University of Delaware
Pandemic Planning Guide for Academic Units
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization are
advising that the H1N1 influenza strain that recently spread through the United States and other
countries could mutate and become a more challenging strain this fall. With that possible
scenario, the University of Delaware is preparing detailed plans to handle such an outbreak. We
are asking you to join us in preparation.
In the event of a recurrence of H1N1 in the fall, the University could choose several courses of
action to protect the employees, students and community from being exposed. Please take some
time to consider the following scenarios and answer the questions in relation to your specific
college/department/unit. You will find that this action plan you are putting together for your unit
can be applied to many other types of disasters such as a severe snowstorm, hurricane or flood;
not just to a disease outbreak such as pandemic flu.
Please submit all responses to Laura Rapp (lrapp@udel.edu), graduate student for Marcia Nickle,
UD’s Emergency Preparedness Coordinator by July 31, 2009. Any questions can be directed to
Marcia Nickle (mnickle@udel.edu) or Krista Murray (klmurray@udel.edu).
We realize this is a very short turn around time, but hope you can appreciate the pressing
concerns we have for what may arrive in the fall and can understand our sense of urgency.
Department Name:
College Name: College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment
Department Contact: Dan Leathers
Phone Number: 831-8255
Email: leathers@udel.edu
University Action A: Social Distancing and Cancellation of Large Events
The University may decide during a disease outbreak to recommend social distancing. The goal
of this would be to minimize contact between people, thereby minimizing the spread of the
disease. This could include cancelling large events and limiting the numbers of non-university
personnel coming on campus, however student-only events such as intramurals and classes
would continue. This is similar to how the April-May 2009 H1N1 outbreak was handled.
If this is done:
 What critical functions would be impacted by the cancellation of large events and close
personal contact?
CEOE’s largest events include Coast Day and Honors Day at the UD Lewes Campus.
Other public events include scheduled seminars, thesis and dissertation defenses.
o How could these critical functions be handled?
CEOE would cancel these events as the need arises.
 If you have large events/gatherings (seminars, meetings, etc.), how would you notify
attendees and faculty/staff/students that the event has been canceled?
The Events would be cancelled using the same mechanisms used to publicize them
including e-mail, web site announcements, press releases, and appropriate signage
across the University.
 Who would determine what needs to be canceled?
The Dean of CEOE in consultation with the appropriate Department Chair or School
Director.
 Are there other options for having the event without close contact between attendees and
what needs to be in place in order to do this?
The event would be cancelled because there are no practical options for holding it
without close contact between attendees and University personnel.
 If the outbreak/situation is impacting the region or nation, do you have faculty or students
off-campus whose situation may need to be considered (i.e., study abroad, clinical
rotations, sabbatical leaves or research trips)?
Yes, study abroad, sabbatical leaves and research field work are all possibilities.
o Who will remain in contact with them to assess the situation and how will they
remain in contact?
Department Chairs, the Director of SMSP, the Director of the Delaware Geological
Survey (DGS) and the CEOE Dean’s Office will coordinate communication via e-mail,
phone and web site communication.
 Are there any means for teaching courses without congregation of students?
Yes
o What would need to be in place in order for this to occur?
Sakai, email and potentially CEOE ITV.
 Do your students come in contact with the community or other special populations (Early
Learning Center, College School, Lab Preschool)?
No
o If so, how can you communicate with these groups to update them on the situation
and answer concerns they might have?
N/A
 Other considerations from your unit not previously discussed?
N/A
University Action B: Cancellation of Classes and Preparations to Close University
The University may cancel classes, in addition to major events, during a natural disaster or
disease outbreak. This could be a short-term cancellation (one or two days) or it could last
longer.
If this is done:
 What critical functions must take place even if classes are cancelled?
Laboratory and field based research programs, research vessel operations, and realtime monitoring operations.
o How will they be performed and by whom?
Department Chairs, the Director of SMSP, the Director of DGS and the CEOE Dean’s
Office will coordinate the continuation of these functions. The functions will be
performed by appropriate principal investigators, and center directors.
 If you have students on hospital clinical/student teaching rotations and they are not able
or allowed to go out on that rotation, how will the missed time be handled?
Missed student teaching hours will have to be addressed with a University-wide policy
which will be coordinated through the CEOE Dean’s Office.
o Who will remain in contact with them and how will this take place? (Remember,
this could be a short duration, but it could be an extended cancellation as well)
Department Chairs, the Director of SMSP and the CEOE Dean’s Office will
coordinate communication via e-mail, phone and web site communication.
 If you have students working on campus (i.e. Early Learning Center, College School, Lab
Preschool), how can you communicate with these groups to update them on the situation
and answer concerns they might have?
N/A
o Will these locations remain open, and if student help is not available, how will
this impact your operation?
N/A
 If you have animals, plants, or other items that must be tended regularly and you rely on
student help, who will do this if the students do not come in?
