Central Michigan University’s illness closing policy is not likely needed in the immediate future.

“We’re not at any kind of level like that (of local schools) on campus. Our numbers are not that high,” said Assistant Director of Clinical Operations Loretta Moran.

Last week, several area schools closed because of illness, including Mount Pleasant Public Schools, Shepherd Public Schools and Renaissance Public School Academy.

The university’s policy for closing in the event of illness is included in the procedure “Closing the University or Delaying Operations due to Weather or other Adverse Conditions.”

“It’s the same one that is used for canceling classes in the event of bad weather and those types of things,” said Director of Public Relations Steve Smith.

The decision would be made by the core crisis group of Dean of Students Bruce Roscoe, CMU Police Chief Bill Yeagley, Vice President of Financial and Administrative Services David Burdette and Associate Vice President of University Communications Renee Walker.

Faculty received an e-mail Wednesday from Interim Provost Gary Shapiro with instructions about the spread of H1N1 on campus. Professors were advised to cancel classes if they or many of their students were ill, learn alternative methods of classroom participation such as Wimba, Blackboard and podcasting, and be lenient with students making up work.

The residence hall directors have not been asking their students to do anything out of the ordinary to prevent influenza, said Cobb Residence Hall Director Mike Skonieczny.

“I have asked my staff to get their students that are ill to Health Services,” Skonieczny said.

CMU affected too

University Health Services staff members also are impacted by the spread of illness.

“(Last) week, we had to close the Towers Health Clinic because of staff illness,” Moran said.

If staff members are unable to fill the University Health Services Foust office, then none are sent over to the Towers’ Health Clinic, Moran said.

The Towers’ Health Clinic is in Cobb Hall Room 103. It is open from 8:30 a.m. to noon Mondays. There has only been one student to visit the new Towers’ Health Clinic with influenza-like symptoms, Moran said.

“For the week ending Oct. 16, (Health Services) had 39 influenza-like illnesses, eight were influenza Type A,” said University Heath Services Director Tom Trionfi.

That is 12 more students than visited Health Services the week before that, he said.

“When you consider the number of students on campus, it’s pretty reasonable,” Trionfi said.

These numbers may not include every ill CMU student since there are three urgent care centers and a hospital in town, Moran said. There is not a way for the university to know the exact number of students that are ill.

E-mail the author: Maryellen Tighe