hurt them during the seizure. They should be ready to call for an ambulance.

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