May 4, 2009

Contacts:
Ken Ma
NSU Office of Public Affairs
954-830-4177 Cell
kennma@nova.edu

Julie Spechler
Director, Public Affairs
954-262-5348
julies@nova.edu

NSU Temporarily Closes Mailman Segal Institute for Early Childhood Studies

FT. LAUDERDALE-DAVIE Fla—An employee with flu-like symptoms who recently returned from Mexico has led to the decision to close the Mailman Segal Institute for Early Childhood Studies (MSI) at Nova Southeastern University (NSU). MSI is expected to reopen in the next few days. The employee has already given a screening test which was negative and further monitoring is underway. Consultation has taken place with the Broward County Health Department and advisories from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have been reviewed. Public health and medical experts believe it is unlikely that the employee is infected with the H1N1 virus.

"The safety of our children, families and staff is our primary concern," said Roni Leiderman, Dean of MSI. "As a precautionary step, we are closing the school so we can thoroughly clean the school environment. Of course, we are going act with an abundance of caution when addressing everyone's well-being."

The closing of MSI does not affect any other Nova Southeastern University classes or functions. The Mailman Segal Institute operations are confined to a separate building on campus.

"We continue to monitor the situation at MSI, while providing advice and counsel to the community from a team of NSU public health and medical experts," said Dr. Anthony Silvagni, Dean of NSU's College of Osteopathic Medicine.

The Mailman Segal Institute for Early Childhood Studies is a multidisciplinary demonstration and training center for education and research in the fields of early childhood and autism. The Institute houses the Baudhuin Preschool for children with autism, the Parenting Place, an infant toddler program and a preschool.