APM 621 Page 5 Of 5 Administrative Procedures Manual

apm 6.21 page 5 of 5 administrative procedures manual title: contagious disease policy no: 6.21 vccs policy

APM 6.21
Page 5 of 5

Administrative Procedures Manual
Title:
Contagious Disease Policy
NO:
6.21
VCCS Policy Manual Reference:
6.0.8.1
Page:
Page
1 of 5
Offices of Primary Responsibility: Vice President of Student Affairs
and
Vice President of Academic Affairs
A. Scope. The policy applies to all members of the College community,
including students and employees, as well as all visitors to the
College’s campuses and facilities, including contractors, vendors, and
guests.
B. Policy Statement:
1. Thomas Nelson Community College is committed to maintaining, to the
extent reasonably possible, a safe environment for all students and
employees (the “College community”). The purpose of this policy is to
help prevent the spread of contagious diseases through measures that
focus on safety, prevention, and education. As needed, Thomas Nelson
Community College will make available to its College community
information about the transmission of diseases and precautions that
infected persons should take to prevent the spread of disease. Thomas
Nelson Community College will rely on information and guidance issued
by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Virginia
Department of Health (VDH), and local public health officials.
2. This policy is not intended to cover common illnesses, such as
colds and viruses, or upper respiratory infections. See APM 6.14 which
covers infectious diseases.
Dr. Kris Rarig / Dr. Lonnie Schaffer
Responsible Area Vice President
Date: August 9, 2021
Steven Ray Carpenter
Dr. Towuanna Porter Brannon
Vice President for Finance and Administration:
President:
Date: August 9, 2021
Date: August 9, 2021
C. Definitions:
1. Contagious disease: An infectious disease that is spread from
person to person through casual contact or respiratory droplets, which
may lead to an epidemic or pandemic and threaten the health or safety
of the campus community. These diseases include but are not limited
to: tuberculosis (TB), measles or German measles (rubella), certain
strains of hepatitis and meningitis, as well as SARS and certain
strains of influenza. Other potentially less serious infectious
diseases, such as chicken pox, seasonal flu, and pneumonia, will be
addressed on a case-by-case basis.
2. Epidemic: The occurrence in a community or region of cases of an
illness clearly in excess of normal expectancy.
3. Pandemic: A disease epidemic that has spread across multiple
continents or worldwide.
D. Procedures. Persons who know or have reason to believe they are
infected with a contagious disease that, according to public health
officials, creates a risk of death or significant injury or
impairment, must stay home and notify appropriate college personnel,
e.g., instructor(s) or immediate supervisor. They also should contact
their healthcare provider and advise the local health department. They
must follow the directions of the local health department to prevent
the spread of infection and to protect their own health. The College’s
Director (Dean of Public Safety, Allied Health and Human Services)
and/or Coordinator (Police Chief) of Emergency Preparedness, Health
and Safety will serve as the point(s) of contact between the local
health department and the College.
1. Students:
a. Students who know or have reason to believe they are infected with
a contagious disease that poses a direct threat to the health or
safety of others, i.e., creates a risk of death or significant injury
or impairment, must stay home and notify their instructors and the
Dean of Student Services.
b. Faculty or staff who suspect a student is exhibiting symptoms of a
contagious disease shall report what they have observed to Dean of
Student Services but may not take any other direct measures with
respect to the student.
c. The Dean of Student Services may send students home if they exhibit
or report experiencing symptoms of the contagious disease. Failure to
follow the Dean of Student Services instructions will be considered a
violation of the Student Code of Conduct and may result in
disciplinary action.
c. Before returning to the College, students who reported having, or
have been diagnosed as having, a contagious disease must be free of
all symptoms of the disease for at least seven (7) days since the date
of the first report or diagnosis, or as otherwise recommended by a
healthcare provider, the VDH, CDC, or other public health officials.
The College may require students to provide written documentation from
a healthcare provider or local health department that the student may
return to campus safely, unless state officials advise agencies to not
make such requests, in which case students may return after the
appropriate period as established by public health officials.
d. Students have a responsibility to stay in contact with faculty/
instructors regarding their absence and missed class assignments and
should contact the Academic Division Dean if they have any
difficulties or concerns. The College will provide reasonable
accommodations as requested and required by law. Students should check
course syllabi for the most current updates.
2. Employees:
a. Employees who know or have reason to believe they are infected with
