Colleges Prepare For Flu Season

SOUTH PORTLAND (NEWS CENTER) -- They've got precautions in place at Southern Maine Community College. And at the University of Southern Maine. Same story at the University of Maine at Orono. They're getting ready for flu season.

At SMCC, the bathrooms are being cleaned twice a day instead of once a day. There are posters up reminding people to wash their hands--often. And the faculty there was trained on Friday in the use of a new computer program that will allow them to instruct online should a student be out of school because of the flu.

"You really have to be prepared in the event that either students or faculty are unable to come here or you have to close for a period of time," says Dean of Students Diane Vickrey.

At USM, they're taking precautions, too.

"Our University Health Centers are on alert and are prepared to provide good medical advice and medical attention," says V.P. Craig Hutchinson.

Hutchinson says incoming students will each receive a letter detailing some of the precautions the school is taking. USM will also update that information throughout the year on it's website.

Most important, say all school officials, is that students or faculty who are sick stay home.