ACUHO-I News Blog

Survival in the college and university housing field requires being connected with others beyond our own institutions. It was a basic lesson in graduate school, but has become central in my life working in a department of only two professional staff members. I rely on my colleagues and friends at other institutions for shared resources; I also rely on them for support as I navigate unfamiliar waters of being a mid-level professional.

With The Placement Exchange and NASPA conference being only two hours from my campus this month, I had an easy excuse to drive to Chicago and visit with those who came to town. I carved time away from campus to have coffee with my grad school mentor. I spent hours with the student affairs community from Twitter, with whom I’ve only recently connected, but can’t imagine not having in my life. I crossed paths with a beloved faculty member from my graduate program. I visited with friends from GLACUHO. I met James, the voice behind the ACUHO-I Twitter account, who has provided me with a new tool for professional development via this blog.

In coincidental timing, a colleague from my first professional position is coming to visit this weekend. My enthusiasm, which is generally above average, is skyrocketing at this opportunity to reunite with the person I consider my best friend in the field.

I once asked a supervisor how she stays connected with her professional colleagues from her career path. Her answer was simple: She doesn’t. I was shocked. I can’t imagine not having this network for challenging discussion, for providing feedback, for providing raw enthusiasm that keeps me motivated on days when I feel isolated.

For a field that places people and connections at its center, we often neglect to maintain these relationships ourselves. How do you stay connected with colleagues personally and professionally outside of conferences?

Young adults do a lot of dangerous things, things that are widely acknowledged to be risky: drinking heavily; drinking and driving; drugs; standing on slanted, 30-degree rooftops in 5-inch heels (I’m personally guilty of that last one).  But some also do things that seem innocuous. Eating a peanut butter sandwich, some ice cream, or a slice of cake.

Increasing numbers of students have been arriving on college campuses with food allergies they are unable–or perhaps, unwilling–to manage by themselves. Perhaps their parents had done most of the work of coordinating doctors’ appointments, medications and keeping the illicit ingredient out of the way.  Despite the parent’s best intentions, their child arrives at college with limited ability to cope with their own condition. Some students may be reluctant to admit that their allergy limits them in any way. Some have never had a very severe reaction, and regard their allergy as a mere annoyance, rather than something that could be life-threatening.

The situation is difficult for dining halls as well; ensuring that adequate meals are created without allergens and making students aware of the ingredients of each dish, all the while creating delicious meals that appeal to everyone, providing a welcoming environment, and hopefully making a profit, or at least breaking even. Some institutions have opened special allergy-free kitchens and refrigerators to deal with the issue. The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network introduced its College Network in 2009, a resource for students on institutions that can accommodate their diets.

Despite an institution’s best efforts, however, there’s no way of preventing an allergic student from eating an off-limits food, unknowingly or otherwise. And these are the sorts of things that keep administrators awake in the wee hours.

How has your institution dealt with this issue? Have food allergies affected the residence halls? Does a student who keeps a jar of peanut butter handy find it hard to live with a roommate who must avoid the stuff? Have allergies affected how the vending machines are stocked? Have you had to confront a student who is eating dangerously? Let us know.

Micah Fialka-Feldman, an intellectually disabled student at Oakland University in Rochester, MI, is in a program for students like him; he takes mainstream classes, but uses tutors and other assistants to keep up and complete his coursework. Since he’s a part-time student in a special program, he was not allowed to live on campus. His commute from his parents’ home takes about two hours, and Fialka-Feldman felt he was missing out on campus life. He sued for the right to live in the on-campus residences, and recently found out he won. He’s hoping to move in soon, to begin his last semester at Oakland.

Many institutions limit on-campus housing to full-time students because allowing part-time students to live in campus might lead to other issues: people who are mostly non-students taking advantage of the low rental rates on campus; students with too much free time. However, this sort of policy excludes students such as Fialka-Feldman, who are part-time for other reasons. Students with varying disabilities (diagnosed or otherwise) make managing the living environment more challenging. On the other hand, students who drink too much, who violate the community rules or who avoid participating in community gatherings, also make it harder to nurture a cohesive and safe community. Not all disruptive factors can be controlled, and at what cost? Have you encountered similar issues on your campus? How have you dealt with them?