Principal investigators, graduate research assistants, and center directors with
assistance from a limited staff.
o How will it be completed?
Maintenance will be limited to an amount necessary to continue the function.
 If classes are cancelled and you rely on student help in your department, how will the
essential work functions of the students be completed if they do not come in, and by
whom?
By regular departmental, school or Dean’s Office staff.
 Other considerations from your unit not previously discussed?
University Action C: Closing of Residence Halls, Administrative
Buildings and Entire Campus
The University may close residence halls, administrative buildings, and possibly the entire
campus. This could be a short-term closing, such as during snowstorms for up to a few days, or
it could be an extended closure in a major disaster or extensive disease outbreak lasting weeks.
If this occurs:
 What critical functions must take place?
Laboratory and field based research programs, research vessel operations, and realtime monitoring operations.
o How will this happen and by whom?
Department Chairs, the Director of SMSP, the Director of DGS and the CEOE Dean’s
Office will coordinate the continuation of these functions. The functions will be
performed by appropriate principal investigators, and center directors.
 If the outbreak/situation is impacting the region or nation, do you have faculty or students
off-campus whose situation may need to be considered (i.e., study abroad, clinical
rotations, sabbatical leaves or research trips)?
Yes, study abroad, sabbatical leaves and research field work are all possibilities.
o Who will remain in contact with them to assess the situation and how will they
remain in contact?
Department Chairs, the Director of SMSP and the CEOE Dean’s Office will
coordinate communication via e-mail, phone and web site communication.
 If you have students on clinical/teaching rotations and they are not able or allowed to go
out on that rotation, how will the missed time be handled? (Remember, this could be a
short duration, but it could be an extended cancellation as well)
Missed student teaching hours will have to be addressed with a University-wide policy
which will be coordinated through the CEOE Dean’s Office.
o Who will remain in contact with them, and how will this take place?
Department Chairs, the Director of SMSP and the CEOE Dean’s Office will
coordinate communication via e-mail, phone and web site communication.
 If you have animals, plants, living organisms or research projects that must be tended
regularly, who will do this and how?
Principal investigators, graduate research assistants, and center directors with
assistance from a limited staff.
 If you have labs, do you have emergency contacts/point of contacts for each of them?
Yes, these contacts will be coordinated through CEOE Department Chairs, School
Director, DGS Diector or the CEOE Dean’s Office.
o Are they available to necessary personnel from an off-campus location?
Yes.
 If you have labs, how will they be prepared and made safe before/at the time of closure
and by whom?
Principal investigators and center directors will assess the safety of their labs and make
appropriate arrangements for their closure.
o List the concerns and procedures to be followed.
N/A
 If you have labs with hazardous operations, will they be shut down and if so, how and by
whom?
N/A
o Can they be shut down for an extended time, and how long will it take to
complete this?
N/A
o List procedures for these operations and who can perform them.
N/A
 If you have critical supply needs (animal feed/supplies, liquid nitrogen, compressed
gasses, etc) how can you assure delivery or prepare for the possibility of interruptions in
delivery?
Most labs maintain a back-up supply of needed materials that would last for daysweeks. Also, many labs have back-up generators for short power outages. If deliveries
of power or supplies are interrupted for longer periods, there is currently no
contingency in place.
 If you have critical collections in your department/college/unit which are dependent on
energy, temperature control, etc, have measures been taken to ensure their protection in
the event of a University closure (i.e., backup generator, sufficient fuel or gasses, etc)?
Generators supply back-up power to most critical collections.
o List the needs and describe the procedures to be followed.
Sufficient fuel would be needed to continue operation of generators for extended
periods.
 Other considerations from your unit not previously discussed?
University Action D: Campus Operations Restored
When the University restores campus operations following the event:
 What will need to be prepared for the return of the faculty/staff/students?
Basic facilities will need to be in place (heat, lighting, etc.)
o Who will do this?
Campus facilities management personnel.
 Prior to restoring hazardous operations in labs, assure all critical services are operational
(ventilation, alarms, etc).
o Who will handle this and communicate the status to the users?
Department Chairs, the Director of SMSP and the CEOE Dean’s Office will
coordinate communication via e-mail, phone and web site communication.
 Other considerations from your unit not previously discussed?
Emergency contacts include:
College – Dr. Dan Leathers, leathers@udel.edu, 1-302-831-8255
Delaware Geologic Survey – Mr. John Talley, waterman@udel.edu, 1-302-831-8258
Geography – Dr. Tracy DeLiberty, tracyd@udel.edu, 1-302-831-4084
Geology – Dr. John Wehmiller, jwehm@udel.edu, 1-302-831-2926
Lewes Campus – Mr. Joseph Scudlark, scudlark@udel.edu, 1-302-645-4029
SMSP – Dr. Charles Epifanio, epi@udel.edu, 1-302-645-4286