Make the first-hour decisions
Do not wait for perfect certainty before reducing risk and locating care.
- Check urgent symptomsDifficulty breathing, chest pressure, confusion, seizure or other severe symptoms need immediate medical attention.
- Check personal riskContact a clinician promptly if pregnancy, immune status or another condition raises the risk of serious illness.
- Locate careUse student health, an in-network clinic, telehealth or urgent care according to symptoms and availability.
- Protect othersStay away from others while acutely ill, improve airflow and use additional precautions in shared space.
- Notify one personTell a roommate, friend or trusted contact what is happening and what help would be useful.
- Record the timelineNote when symptoms began, useful observations and any medicine already taken before contacting care.
Choose the next level of care
Campus resources vary, so confirm hours and clinical scope before traveling.
- Self-care and monitoringReasonable for mild symptoms when you can hydrate, rest and watch for change.
- Prompt clinical adviceUseful when symptoms are worsening, treatment may be time-sensitive or you are at higher risk.
- Urgent in-person careAppropriate when you need same-day examination, testing or treatment that cannot safely wait.
- Emergency careUse for severe warning signs or any situation the local emergency service identifies as life-threatening.
Protect the academic record
A short factual message is more useful than a detailed medical story.
- What does the syllabus require?Follow the stated absence and make-up process unless you are too ill to do so safely.
- Who documents illness?Ask whether student health, a clinician or a dean's office handles verification.
- What is time-sensitive?Identify exams, labs, clinical placements or group work that need an immediate message.
- What can wait?Avoid negotiating every assignment while sick; request the process and a realistic follow-up time.
- Who can coordinate?Use student support or the dean of students when multiple courses are affected.
Return by function and current guidance
For respiratory illness, CDC guidance says to stay home until symptoms are improving overall and any fever has been gone without fever-reducing medicine for at least 24 hours, then use added precautions for five days.
Campus rules or a clinician may require something different for health-care training, outbreaks or specific diagnoses. Follow the more specific instruction and do not pressure a roommate to provide medical care beyond what they can safely do.