The Center for Public Integrity has released a report on how sexual assault on college campuses are reported and how the disciplinary proceedings proceed. Sexual Assault on Campus Shrouded in Secrecy is the first in the series. Barriers Curb Reporting on Campus Sexual Assault and Campus Sexual Assault Statistics Don’t Add Up are parts two and three. Balancing the rights of the accuser and the accused is difficult. How does your system do this? Are there improvements that could be made?

National Public Radio has aired a two part series on college student mental health. They discuss the increasing need for mental health services on campus, the limited resources many institutions are able to devote to counseling and care, and how housing staff attempts to deal with at-risk students with sensitivity and urgency. The first story, on the growing need for mental health services, is here; the second, which is on overwhelmed mental health services is here.

The Senate Finance Committee’s recently approved health care bill specifies two sorts of health care plans: employer-provided and individual policies purchased through an insurance exchange. To much of the population, this would seem to cover all the forms of insurance, but those affiliated with college and universities know there’s a third way: college- and university-issued insurance. Health insurance plans issued by institutions of higher education fall into another category, “limited duration products” according to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

This may be an inadvertent mistake, and representatives of the American College Health Association have written to Senators requesting clarification.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports that, in 2007, 67% of college students 18-23 received health insurance through employer-provided plans (likely their parents’ plans); 6% used Medicaid and the like; 20% were uninsured, and 7% had insurance through another private plan, such as an college-issued program.

Student insurance plans were offered at 71% of private institutions, 82% of public institutions and 29% of two-year public institutions in 2008, reported the GAO.

LAST UPDATE, 10.29.09, 11:45 A.M.: A New Surge in Flu Cases; Vaccine is Hard to Find

ACUHO-I has covered H1N1 in depth here on the blog (view stories in the “Health” category or search for the H1N1 tag), and also has established a resource page on our Web site for further information. ACUHO-I members are also encouraged to visit the Health & Safety forum on the ACUHO-I network to post questions for other members.

As stories continue to come out, we will utilize the “sticky” tag to keep this post at the top of our blog feed and simply update the post as necessary. Click on the link to read more of this post and look for updates. (more…)

The American College Health Association, in the first of a series of weekly reports, announced that more than half of the 165 colleges surveyed reported at least one occurrence of the H1N1 virus on their campus. While 55% is an unnerving number, the illnesses, when compared with the total number of students at the institutions, 7.9 per 10,000 students, show the outbreak is still mild.

Swine Flu, AKA H1N1, AKA Novel H1N1, is joining students at move-in, apparently. Fortunately, the number of cases reported, while stretching nationwide, are hardly epidemic: a few people here, a few there.

Some institutions have had more sickness than others; the University of Kansas had 319 affected students at one point, but that number is now decreasing. The institution has 30,000 students, so while the illnesses are disconcerting, they represent just over 1 percent of the student population. Colleges and universities nationwide are urging students to protect themselves from infection and offering instructions for ill students.

You will all be surely comforted, however, that this valiant crusader is on your side against H1N1.

The New York Times has now chimed in on the Higher-Education-and-H1N1 conversation, with an article on how various institutions are trying to get ahead of a potential pandemic. Most are advising students to be clean and hygenic; to not go out in public when sick and to convalese at home with the help of their parents, if possible.

The exception is the United States Military Academy, where going home isn’t an option. Incoming cadets who have had recent contact with a flu victim were tested for the virus, and personel switched to elbow bumps rather than handshakes for a while, to slow the spread of the virus. Only six cadets have gotten the flu, so their strategies are apparently working.

The advice is similar or the same as what we’ve already heard about H1N1, but it’s helpful to have for the sake of justifying policies and actions. Inside HigherEd summarizes the guidance, also check the source at the CDC.

There are a few items that jump out:

• Pre-plan flu buddy systems so healthy students can bring food to their ill roomates or friends.
• Create a system that ensures ill students are visited by a staff member.
• Consider reducing the size of large gatherings. Also think about moving furniture, such as desks and couches, farther apart so very close contact is minimized.
• Pre-plan the vaccination process, so when the vaccination is ready (perhaps late October) the process can go as smoothly as possible.
• Plan accommodations and education for students in special circumstances, for example: Pre-college students and students with health issues that put them at additional risk.

