Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009

 

Dear Students:

As a follow-up to ensuring our campus community stays healthy throughout the year and in particular during flu season, I wanted to alert you that seasonal flu shots will be available in Student Health and Wellness—and according to the CDC this is the number one form of flu prevention. The seasonal flu vaccine is different from the H1N1 vaccine, which will be released by the CDC in late October. More information on H1N1 vaccine distribution will be forwarded as it becomes available.

The seasonal flu vaccine will be available in Student Health and Wellness (located at 4825 Troost, room 115) beginning Monday, Sept. 21—no appointment needed. Students will receive a special subsidized rate of $10 for the seasonal flu vaccine.

In addition, Student Health and Wellness will offer Flu Vaccine Clinics at various locations around campus for your convenience:

• 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 25 at the Dental School
• 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 5-6 in the Health Sciences Building lobby
• 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 8 in the University Center’s Alumni Room
• 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Oct. 14 in the Law School Jury Room
• 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 21 in the Women’s Center Conference Room (located in Haag Hall)

Again, if you experience fever and flu-like symptoms, you should stay at home and seek medical attention for assessment (Student Health and Wellness can be reached at 816-235-6133). Contact your instructors by phone or e-mail to let them know you are ill and will be missing class; make sure you arrange make-ups of missed course assignments. Symptoms typically last three to seven days and you should stay home until you have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications. For students who have clinical rotation or other off-campus practicum experiences as part of your program, please keep in mind that some locations require students and staff to remain at home for a full week even if you no longer have symptoms (contact your clinical advisor for more information).

Further information about UMKC Student Health and Wellness can be found here. Be sure to check out the Flu Resource Page for tips on staying healthy.

Sincerely,

Mel Tyler

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management

Update – Sept. 9, 2009:

Please keep in mind that if you are in a clinical setting, the hospital or program may require you to stay at home at least a week even if you no longer have any symptoms. If you have questions about your program’s specific requirements, contact your clinical adviser.

 

Friday, Aug. 28, 2009

 

Dear Students, As we wrap up the first week of classes, I want to provide you with more information on campus services and activities to help you stay focused, healthy, and engaged with campus life. At this time, I’d like to highlight ways to stay healthy now and during the flu season. Keep reading for tips on practicing good hygiene, taking care of yourself and what to do if you are sick. This information and more is also available at the Student Health and Wellness Influenza/H1N1 Resource Page: http://www.umkc.edu/chtc/health/pages/flu.html.

Good hygiene tips

You may have noticed fliers posted around campus with tips on stopping the spread of germs, such as covering your cough/sneeze, washing your hands with soap and water and using hand sanitizer (which is available at several locations across campus).

Taking care of yourself

Get plenty of rest, eat nutritious food, drink plenty of water and reduce your stress level. Visit the MindBody Connection for stress relieving tips or plan time for a workout at Swinney Recreation Center.

In addition, get a seasonal flu vaccination. According to the CDC, this is the number one form of flu prevention and should be available at UMKC Student Health and Wellness in September or October (quantities may be limited). Students will receive a special subsidized rate of $10 for the seasonal flu vaccine. Keep in mind that the H1N1 vaccination is separate from the seasonal flu vaccination, and more information will be available as soon as it is released for distribution.

Symptoms for influenza-like illnesses

Symptoms for influenza-like illnesses, such as H1N1 (Swine Flu) and regular seasonal flu, include high fever, body aches, sore throat, cough and headache. To date, most cases of H1N1 have been relatively minor and may be managed safely at home; flu symptoms typically last three to seven days. However, anyone with a chronic health condition is at increased risk for complications and should contact a health care provider immediately. If symptoms worsen or don’t improve, see your health care provider as soon as possible.

What to do If you feel sick

• If you have flu-like symptoms, call UMKC Student Health and Wellness at 816-235-6133 or your regular health care provider for an appointment to assess your illness.
• Stay home and limit your interaction with other people until after you have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
• Primary treatment is rest, fluids (one to two glasses of liquid for every hour you are awake), monitoring temperature and using acetaminophen or ibuprofen for symptom relief. Keep in mind that Tamiflu or other anti-viral medications may be reserved for people who have a higher risk for complications (such as those with a chronic illness).
• If you live on campus, alert your Resident Assistant and if possible have a parent or other family member take you home while you recuperate. Roommates and suitemates can check-out disinfectant cleaning supplies from the front desk to clean their living areas and bathrooms.
• Contact your instructors by phone or e-mail immediately to alert them you are sick and will be missing class. The Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management can assist you. Discuss arrangements to make-up your missed coursework and clarify the absence policy—instructors may require a note from your health care provider to confirm illness or verify you are well enough to return to class. The UMKC HelpLine can assist in contacting your professors on your behalf to alert them of your illness. Contact the HelpLine at 816-235-2222 or umkc-helpline@umkc.edu.

As always, the health and safety of our University community is our primary concern. If someone is not feeling well, and they are experiencing fever and flu-like symptoms, encourage them to stay at home and to seek medical attention for assessment. Further information about UMKC Student Health and Wellness can be found at: http://www.umkc.edu/chtc/health/.

