Sick and tired: Find out how to get through the cold and flu season as a student

Sick at school

The flu and cold season tends to visit us at the best moment — when the fall semester is in full swing and at its highest demanding point.

Students struck by the cold or influenza plague are destined to miss copious amounts of professors’ lectures and assignments.

Class attendance is vital to students’ success in the classroom. But during these times of abundant coughing and dripping, should they attend school?

“If a student is ill, it is not expected that he or she come to class. If the student cannot attend the class, they are encouraged to make up the class with additional pool time instruction,” says Doris E. Flores, swimming instructor in the physical education department.

“I do not expect them to come to class when they are ill. We do not want more students getting ill,” she says.

Flores echoes the consensus among professors who shared their opinions.

“I will ask sick students to leave if they are being disruptive to the class,” says Elton Long, criminal justice professor.

Long says that he uses a “common-sense approach” when it comes to students’ absences.

“I usually leave it up to the student. Normally, I don’t try to determine how sick students are. Most students I’ve talked to had their flu shots and I’ve had mine. As long as they make up the work and get with me about it, there is no problem,” Long says.

Long says he doesn’t require that students bring in evidence that they have had the flu.

Robert Meindl, English professor, says, “I have a big ego, and I’d like to think that students want to be there to hear.”

Meindl opts to trust students’ judgement on their health and ability to attend class.

“You could have a kick-ass student who gets sick, misses classes and have a student who should stay home, sitting up front drooling,” says Meindl. “I don’t have any rules about missing my classes. The sooner you get the flu, the better off you are.”

Harry Dennis, Spanish professor, says that he doesn’t even take role.

“I take role mentally. I notice when a student is consistently missing a couple of classes every week. Students are not penalized, though, when they are sick and stay home. When I’m sick I stay home,” Dennis says.

Dennis says that he finds students usually let him know what is going on. He says he lets students know up front that class participation is key is being proficient in a foreign language. However, if students are ill, they can make up assignments.

Other professors disagree.

“If students are going to miss class they need to bring a medical excuse from their doctor saying, ‘Don’t go to school’,” says Senon Valadez, anthropology professor.

Valadez points out that with normal sicknesses his students should not miss more than five sessions during the semester, and if they do then their grade could drop as much as a letter grade.

“Being sick can affect the whole class. I would rather the individual stay home. But I should not see them hanging out somewhere drinking coffee,” Valadez says. “There are times I don’t feel well. I take an aspirin and come to class. I think a positive attitude wards off most colds.”