10. Communicable Diseases. The University System of New Hampshire recognizes the need to establish procedures for implementing infection control policies and procedures that help limit the spread of communicable diseases within its institutions and will comply with all federal and state laws applicable to students, faculty and staff with communicable diseases. In cases of communicable diseases, it is the employee's responsibility to follow her/his medical care provider’s judgment concerning the advisability of working while ill (see USY V.C.8.2).
10.1 Definition. The Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control define diseases considered communicable. Such diseases include, but are not limited to hepatitis, meningitis, mumps, AIDS, whooping cough, measles, diphtheria, chicken pox, tuberculosis, avian influenza, and any other disease that could result in a pandemic.
10.2 Commitment & Responsibilities. USNH is committed to maintaining a safe work environment for faculty, staff members and students. Each institution shall have policies and procedures to identify a serious health situation due to communicable disease. Universal precautions must be observed.
10.2.1 Institutional policy will reflect universal precautions as defined by The Center for Disease Control. These precautions are infection control guidelines designed to protect workers from exposure to diseases. Examples of these precautions are washing hands, wearing gloves, and procedures for handling infectious wastes.
10.2.2 Each institution will establish policy concerning authority, conditions, and procedures for medical assessments of faculty and staff in relation to communicable diseases (see also HIPAA policy, USY V.C.15).
10.3 Confidentiality. USNH is committed to maintaining a safe work environment for faculty, staff members and students. All medical information concerning faculty, staff members and students infected with a communicable disease or its related conditions will be treated confidentially as required by law (see HIPAA policy, USY V.C.15).
10.4 Non-Discrimination. The University System of New Hampshire and its component institutions will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which requires that federal protection in housing and employment be granted to faculty, staff members, and students who are infected with a designated communicable disease. Retaliation against an infected faculty or staff member is prohibited.
10.5 Authority. The Board of Trustees has delegated to the Chancellor the responsibility to establish procedures to manage outbreaks of communicable disease within the University System. Such procedures should be based on CDC recommendations. The Chancellor shall delegate to the President of each institution the authority, in consultation with health professionals, to determine the need to:
- Close part or all of a USNH institution
- Determine essential services
- Declare curtailed operations
- Implement alternative work schedules
- Address security issues
- Identify a key spokesperson and information data base (See also USY V.D.10.6)
- Implement the lay-off policy (USY V.C.10)
10.5.1 The Chancellor's Office will provide consultation to the component institutions regarding financial, human resources, and/or any legal requirements related to campus procedures beyond those listed in policy.
10.6 Preparedness. Each component institution will develop a written communicable disease plan which defines internal authority and processes for decision-making and includes specific information regarding roles, responsibilities, and procedures related to ensuring continuity of instruction and protection of students, faculty, and staff and a communication plan for use at the onset of a communicable disease. (See also USY VI.F.3.3.3.1.2.6 and Curtailed Operations policy, USY V.F.5 and USY V.F.6.3.)
10.7 Education. The USNH encourages the development and implementation of educational programs concerning the transmission of communicable diseases. Such education should include topics such as routine infection control (such as hand hygiene, coughing and sneezing etiquette, etc.).