Is it appropriate to ask a sick student to leave the classroom?

Question

Say you're teaching a class and a student shows symptoms of the common cold (cough, runny nose, etc.).

They might be contagious. Is it appropriate to ask them to leave?

Answer 1

In the UK, the guidance for young people attending education settings, including universities, is that people who have the symptoms you've described ("cough, runny nose, etc") should not be excluded as a matter of course.

"Individuals with mild symptoms such as runny nose, and headache who are otherwise well can continue to attend their setting.

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If they have additional symptoms then they should be advised to stay off as a matter of course, and can be temporarily excluded in an educational sense (e.g. ordered not to attend) if they do so.

Individuals should not attend if they have a high temperature and are unwell.

Individuals who have a positive test result for COVID-19 should not attend the setting for 3 days after the day of the test.

[Individuals should not attend if they have] Flu (influenza) or influenza like illness.

Answer 2

Yes, it is appropriate unless you can have them mask and isolate somewhat from the others. Covid isn't gone yet and can have symptoms like those of a cold. But a cold can also be debilitating for some, especially those with any susceptibilities to other things.

Let them know, however, how you can bring them up to date for the missed lecture. Or have them contact you to obtain any needed information.

It is probably worth the effort to carry a few fresh N95 masks for such situations. It is probably also worth the effort for the university to have a published policy about this.

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Edited to add: It probably isn't appropriate to "order them out" of the classroom. If they have evidence that the symptoms are not contagious then there is no need. But it is appropriate to ask them to leave or mask or take other precautions if they do, indeed, have a cold and are coughing or sneezing, possibly spreading infections. People need to take some responsibility for others around them.

If other students feel "at risk" from being around someone who might give them a disease then they might want to leave themselves. That is a bit harder to mitigate. And possibly more disruptive.

Answer 3

MY lived experience as a teacher is that the boundary between appropriate and in appropriate is less about what you do and more about how you do it.

It is usually appropriate to express concerns for the welfare of a student and to suggest that going to see the nurse might be a really good ideal, and that they could catch up on anything that they missed rather than forcing themselves to struggle on.

It's usually inappropriate to order a student with a cold out in case they infect other students. Or you.

The way that you make the suggestion is everything.

Answer 4

Please be careful about singling out students based on perceived symptoms. Some students, for example, may have seasonal allergies that will manifest as cold-like symptoms (cough, runny nose, etc.) for several months in the spring and/or fall. Students may also have a persistent cough for other reasons, such as a previous illness, asthma, chronic bronchitis, or acid reflux. If you are concerned about a student's symptoms, make sure to raise the issue privately, and try to avoid an accusatory or annoyed tone until you have all the facts.

In addition, please be aware that it may not be practical for students who have small children to avoid attending class when they have a respiratory infection. For example, the first year that each of my children started going to day care they brought home a new cold every few weeks for six months. I'm sure these were contagious viruses, but it's not really practical to stay home for months on end to avoid spreading colds.