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Overview of H1N1 Pre-emptive Activities andPandemic Response Plans of Utah’s Publicand Non-profitHigher Education InstitutionsBackground
In preparation for the Fall 2009 semester, all of Utah’s public and non-profit collegesand universities began implementing preventative measures to mitigate a potentialwidespread flu outbreak on a higher education campus. Preventative activitieshave been primarily based on the recommendations outlined by the CDC
1
including:
•
Increased regular cleaning of 
high-touch
surfaces.
•
Enhanced availability of sanitizing resources such as wipes, hand sanitizer,soap, etc.
•
Promotion of good hygiene and germ etiquette among faculty, staff, andstudents.
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Modification of class attendance policies to allow for flu-related absences.
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Communication to faculty, staff, students, parents, and K-12 partnersregarding H1N1 pre-emptive policies.
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Prominently-placed H1N1 virus information on school websites.
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Consideration of well-balanced isolation policies for on-campus housing.
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Contact information to obtain further information.According to the Utah Department of Health (UDOH)and the US Centers of DiseaseControl and Prevention (CDC), the peak flu season is expected to occur in earlyNovember 2009. On October 7, 2009, UDOH
2
reported a statewide increase ininfluenza-like-illnesses during the first week of October. According to the CDC forthe week ending October 3, “Over 99% of all subtyped influenza A viruses reportedto CDC this week were 2009 influenza A (H1N1) viruses.”
3
Under the direction of the Commissioner and in coordination through the Chief Student Services Officers (CSSOs), each USHE is developing a response plan to theH1N1 pandemic threat. This summary outlines the role of the Commissioner’s Officeregarding potential campus closures, quarantines, or cancellation of classes and thecommunications procedures related to those strategies.
Pandemic Response Plan Preparation
1 CDC Guidance for Responses to Influenza for Institutions of Higher Education during the2009-2010 Academic Year,http://www.flu.gov/professional/school/higheredguidance.html.2 2009 Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) Situation and Surveillance Report, Utah Department of Health,http://health.utah.gov/epi/h1n1flu/archive/archive.html#sitrep.3
FluView
, A weekly Influenza Surveillance Report of the CDC,http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/.
1October 15, 2009
 
All 13 of Utah’s public and non-profit higher education institutions have started theprocess of developing/revising their pandemic response plans based on the recentH1N1 influenza A virus outbreak beginning in early 2009. Schools are at varyinglevels of planning and implementation of those plans, but all are actively workingthrough the details of their plans. Some general components included in aninstitution’s response plan:
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Identifies all critical functions of the institution.
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Specifies strategies for ensuring the continuity of critical functions, and measuresneeded to maintain the staffing levels required to sustain essential functions in alldepartments.
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Specifies strategies for minimizing infection risks for faculty, staff, and students;including education, encouraging good hygiene and reducing interactions betweenand among employees and customers.
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Specifies strategies for ensuring that all departments have resources needed tosustain essential operations.
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Specifies strategies for ensuring the protection of facilities, information systems,data, and essential documents and records.
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Establishes contingency plans for dealing with campus/area quarantines or otherdevelopments that require the reduction in operating hours or the closure of somefacilities.
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Assesses the financial risks of a pandemic and establish strategies for mitigating thefinancial risks of a pandemic (e.g. tuition refunds, financial aid, salaries, contracts,etc.).
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Establishes a crisis communications process ensuring the delivery of essentialinformation to necessary employees, students, surrounding businesses,Commissioner’s Office, and the public at large.
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Describes the policies and procedures required to implement the response measures.
Role of the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education
 The Commissioner’s office should be included in discussions by a public college oruniversity regarding a possible closure, quarantine, or cancellation of classes due toa pandemic outbreak. The Commissioner’s office will be the primary liaisonbetween schools and state entities including the Governor’s office, legislativeleaders, and the Utah Department of Health to help in the implementation of aschool’s pandemic response plan. Brigham Young University, LDS Business College,and Westminster College should also notify the Commissioner of anyclosure/quarantines to ensure proper notification of neighboring institutions. TheCommissioner’s Office will be the primary information conduit between stateagencies and higher education institutions, analogous to the local coordinationbetween individual higher education institutions and local health departments.As a statewide office, the Commissioner’s Office can assist as convener amongschools to coordinate a campus closure/quarantine and ensure proper engagementof neighboring institutions and state agencies. However, the Commissioner’s Officedoes not expect to mandate a campus closure/quarantine upon an institution. It willrely campus response teams and local public health officials who best understand2October 15, 2009
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