By Steve Gilliam, University Relations
In recent months, "Bird Flu" has been discussed widely in popular media, including television programs and local newspapers.
No one knows whether such an influenza outbreak will occur, but the UNC System Office has asked the 16 campuses to take steps to insure that each campus is prepared in the event of a flu-related emergency.
Called a pandemic, such an outbreak would cover a wide geographic area or affect an exceptionally high proportion of the population. Consequently, UNCG has a campus wide Pandemic Flu Planning Process under way.
Coordinated by Dr. Cheryl Callahan, associate vice chancellor for student affairs, numerous committees are examining the potential impact on the campus in the event of a pandemic. Other members of the core planning committee are Dr. Alan Boyette, senior associate provost, Bruce Griffin, assistant vice chancellor for environmental safety, and Dr. Tresa Saxton, director of Student Health Services.
With a Nov. 1 deadline to submit UNCG’s plan to the UNC System Office, 14 committees, with representatives from across the campus, are at work on how the University would respond at three different levels of alert. These levels are based on the World Health Organization’s pandemic phases and the top level for UNCG would be suspending classes and/or closing the University for a period of 4-8 weeks.
The planning committees are: Academic Programs/Instructional Continuity, Business/Financial Planning Continuity, Campus/Community Linkages, External Communications, Facilities/Maintenance/Security Continuity, Human Resources Continuity, Internal Communication Plan, International Issues, Legal and Ethical Issues, Research Continuity, Residential Student Services Continuity, Student Enrollment/Marketing, Student Health and Counseling, and Technology Systems Continuity.
For more information on avian influenza, visit the websites of :
