A4900.15 Chronic Communicable Diseases

Statement

Shawnee Community College places a high priority on the need to prevent the spread of chronic communicable diseases on campus.  The college is committed to educating staff, students and the community about communicable diseases.  Specifically, because there is currently no cure or vaccine for acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), education regarding methods by which this virus may be transmitted and how to prevent transmission is essential.  By adopting this policy, it is the intention of the college to promote the health and regular school attendance of our students so that they may attain their maximum potential for learning.

STUDENTS WITH CHRONIC COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Students with identified chronic communicable diseases may attend college whenever, through reasonable accommodation, the risk of transmission of the disease and/or the risk of further injury to the student is sufficiently remote in such setting so as to be outweighed by the detrimental effects resulting from the students exclusion from college.  Placement decisions will be made by using this standard in conjunction with current, available public health department guidelines concerning the particular disease in question.  Individual cases will not be prejudged; rather, decisions will be made based upon the facts of the particular case.  The determination of whether a student with a chronic communicable disease may attend college shall be made in accordance with procedures implemented by the college. 

The college shall respect the right to privacy of any student who has a chronic communicable disease.  The student’s medical condition shall be disclosed only to the extent necessary to minimize the health risks to the student and others.  The number of personnel aware of the student’s condition will be kept at the minimum needed to assure proper care of the student and to detect situations in which the potential for transmission of the disease may increase.  Persons deemed to have “a direct need to know” will be provided with the appropriate information; however, these persons shall not further disclose such information.

EMPLOYEES WITH CHRONIC COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Employees with identified chronic communicable diseases shall be permitted to retain their positions whenever, through reasonable accommodation of the employee’s physical condition and without undue hardship to the employer, there is no reasonable risk of transmission of the disease to others.  Such employees shall remain subject to the board’s employment policies, including, but not limited to the current collective bargaining agreement in effect, sick leave, medical leave, physical examinations, temporary and permanent disability and termination.

Employment decisions will be made by utilizing the general legal standard in conjunction with current, available public health department guidelines concerning the particular disease in question.  Individual cases will not be prejudged; rather, decisions will be made based upon the facts of the particular case.  The determination of an employee’s continued employment status will be made in accordance with procedures implemented by the College.

The college shall respect the right to privacy of any employee who has a chronic communicable disease.  The employee’s medical condition shall be disclosed only to the extent necessary to minimize the health risks to the employee and others.  The number of personnel aware of the employee’s condition will be kept at the minimum needed to detect situations in which the potential for transmission may increase. Persons deemed to have “a direct need to know” will be provided with the appropriate information; however, these persons shall not further disclose such information.