Infectious Disease Policy

TBR Policy Reference: 7.03.00.00

Approved by: Dr. George Pimentel, President

Original Date Effective: 2020-08-31

purpose

Jackson State Community College promotes a healthy, safe, and aesthetically pleasing work and educational environment. Jackson State Community College is seeking to implement policies, procedures, and/or plans to prevent the spread or outbreak of infectious and/or communicable diseases and will be interpreted and administered in order to protect the health, safety and well-being of Jackson State Community College.

DEFINITIONS

Bloodborne pathogens – Infectious microorganisms in human blood that can cause disease in humans, which include, but are not limited to, Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and other infectious blood borne diseases.

Communicable Disease – An illness due to an infectious agent or its toxic products which is transmitted directly or indirectly to a well person from an infected person or animal, or through the agency of an intermediate animal host, vector, or inanimate environment.

Infectious Disease – A disease, e.g. influenza, malaria, meningitis, rabies, or tetanus, caused by the entrance into the body of pathogenic agents or microorganisms, e.g. bacteria, viruses, protozoans, or fungi, which arises through transmission of that disease agent from individual to others, either directly or indirectly. Examples of infectious disease include but are not limited to the diseases listed below and can include other diseases as may be identified by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Tennessee Department of Health, County Health Departments, or other public health authorities:

Bloodborne Pathogens
Diarrheal Diseases
Hepatitis
Viruses
Measles
Pediculosis
Scabies
Varicella
Conjunctivitis
Diphtheria
Herpes Simplex
Meningococcal infections
Pertussis
Streptococcal infections Zoster
Cytomegalovirus infections
Enteroviral infections
Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Mumps
Rubella
Tuberculosis

Quarantine – A mandatory or voluntary separation and/or restriction of the movement of people have been, or are reasonable suspected to have been, exposed to an infectious/ communicable disease to see if they become sick.

Isolation – A mandatory or voluntary separation of sick people diagnosed with an infectious/communicable disease from people who are sick.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards from contact with infectious/communicable disease, chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other workplace hazards. Personal protective equipment may include items such as gloves, safety glasses and shoes, earplugs or muffs, hard hats, respirators, or coveralls, vest, and full body suits.

POLICY

Jackson State Community College will comply with all Federal and State Laws, Executive Orders, Rules, Regulations, and Guidance from Public Health Agencies/ Authorities applicable to outbreaks of infectious and/or communicable diseases. This policy authorizes TBR institutes to enact policies, procedures, and/or plans to facilitate compliance with such laws, orders, and guidance, for the purpose of making best efforts to prevent the spread of infectious/communicable diseases within the campus community.
Jackson State Community College employees, students, and other persons entering the premises of any Jackson State Community College owned, leased, or controlled property shall be required to comply with all policies, procedures, and/or plans established relating to the control of an outbreak of infectious/communicable diseases. Implementation and enforcement of policies, procedures, and/or plans promulgated in response to an outbreak of an infectious or communicable disease shall be enforced with the primary goal of achieving compliance with the applicable policy or plan. Removal from campus or discipline of individuals who are not compliant with the institution’s policy or plan is authorized as necessary after efforts at obtaining compliance have been exhausted or as health, safety, and security require.

