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Appendix C POLICY ON COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Aids Related Complex (ARC)
Policy Statement
Wittenberg University has a commitment to dealing fairly with all faculty, students, administrative staff
and hourly staff members. This policy represents a commitment to strive to protect all people of the
Wittenberg community from the risk of exposure to the AIDS virus on the campus. In addition, the
policy intends to preserve and protect the rights of faculty, staff and students who either have been
exposed to the AIDS virus or have AIDS against discriminatory or unfair treatment in all personnel or
academic decisions.
Wittenberg University, as a church-related school in partnership with its supporting synods of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, respects and defends the Church's position that discrimination
in any form is destructive to God's good gift of personhood. In the Christian perspective, the
communicable diseases AIDS, ARC and HIV will not be used as a means of exploitation to dehumanize
the faculty, students and staff involved. As an expression of the same concern for the well-being of the
individual, Wittenberg University will also strive to protect all the members of the campus community
from the risk of unsafe exposure to these communicable diseases.
Guidelines
1. Communicable disease-related diagnostic information reported to the university will be treated
as confidential, privileged information. Faculty, student and staff confidentiality will be
protected to the best of our ability.
2. Faculty and staff who have AIDS, positive HIV or ARC antibody test results should follow
recommendations prescribed by the Public Health Services to obtain proper protection for
themselves and reduce risk to others. The associate vice president for human resources is
available for consultation regarding such matters and can make available Public Health Service
Guidelines.
3. Students who have AIDS, positive HIV or ARC antibody test results are encouraged to inform a
member of the professional staff at the Student Health Center and the associate vice president for
student development and to follow recommendations prescribed by the Public Health Services to
obtain proper protection for themselves and reduce risk to others.
4. The major focus for protecting all members of the Wittenberg community from the AIDS
infection will be to educate all personnel and students on the causes of AIDS, methods for
avoiding contracting AIDS, symptoms related to AIDS and what to do if AIDS is contracted.
5. Reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis by the associate vice president
for human resources or student development in consultation with health officials.
6. The HIV antibody test will not be used for employment-related decisions.
7. The HIV antibody test will not be used for student-related decisions.
8. A complaint of discrimination or harassment brought by an AIDS-infected individual shall be
handled under university guidelines for complaints of discrimination against the disabled.
9. Where appropriate and applicable, the Student Health Center will follow established guidelines
and state law to prevent the transmission of HIV in health-care settings.
10. In most cases, the university will not advocate isolation of AIDS-infected persons from casual
interaction with others in the work/academic environment. The general community will not be
advised of the presence of persons who have AIDS, ARC or positive HIV antibody test results.
Persons infected with the AIDS virus will be encouraged to inform all individuals who need to
know of the infection. The university will take all reasonable steps to follow up with the infected
person to ensure that such interested individuals have been informed.
11. All contract services will be expected to adhere to the policy and guidelines established on
communicable diseases by Wittenberg University and to follow all guidelines and
recommendations promulgated by the Center for Disease Control and the Ohio Department of
Health.
12. Wittenberg University will review and, where appropriate, apply federal, state, and local laws
and guidelines.