Purpose
College policy defines communicable diseases and outlines the procedures for students, employees, or others who have communicable diseases. This policy applies to all members of the San Jacinto College community, including students, employees, contractors, vendors, and visitors. This handbook summarizes the key aspects of the policy. The complete policy and related procedures, can be found on the College website: Policy III.3008.B, Communicable Disease.
Definitions
“Communicable diseases” are diseases that can be transmitted easily among a population.
“Notifiable Conditions” are identified by the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) and are conditions that the College has deemed a threat to the College community, typically communicable diseases primarily spread through contact or respiratory pathways.
A list of state required notifiable conditions is on the Texas Department of State Health Services website at https://www.dshs.texas.gov/notifiable-conditions and are also maintained by the College’s Safety, Health, Environment, and Risk Management (SHERM) office at https://www.sanjac.edu/student-life/campus-safety/.
“Epidemic” means the occurrence in a community or region of cases of an infectious disease or illness that exceeds normal expectancy.
“Pandemic” is an epidemic of infectious disease that has spread through human populations across a large region.
General Policy
- The College will develop procedure(s) outlining the process for students, staff, and others to report to the appropriate College personnel when diagnosed with a communicable disease.
- The College may add or remove notifiable conditions as necessary in consultation with, or through the recommendation of, local, state, or federal health authorities.
- The College's decisions involving persons who have communicable diseases shall be based on current and well-informed medical recommendations concerning the disease, the risks of transmitting the illness to others, the symptoms and special circumstances of each individual who has a communicable disease, and a careful weighing of the identified risks and the available alternatives for responding to a student/employee with a communicable disease. The College may consult with the appropriate authorities to receive recommended guidance for the best protection of the College population.
- The College shall not discriminate in enrollment or employment against any individual solely on the grounds that the individual has a communicable disease. The College will comply with applicable law regarding reasonable accommodations and direct threats.
- Students in allied health programs are subject to additional requirements in the event of exposure to a communicable disease. These protocols are maintained at the program level.
- The College reserves the right to exclude or restrict a person with a communicable disease from College facilities, programs, and functions if the College makes a medically-based determination that the person constitutes a direct threat to the health or safety of others.
- The College shall comply with all pertinent statutes and regulations that protect the privacy of persons in the College community, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and any rules and regulations imposed by Texas law and the Texas Department of Health Services.