To Lipscomb University Students

Welcome back to campus! We hope your semester is off to a great start and that you continue to make progress toward your academic goals this year.  

As most of you know, the H1N1 virus is affecting many people across the country. As college students, you live and work in close proximity to each other in classes and in residence halls and are at a greater risk for developing illnesses.  We value the health and welfare of all our students so we want to take a few minutes and remind you of some preventative measures you can take and of campus services that are available should you or a friend need them.

You have likely seen the posters on campus and heard the messages about steps you can take to help stay healthy. (Visit H1N1.lipscomb.edu for more details.) We know that the most effective way to avoid getting the flu is taking preventive measures such as washing our hands, covering our mouths when we cough and getting plenty of rest.  And, don’t forget to get your flu shot.  More information will be available soon about the availability of flu vaccinations on campus. We encourage you to take care of yourself and stay healthy!

If you do develop flu-like symptoms — fever, headache, body aches, coughing and sore throat — we encourage you to seek a doctor’s treatment. If you live on campus, visit the Health Center or tell your RA, head resident or a friend to report your symptoms to  the Health Center so that we can make sure you receive proper care.

When possible, we are recommending that students who live in Nashville or within a reasonable driving distance of campus who develop H1N1 or other forms of the flu to recover at home and to consult with their personal physician for medical advice.  

For students who become ill but who can’t feasibly return home to recover, we have reserved several residential dorm rooms for your use as you recover on campus.  Recovering in these reserved dorm rooms help provide social distancing as recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to limit further spread of the illness. For students who are recovering on campus, we have assembled a team who will assist you with daily services needed as you recover.

If you develop the flu or flu-like symptoms we ask that you follow the CDC’s advice to stay home and avoid unnecessary contact with others until you register a temperature of less than 100 F for 24 hours without medication.

We know that it is tough to miss classes during an illness. We have asked faculty members to be extremely flexible in working with you if you contract the flu during this academic year.  If you become ill, contact Steve Prewitt, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, at 966-5804 or steve.prewitt@lipscomb.edu.  He will notify your professors that you are ill and not able to attend class. College of Pharmacy students should contact their course coordinator as identified in the course syllabus.

We continue to closely follow the advice and guidelines set forth by the CDC and work collectively with our local public health authorities. Please know that we value you as a student and that we are doing everything possible to make this a safe and healthy academic year for you.

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In the News

Click here to view safety tips for students (taken from a Today Show story, Sept. 8)