I’m sick! Now what do I do?

You may get sick from time to time while attending Wesleyan. It’s no surprise given the way Wesleyan students mix between classes and co-curricular actives, and even eating in the Usdan Market.

So, you’re sick. What are the next steps?

The first thing to do is to take care of yourself! We want to see you healthy and back at it as soon as you can be. If your symptoms are mild, and you are are not interested in visiting Davidson Health Center, then stay home and take care of yourself. Get plenty of fluids and rest.

Need help figuring out if you need an appointment at the Health Center?  Call and ask to speak with a nurse at 860-685-2470.

While you can always contact me, your class dean, please know that class deans do not provide excuses for absences for your professors. While some professors may ask you to check in with me, there’s little I can do to legitimize your absence other than to write them that I have heard from you about your illness.

Also, know that generally the Health Center does not give out notes to students they have seen for illness (in most cases.) You can give the Health Center permission to speak with your professors who might want to call them and check on what’s going on. (Again, please note your class dean is not an intermediary for that.)

Sometimes, Davidson will give you a letter. This occurs when they feel you should not be around other people at all and are contagious. When that happens, please reach out to each of your professors and send the note along with your email.

Finally, how to keep up with your classes:

  • First, contact your professors and let them know what’s going on. Some may want you to zoom in, while others may just want you to get back to class when you can.
  • If there is already an option to zoom listed in the class syllabus, zoom in.
  • Contact classmates and ask if they might share their notes with you. (In return, you can give them notes if they get sick later in the semester and miss class.)
  • ALWAYS check your syllabi for how each professor handles absences. An instructor has the the last work in how your grade may be affected down the line.