2.00 Communicable Disease Policy

This policy complies with State Board of Community Colleges Code 1C SBCCC 200.94 (5), which requires all colleges to have a communicable disease policy.

Central Piedmont Community College is committed to providing, to the extent reasonably possible, a healthy and safe educational and working environment for all students, employees, partners, and members of the College community on our campuses. The purpose of this policy is to help prevent the spread of communicable disease through measures that focus on safety, prevention, and education, while ensuring equal access to the College’s education programs and activities consistent with applicable law. The College expects individuals who have been exposed to, have symptoms of, or have contracted an illness or disease identified in this policy to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with protocols established by state or local public health authorities.

Communicable Disease

A “communicable disease” is defined as any illness or condition that results from an infectious agent or its toxic products, transmitted directly or indirectly to a person from an infected person or animal, through the agency of an intermediate host or vector, or through the inanimate environment. Communicable diseases are spread via airborne viruses or bacteria, or through contact with human blood or other bodily fluids. In addition to viruses and bacteria, communicable disease pathogens include fungi and parasites. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) often uses the terms infectious and contagious to describe a communicable disease.

Reportable Disease

Reportable diseases are those identified by the NC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, as reportable under 10A NCAC 41A .0101, as may be amended. A current and complete list is available through Central Piedmont Environmental Health and Safety upon request.

It is the College’s policy to review, evaluate, and respond to any suspected or confirmed instance of a communicable and/or reportable disease among members of the College community that may be transmitted to others in a normal academic or business setting.

Persons who know, or have reason to believe, they are infected with a reportable and/or communicable disease have an obligation to conduct themselves in accordance with that knowledge to protect themselves and others and are expected to seek prompt medical guidance and follow their health care provider’s recommendations.

In developing a response to a suspected or confirmed case, the College will consider current medical information, the risk of transmission to others, potential accommodations, the impact to College community safety and operations, and other relevant factors. Reporting channels and the mechanics of how the College develops an individualized response are set out in the accompanying Communicable Disease Procedures and Guidelines.

The College may implement reasonable health and safety measures when necessary to respond to a communicable disease outbreak, consistent with applicable law and public health guidance.

During a communicable disease outbreak, the College will comply with applicable law and consider guidance from the CDC and state and local health authorities; specific outbreak response measures are addressed in the accompanying Procedures and Guidelines.

The College does not discriminate against qualified employees, students, or applicants with disabilities, consistent with applicable federal and state law. Employees and students who wish to request disability-related accommodations should refer to the College’s policies and procedures for accommodation requests.