Panola College recognizes that students or employees with communicable diseases, including HIV infection, may wish to engage in as many of their normal pursuits as their condition and ability to perform their duties allow. These pursuits include attending classes or work. As long as these students or employees are able to meet acceptable performance standards, and medical evidence indicates that their conditions are not a threat to themselves or others, the administrators, faculty and staff should be sensitive to their condition and ensure that these individuals are treated consistently and equally with other students and employees.
At the same time, Panola College has an obligation to provide a safe environment for all students and employees. A student or employee with a communicable disease should report the condition to the Vice President of Student Services or to his/her immediate supervisor, as appropriate. The educational pamphlet on HIV infection developed by the Texas Department of Health is distributed to all employees and is available to students upon request.
Every precaution should be taken to ensure that a student’s or employee’s condition does not present a health or safety threat to others. The fact that a student or employee has a communicable disease does not relieve that individual of the requirement to comply with performance standards as long as he/she is enrolled in classes or remains employed with the College. All efforts will be made to protect the student’s or employee’s right to confidentiality.