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HIV/AIDS Policy and Procedures
Policy Statement
It is the policy of The College of New Jersey to provide support to those with HIV/AIDS through nondiscriminatory hiring and admission practices and protection under the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990). The College also provides educational opportunities to learn about HIV/AIDS for the campus community.
Procedures
I. Scope of the Procedures
The procedures extend to all students, faculty, employees, service providers, and those associated with The College of New Jersey.
II. Source of the Procedures
A. The College of New Jersey bases these procedures on those currently recommended by the American College Health Association and on the latest medical information available from the Centers for Disease Control and required by the New Jersey State Department of Health.
B. The College of New Jersey has made every effort to conform these procedures to applicable federal and state laws.
C. These procedures will be updated as necessary to conform
to medical and legal recommendations of the above
named agencies.
III. Responsibility for the Procedures
The director of health services, in consultation with The College's physician(s), quality of campus life committee, vice president for student life, associate vice president for human resources, and with the approval of the vice president for administration and finance, is responsible for maintaining and updating the procedures to conform to New Jersey Department of Health requirements.
IV. Confidentiality
A. The number of people in the institution who are aware of the existence or identity of persons with HIV disease shall be kept to an absolute minimum, both to protect the confidentiality and privacy of those individuals and to avoid generating unnecessary fear and anxiety among members of The College community.
B. Health officials, other institutional officers, employees, and all who are associated with The College, must remember that all confidential medical information is protected by statutes and that any unauthorized disclosure may create personal legal liability, as well as potential liability for The College.
C. The duty of physicians and other health care providers to protect the confidentiality of information is superseded by the necessity to protect others only in very specific, threatening circumstances.
V. Medical Policy
A. Persons with HIV disease are encouraged to request support and information from health services and the Office for Students with Differing Abilities.
B. During periods of contagious disease outbreaks on campus health services will issue notification to the campus community consistent with current American College Health Association (ACHA) procedures.
C. New Jersey law requires that persons who meet the criteria for HIV disease be reported to the New Jersey Department of Health (New Jersey Administrative Code Citation 8:57-2.1-8.57-2.7). The reporting officer for The College of New Jersey is the director of health services.
VI. Housing
If it is appropriate to arrange special housing, the reassignment will be made as permitted by the housing contract.
VII. Education
A. The ultimate goal is responsible behavior by all members of The College community including resident and nonresident students, faculty, and other employees of The College.
B. In an effort to provide the general college community with accurate and updated information regarding HIV disease, the Campus Wellness Program, in conjunction with the Division of Student Life and the Office of Human Resources will provide education programs on a continuing basis.
VIII. Standard Precautions
(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, MMWR, Morbidity, and Mortality Weekly Report. August 21, 1987, 36 25)
A. Standard precautions (safety procedures for handling blood and body fluids) shall be utilized in all settings (educational and clinical) because the existence and identity of persons with HIV disease must be considered as unknown.
B. All laboratory experiences shall be conducted in compliance with Centers for Disease Control procedures. Recommended procedures for the decontamination of environmental surfaces and objects soiled by blood or body fluids shall be followed at all times.
C. No student shall be required to obtain or process the blood of another person. Nursing majors are subject to separate regulations as approved by the School of Nursing.
IX. Public Safety
A. A person with HIV disease who knowingly and wittingly places others at risk through behavior known to transmit HIV disease will be disciplined within the limits set by established college policy, state, and federal laws.
B. Sanctions include disciplinary action up to and including termination ofstudent or employee status.
X. Civil Rights
(Title V of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, section 504)
A. There shall be no routine requirement that current students or employees be asked to respond to questions about the existence of HIV disease. The College will NOT engage in mandatory HIV testing of students or employees. Information and referral services regarding testing sites is available through health services.
B. Consideration of the existence of HIV disease shall NOT BE PART OF THE INITIAL ADMISSION or EMPLOYMENT DECISION FOR APPLICANTS to The College of New Jersey. Applicants will NOT be required to respond to questions about the existence of HIV disease. In addition, The College of New Jersey will NOT engage in mandatory HIV testing of admission or employment applicants.
Rev. 1998
