Student Policy and Procedures

 

 

CHRONIC COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Policy

Parkland College places a high priority on the need to prevent the spread of chronic communicable diseases on its campus and is committed to educating its staff, students, and the community about communicable diseases. Specifically, because there currently is 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.

In general, students, faculty, and staff with a chronic communicable disease are expected to continue to study or work in an unrestricted setting. This policy is based on current epidemiological data and may be modified as required by new scientific and medical information.

When a Parkland College class is offered in conjunction or in agreement with an outside agency, Parkland students and employees must abide by policies and procedures of the outside agency relating to chronic communicable diseases

Students with chronic communicable diseases

A student who has a chronic communicable disease or who is a carrier 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 student’s exclusion from college. Placement decisions will be made by using this standard in conjunction with current public health department guidelines concerning the disease in question. The determination of whether a student with a chronic communicable disease may attend college shall be made on an individual basis, according to procedures implemented by the college in consultation with appropriate college personnel and a consulting physician, the student’s primary physician, public health personnel, the college’s legal counsel, and the student.

A student who has a chronic communicable disease or who is a carrier of a chronic communicable disease may be denied admission to, or may be dismissed from, a particular program or course of study whenever such chronic communicable disease has a direct effect on the student’s ability to perform so as to render the student not qualified for the program or course of study.

The college shall respect the right to privacy of any student who has a chronic communicable disease or is a carrier. The student’s medical condition shall be disclosed only to the extent necessary to minimize the health risks to the student and others. Persons deemed to have “a direct need to know” will be provided with the appropriate information; however, these persons shall not further disclose the information. The multidisciplinary team responsible for making initial evaluations and placement decisions will be responsible for determining who has “a direct need to know. ”

The vice president for student services may establish additional rules and regulations designed to implement this policy.

Procedure

The Parkland College wellness coordinator will be responsible for complying with the current standards of medical practice and public health guidelines from recognized authorities (e. g. , Center for Disease Control, World Health Organi-zation, etc. ), for keeping abreast of pending legislation relevant to these diseases, and for keeping others informed, especially those in charge of laboratories.

Students with chronic communicable diseases placement procedures

  1. Temporary exclusion
    Upon being informed that a student is suspected of having a communicable disease, a staff member shall inform the vice president for student services or designee who will consult with a multidisciplinary team consisting of appropriate college personnel and a consulting physician, the student’s primary physician, public health personnel, the college’s legal counsel, and the student. Pending determination of placement, a student who has a chronic communicable disease or is a carrier of a chronic communicable disease, or a student who is reasonably suspected of having a chronic communicable disease or being a carrier, may be temporarily excluded from the college.
  2. Initial evaluation
    Each student’s case shall be evaluated within one week of the report by the multidisciplinary team convened by the vice president for student services or designee. The student’s failure to cooperate with the evaluation procedure shall not prevent the multidisciplinary team from performing its job and providing recommendations regarding the case.
  3. Placement decision
    Upon completion of a case study evaluation, one or more conferences shall be convened for the purpose of determining the student’s placement. Recommendations concerning the student’s placement shall be made at these multidisciplinary conferences by consensus of the participating personnel and shall be determined in accordance with the standards set forth in college policy and based upon the following factors:
    1. the risk of transmission of the disease to others;
    2. the health risk to the particular student;
    3. reasonable accommodations which can be made without undue hardship to reduce the health risk to the student and others.
    The team's placement decision shall be communicated in writing to the student and the vice president for student services or designee.
  4. Appeal
    A decision on a student's placement may be appealed in accordance with the college's grievance procedures.
  5. Subsequent evaluations
    The student shall be reevaluated on a regular basis by the multidisciplinary team to determine whether the student’s placement continues to be appropriate. The frequency for the reevaluations shall be determined by the team, but in no event shall the student be reevaluated less frequently than twice per academic year. In the event of a change in the student’s medical condition or a change in the college environment, the multidisciplinary team shall determine if a change in placement is appropriate. If an emergency occurs, the vice president for student services or designee shall have the right to take appropriate action. Any such action will be reviewed by the multi-disciplinary team as soon as possible.

 

Parkland College • 2400 West Bradley Ave. • Champaign, IL 61821 • 217.351.2200 • 800.346.8089

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