Just What We Need: Another Challenge

As if higher education needs another challenge, get ready for the next punch to the jaw: the swine flu.

Those of you who know your medieval history will remember the devastation suffered by universities during the various waves of the Black Death. Most institutions closed and many professors and students died; the contagion was particularly effective in the close quarters of their campuses.

Thankfully the swine flu has not been even remotely as deadly as the Black Death. We have better doctors, effective medicines, and, for goodness's sake, we wash our hands more frequently, but experts are watching for mutations that might make the current disease more threatening. Even without such mutations, we should get ready for lots of absences (including our own and our colleagues), lots of late assignments from students, lots of midterm withdrawals, and more than a few campus closings. The effects on student accounts and workload could severely affect already fragile campuses. It could deflate conference attendance and throw a significant convolution into interview schedules for the few jobs that will be available.

Do you think that swine flu will significantly affect higher education in the coming year? How is your campus preparing for the challenge?