As students return to campus after summer break, they can inadvertently bring back with them unwelcome guests known as pathogens.
Kaylee Hilyer, graduate student in the College Student Affairs program, is the graduate assistant for Shark Talent. When she’s sick, she misses out on school and work.
“For me, academics is also work because I’m learning while I’m doing my job. So if I can’t function at work, I am missing out on double learning,” Hilyer said.
If students feel sick, Santanu De, assistant professor of human biology in the Department of Biological Sciences, encourages them to see a doctor as soon as possible.
“Get any recommended tests or blood work done at the earliest possibility. If feeling unwell, it is important to ensure if and how long to refrain from in-person classes and reporting promptly to NSU’s student disability services office, who can inform the course instructors about any accommodation appropriate for classes or assignments or tests that might be needed,” De said.
In the case of contagious infections, De said that students should consider wearing a mask to minimize the spread in the community.
De emphasized the importance of healthy lifestyle habits.
“Increasing the daily intake of fresh fruits, green leafy vegetables, vegetable oil, milk, eggs, whole grains, etc., and at least eight glasses of water and seven hours of sleep every day are clinically recommended by doctors,” De said.
These simple but effective measures can support the immune system and improve overall health. However, fostering a healthy environment is not just an individual effort but a collective one.
NSU has different services that promote students’ health and well-being, such as clinics and pharmacies on campus.
“They’re also helping our physical health through the food pantry, because if you’re hungry and you’re not doing good because you can’t eat, you’re not going to do good academically,”Hilyer said.
De stresses that while he appreciates what the administration and faculty of NSU have done to create a healthy campus, he feels that there is more work to be done.
“Everyone should come together to contribute in whichever way possible,” De said. “There is always room for improvement. If there is a way to provide feedback on a timely basis on how the students and faculty are feeling about the total health and safety of NSU, it should be utilized.”
For more information:
Contact NSU Health Clinics at 954-678-2273 The hours are: Monday – Friday 8 a.m – 5 p.m.
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