a contagious disease that poses a direct threat to the health or
safety of others must notify their immediate supervisor and Human
Resources that they have symptoms associated with the disease.
Employees should stay home or leave the workplace if symptoms occur
while already present at work. Supervisors have the authority to send
employees home if they exhibit symptoms of a contagious disease while
at the workplace. Employees will be charged sick or annual leave if
sent home.
b. Before returning to the College, employees who have been diagnosed
as having a contagious disease as listed above must be free of all
symptoms of the disease for at least seven (7) days since the date of
the first report or diagnosis or as otherwise recommended by a
healthcare provider, the CDC, or other public health officials.
Employees must provide written documentation from a healthcare
provider that the employee may return to work safely, unless state
officials advise agencies to not make such requests, in which case
employees may return following the appropriate period as established
by public health officials.
c. Employees must comply with all policies and procedures related to
sick leave and supervisor notification regarding their ability to
return to work. The College will provide reasonable accommodations as
requested and required by law.
d. Failure to follow a supervisor’s directive is considered
insubordination and is subject to formal disciplinary action under the
Department of Human Resource Management’s (DHRM) Standards of Conduct
or faculty human resource policy.
e. When the State Health Commissioner and the Governor of the
Commonwealth of Virginia declare a Communicable Disease of Public
Health Threat as defined in Section 32.1-48.06 of the Code of
Virginia, employees, pursuant to DHRM Public Health Emergency Leave
Policy (Policy No. 4.52), are permitted or required to attend to the
medical needs of themselves and immediate family members and will be
afforded up to the maximum hours of paid leave per leave year as
established by DHRM for this purpose.
3. College:
a. Should any disease reach a pandemic stage, the College will rely on
information and guidance from local and state health officials to
provide appropriate information to the College community. College
officials may temporarily close the College or its campuses, if such
closure serves the best interest of the College community.
b. Thomas Nelson Community College will inform the College community
of plans to provide continuity of operations that will minimize
disruption to campus operations. Such continuity measures may include
requiring and/or permitting employees to transition to temporary
telework through a telework agreement; modifying or shifting
responsibilities and duties based on college needs and access to the
campus; or modifying or altering normal working hours and schedules.
Other measures may include implementing new safety and sanitary
measures at the workplace based on current and applicable
recommendations by the VDH, CDC or any other state or federal agency,
and in compliance with any Executive Orders issued that would require
such measures. Students and employees will be notified of specific
measures and may be asked to acknowledge receipt and understanding of
those measures as well as agreement to abide by them.
c. The College will consult with local and state health officials to
provide any specific instructions for individuals returning to the
College following infection of a contagious disease.
4. Visitors, Guests, Contractors, and Other Third Parties. The College
reserves the right to limit access to its facilities to any third
parties (visitors, guests, contractors, etc.) in the event of an
epidemic, pandemic or any outbreak of a contagious disease that alters
normal business operations. The College may institute additional
safety measures based on the recommendations of public health
officials that would be applicable to third parties visiting or
working on campus.
5. Confidentiality. No person, group, agency, insurer, employer, or
institution should be provided any medical information without the
prior specific written consent of the student, employee, or other
college community member unless required or allowable under state
and/or federal law. Furthermore, all medical information relating to
contagious diseases of students and employees will be kept
confidential, according to applicable state and federal law. Medical
information relating to contagious diseases of persons within the
College community will only be disclosed to responsible college
officials on a need-to-know basis.
6. Non-Discrimination/Harassment. Discrimination or harassment of
employees having or regarded as having a contagious disease is
prohibited.
E. Sanctions:
a. Students who fail to comply this policy and applicable state and
federal laws are subject to sanctions in accordance with the Student
Code of Conduct.
b. Employees who fail to comply with all applicable Thomas Nelson
Community College, VCCS, and DHRM policies and procedures, and
applicable state and federal laws are subject to formal disciplinary
action.
F. Authority. This policy is authorized under DHRM Policy 4.52, Public
Health Emergency Leave, and VCCS Policy 6.0.8.1, Contagious Diseases.