If you have additional questions on any of these resources, contact the UMKC HelpLine at 816-235-2222 and our staff members will assist in answering your questions or referring you to the appropriate campus office.

Sincerely,

Mel Tyler

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management

Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009

 

Dear Students, I hope your first days at UMKC were exciting as well as challenging—academic life at UMKC will be rigorous but rewarding, and there are many resources available on campus to help you succeed. Over the next few weeks, I’ll send you important information about campus services, activities, and general information to help you stay focused, healthy and engaged with campus life. This week, I’d like to highlight campus technology changes, improvements and sustainability. Keep reading for updates on the Student OneCard, new printing and copying services, podcasting, new student e-mail platform, National Student Clearinghouse self-service and new settings for campus directory information.

Student OneCard

The new OneCard ID program is designed to give you increased services and flexibility. OneCard is used for all dining services meal plans, Roo Bucks (for use in the bookstore, dining services, at select vending machines across campus, and starting Sept. 9 for laundry services in the residence halls), and for general identification purposes. The new OneCard program includes online account management at umkc.managemyid.com. Register your ID card for 24-hour access to view meal balances and transaction history, make online deposits to your Roo Bucks account and report lost/stolen or found cards. In addition, the OneCard allows students to enroll in Student Advantage©. This program is the largest student discount provider in the nation, allowing students to save up to 50 percent at thousands of locations nationwide. Visit www.StudentAdvantage.com/UMKC for enrollment and additional information. For any questions about the OneCard, contact the office at 816-235-6657 or umkc-onecard@umkc.edu.

New printing and copying services

Over the summer months, Information Services and the University Libraries partnered on a project to enhance printing and copying in the IS Labs and University Libraries. The new system works seamlessly with Roo Bucks (UMKC’s One Card system) so students will be able to easily print or copy beyond their weekly print quota. Students will no longer need to purchase separate cards for printing or copying once the system is fully implemented in the Library.

In addition to streamlining print and copy services, sustainability requires reducing paper waste and decreasing overall printing. To further decrease UMKC’s carbon footprint, Student Government Association Executives and IS agreed to set the weekly print quota for this academic year at 100 pages per week or an allocation of $5 per week ($.05 for black and white 8 ½ x 11). Duplex printing is also available in some labs to help conserve printing.

For more information on how this new system works, visit the IS Labs Web site and click on the lab FAQ. Information on library printing resources and photocopying services is available at Printing in the Libraries.

To learn more about other IT resources at UMKC, check out the Student Computer Resource Guide (PDF). It contains a wealth of information including location of Internet bars, IS lab hours and locations, email account questions, and more.

Podcasts and coursecasts now available

An increasing number of instructors have begun to use podcasts as a tool to enhance learning in their courses. Podcasts are recordings of class lectures that can be downloaded and played back on a computer or a portable media player such as an iPod. Podcasts give you the ability to revisit your course lectures at any time during the semester. With podcasting you can pay attention in class instead of rushing to write down every word during a lecture. As a UMKC student, podcasts can help you to: review difficult material, improve your lecture notes, be better prepared for class and study for exams (especially comprehensive tests). Contact your instructor to find out if your class is podcasted.

New student E-mail platform

UMKC is engaged in talks with Microsoft to provide Outlook Live e-mail for all students. UMKC students would receive a UMKC branded e-mail address (example@mail.umkc.edu) which includes a 10 GB mail box, calendar, contacts, tasks, notes and the ability to retain the e-mail after you graduate. Outlook Live users will gain access to the Office Live Suite, Windows SkyDrive (online storage) and Windows Live Spaces (blogs, discussions). This project is scheduled for implementation during the Fall 2009 Semester.

National Student Clearinghouse Self-Service

Starting this fall, students will be able to directly access certificates of enrollment online through the National Student Clearinghouse. The certificate of enrollment can be used to verify attendance for employers, insurance companies and other agencies. Additional information on this new service is available at www.umkc.edu/registrar/certifications.asp.

Student directory information

Student directory information is provided in an online campus directory. Student information will automatically appear in the directory unless you request that it does not. The information that will appear includes your name, UMKC e-mail address, mailing address and phone number (similar to what would appear in a phone book).

To change what information appears in the UMKC directory, log-on to Pathway and navigate to Self Service > Campus Personal Information > Privacy Settings. You will be able to select what information to include in the UMKC Campus Directory, or you will be able to fully restrict your student information in accordance to the FERPA law. If you select this option, UMKC will not reveal to anyone that you are, or have ever, attended UMKC without obtaining your consent first. Keep in mind that potential employers and insurance companies often contact the University to obtain this type of information. If you have additional questions about FERPA contact the Registration and Records office at 816-235-1213.

If you have additional questions on any of these resources, contact the UMKC HelpLine at 816-23-2222 and our staff members will assist in answering your questions or referring you to the appropriate campus office.

Sincerely,

Mel Tyler

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management