Procedure

Infectious/Communicable Disease Plans
1. During certain communicable disease outbreaks such as a large epidemic or pandemic, Jackson State Community College may be required, or may find it appropriate, to develop and implement a plan or procedure to comply with laws, orders or directives issued by government or public health officials to address and/or curtail outbreaks. In developing such plans/procedures, Jackson State Community College shall do so in a manner that is consistent with applicable lawful orders issued by government authorities and guidance from public health authorities including, but not limited to, the CDC, federal, state, and local public health agencies. When creating such plan/procedure, Jackson State Community College shall also take care to comply with all applicable state and federal laws, including but not limited to, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and/or all laws governing/prohibiting unlawful discrimination. Jackson State Community College shall consult with TBR Office of General Counsel (OGC) to ensure that any policy or plan promulgated in response to an outbreak of an infectious or communicable disease is complaint with such laws.
2. During an outbreak of an infectious/communicable disease, and consistent with guidance from appropriate health authorities, Jackson State Community College may take steps to identify and address potential actions and protocols that are appropriate given, the nature and circumstances associated with a particular outbreak/disease, including but not limited to the following:
  1. Implementation of health screening protocols as a precondition to entry onto/into any campus or facility owned or controlled by a Jackson State Community College, consistent with guidance or directives from local, state, or federal authorities.
  2. Implementation of health safety protocols as a requirement of permitted presence for persons entering any campus or facility owned or controlled by a Jackson State Community College, consistent with guidance or directives from local, state, or federal authorities. (E.g., wearing mask or PPE to prevent shedding/spread of a virus, social distancing, using hand sanitizer, wash hands frequently, online screening and appointment form.)
  3. Establishment of requirements requiring individuals who travel to and from countries with active communicable disease outbreaks to report such travel and quarantine and/or isolate for established periods of time prior to entry/return to any campus/facility owned or controlled by Jackson State Community College.
  4. Suspend college or business related and international travel.
  5. Require individuals seeking to return to any campus or facility after any period of travel, to self-quarantine, or isolate and to provide evidence of testing, screening(s) or other information from a treating medical professional, that the individual is free from, or not likely to transmit, a particular infectious/communicable disease consistent with public health/medical guidance, as permitted by law, prior to returning to any campus/facility.
  6. Require individuals seeking to return to any campus or facility after any period of quarantine or isolation related to a diagnosis or exposure to an infectious/communicable disease to provide evidence of testing, screening(s) or other information from a treating medical professional, that the individual is free from or not medically likely to transmit a particular infectious/ communicable disease at issue consistent with public health/medical guidance and as permitted by law, prior to returning to any campus/ facility.
  7. Inquire about any symptoms recently experienced, consistent with an infectious/ communicable disease, by any individual seeking to enter campus.
  8. Require an individual to submit to an appropriate medical evaluation from a physician of Jackson State Community College’s choosing at the College’s expense prior to entering any campus or facility.
  9. Consult with an individual’s physician (with appropriate consent) regarding the health of any individual relative to an infectious/communicable disease, prior to entering any campus or facility.
  10. Consult with public health authorities and/or other qualified persons or resources, to assist in determining any appropriate course of action.
  11. Exclude individuals from any campus/facility who are infected with, or have been exposed to, an infectious/communicable disease from any campus, facility, or activity. Employees will be subject to the College’s policies, procedures and other requirements for requesting/receiving benefits and leaves of absence.
  12. Offer accommodations to employees and students who are displaced from their regularly scheduled College events and/or activities due to an infectious/communicable disease.
  13. Activate Jackson State Community College Pandemic Response Team to consider measures such as social distancing, College closure, cleaning procedures, travel monitoring, class suspension, use of PPE, etc.
  14. Implement other temporary action(s) that is/are reasonably required to prevent unacceptable risk of introduction or exposure of an infectious or communicable disease to a Jackson State Community College campus or community, until the College is able to consult with a physician or local, state or federal authorities.
  15. Establish alternate work plans and/or education delivery plans.
  16. Implement all health/safety requirements imposed by federal, state, and/or local authorities as applicable to members of the college community.
3. The primary focus of an institution’s infectious/communicable disease plan shall be maintain and protect the health and safety of the campus community.
4. An institution’s infectious/communicable disease plan should permit, to the extent reasonably possible, students who are impacted by an infectious/communicable disease to continue to participate in an educational program. An institution’s infectious/communicable disease plan should permit, to the extent reasonably possible, employees who are impacted by an infectious/communicable disease to continue to work, as long as an employee is able to perform the essential functions of the job satisfactorily. The College will consider making reasonable accommodations for impacted students and employees consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws as well as guidance from public health authorities. Discrimination against and/or harassment of employees and/or students impacted by an infectious/communicable disease is prohibited and may result in disciplinary action.
5. Health care workers, personal service workers, and food guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and protocols at Affiliate sites for the prevention of transmission of infectious/communicable diseases. The College will make educational materials on infectious, communicable diseases available for students and employees.

Responsibilities

General
1. Through the President and/or designee, the Institutional Administration will develop procedures and regulations concerning the outbreak of infectious, communicable, and/or life-threatening diseases that are appropriate to the particular circumstances and guidance, and consistent with this policy. The President and/or designee should include individuals with appropriate authority over essential functions of the College as well as persons with relevant medical/health education/experience in the process to develop procedures and/or regulations responsive to the outbreak of an infectious/communicable disease. Such procedures and/or regulations will be published to the institutional community as appropriate. In meeting its compliance obligations Jackson State Community College will prioritize, in descending order:
  1. Health and Safety of the Campus and Surrounding Community,
  2. Continuity of Education Mission for Students,
  3. Minimized Disruption of Employment for Faculty & Staff
Environmental Health & Safety
1. Plans will require the appropriate Vice President(s) or designees to coordinate environmental health & safety, police/security, custodial, and maintenance services personnel to ensure that procedures, regulations, and appropriate precautions are implemented to minimize the risk of introduction, exposure, and/or spread of infectious/communicable and/or life-threating diseases. This will include special attention to custodial, public safety and other employees and students with increased likelihood of exposure to the infectious/communicable diseases.
Internal Communication of Procedures
1. Plans will include the requirement that the appropriate Vice President(s), Chief Human Resources Officer(s) or designees will ensure education and outreach programs are developed to provide employees and students with appropriate factual material regarding relevant disease protocols and precautions.
2. Plans should ensure that clear guidance is provided about the referral of questions about infectious/communicable diseases or life-threatening illnesses to the appropriate Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, designee, or the Institution’s Employee Assistance Program.
Response to Notifications