Five Colleges revamp swine flu policies

Rachel Levitt and Samantha Marsh contributed to this report.

Each of the five colleges in the Pioneer Valley area have different policies concerning swine flu prevention, ranging from “flu buddies” to student isolation.

Tara Mahendrarajah, a sophomore Resident Assistant in the Brooks Dorm at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, recently built a bulletin board about swine flu. The board includes statistics, false rumors, symptoms and contact information for the University Health Services.

“Students who have the symptoms of swine flu are encouraged to stay in their room,” said Mahendrarajah. These individuals should look for a “flu buddy” to help get them their meals and class work. Both the dining commons and faculty on campus are aware of the situation and will be accommodating if circumstances arise, she said.

Last year, Amherst College has three confirmed cases of swine flu. But the school has and will continue to remain calm and follow health procedures, said Caroline Hanna of Public Affairs.

“Last spring, I think people did what they had to do in order to stay as healthy as possible,” said Hanna. “Everyone was rallying together!”

Raising awareness is high on the priority list for Amherst College staff and students, who are now doing everything from creating posters to hosting resident counselor workshops. Hand sanitizing stations have been installed in every building on campus, according to information on the school’s Web site. Students who show symptoms of the flu may be moved to isolated residential halls.

Smith College students who show symptoms are instructed to stay in their rooms until their fever has been absent for 24 hours.

“Smith’s Pandemic Planning Committee has been meeting regularly since the Spring 2009 outbreak of H1N1 influenza,” said Kristen Cole, director of Media Relations. “The group is monitoring the federal Centers for Disease Control guidelines in preparation for a possible recurrence of H1N1 in Fall 2009.”


As a result of these meetings, Smith has implemented additional policies, said Cole. Infected students are required to wear a face mask whenever they leave their rooms. Students are also encouraged to assemble self-care kits, including a thermometer, face masks and hand sanitizer.

Infected students at Mount Holyoke College will be sent to an isolated housing area on campus, said Media Relations Associate Mary Jo Curtis. However, isolated students last year found themselves falling behind in their classes due to the lack of Internet access in the buildings. Mount Holyoke has installed wireless Internet in all of their isolation areas to prevent this from recurring.

Swine flu policies at Hampshire College vary slightly from those of its neighboring colleges, as seen in an August letter to students and parents from Director of Health Services Sara Aierstuck. Rather than isolating infected students, Hampshire officials have decided to send students home with their families if they live within 250 miles of campus. If the student lives outside the 250-mile radius, then local isolation units will be made available.

Schools in the Amherst area return this week and reaction to planning for the swine flu has been mixed from some students and parents. Still, The Washington Post reported this week that “more than half of the nation’s colleges and universities tracking swine flu are reporting infected students, with more than 1600 cases within the first weeks of classes.”

The Five Colleges are tracking these reports and other information regarding the swine flu.