Here’s our latest collection of information on H1N1, the vaccine, and plans for dealing with infections.

Many thanks go to Jon Zuhosky, library intern, for researching some of the items in this post!

Many universities and colleges have pandemic plans; this one from North Carolina Central University details the responses for each department, including residence life. Also look at appendix A, which describes each person’s role, their alternates and the protective gear necessary. This presentation, from the University of Kansas, is among the pandemic-oriented items available in the online library. These, and examples such as the University of Florida H1N1 plan that we blogged about, can help when crafting or modifying your own plan. Also, look at the American College Health Association’s Guidelines for Pandemic Planning, the ACHA’s H1N1 site and the CDC’s page for higher education institutions.

In the news:

• Instutions’ plans for dealing with a potential outbreak of Swine Flu and their student education campaigns are discussed here, here, and here.
• The University of Oklahoma is experiencing a small outbreak of H1N1, but fortunately the cases are mild so far. One case has been confirmed at the University of Illinois-Springfield. The University of South Florida Polytechnic has two cases. H1N1 came to sorority rush at Louisiana State University; no word on whether H1N1 sung the songs properly.
• In Teaching the Quarantined, Inside HigherEd explores the problem of maintaining classes when sick students are cautioned to remain isolated for seven days. The Chronicle of Higher Educationhas an article on online teaching in times when face-to-face get-togethers are discouraged: In Case of Emergency, Break Tradition–Teach Online. The Chronicle article discusses other events (a flood, for example) that forced colleges and universities to change their delivery methods.
• Here’s a page of CDC Q&A on the H1N1 vaccine, which is supposed to be ready in the fall, perhaps by late October. On NPR, an expert spoke about the his vaccine distribution plan.
• Most Americans are not very worried about the impact of Swine Flu. Let’s hope our nonchalance doesn’t contribute to apathy, and that H1N1 turns out to be a blip on the collective consciousness by mid-2010.

Norb Dunkel is the Assistant Vice President and Director of Housing and Residence Education at the University of Florida. (Does anyone have a title that’s longer than that? Post to the comments!) Norb has generously provided the text of an announcement given to University of Florida housing professionals in preparation for H1N1 and students’ return to campus. They’ve also posted this on their website. Parents were provided the link in a pre-move-in e-mail.

Among the highlights:

• Tips on staying healthy: Sleep in, then eat pie.
  No wait. That’s not it. The tips are the usual: Cover coughs, wash hands, use hand sanitizers, get plenty of sleep, and eat well. (Which may include pie.)
• Tips on what to do if you become ill: Stay home; stay hydrated and avoid close contact with others. Self-isolate for at least 24 hours beyond when your fever breaks. You do not need to go to the student health center unless you develop severe symptoms: difficulty breathing, abdominal pain or pressure, sudden dizziness, confusion, persistent vomiting or flu symptoms that initially improve then worsen again, with an accompanying fever and cough.
• Tips on what to use for cleaning surfaces that may be contaminated, provided courtesy of the EPA.
• Some Q&As that parents or students are likely to  find useful.

University of Florida Flu Notice

This just in from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices: People 24 and under, since they seem to be more vulnerable to the H1N1 virus (AKA, Swine Flu) should receive the vaccination. Other priority groups are: pregnant women, health care employees, those who care for infants, and adults with chronic health issues or compromised immune systems. The CDC acknowledges that this could complicate the fall session on college campuses. The H1N1 vaccine is not yet available (clinical trials are ongoing) but the CDC says it can be administered on the same day as the seasonal flu vaccine.

Here’s the CDC’s interim instructions for higher education institutions; here is information about the pandemic in general, including the states that are hardest hit.

…but they’re not getting it. According to a study by the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, a subset of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, 7 million Americans aged 18 to 25 were designated as needing treatment for alcohol or drug abuse in the past year, but only 7 percent of them are getting it. The study was also conducted in 2002, when similar numbers prevailed. Most feel they do not need help; among the 4 percent who did feel they needed treatment, just over 32 percent of them tried to seek it out. For details, see the report here.