Communicable Diseases Policy

Ringling College of Art and Design’s decisions involving persons who have communicable diseases shall be based on current and well- informed medical judgments concerning the disease, the risks of transmitting the illness to others, the symptoms and special circumstances of each individual who has a communicable disease, and a careful weighing of the identified risks and the available alternative for responding to a student, employee or job applicant with a communicable disease.

Communicable diseases include, but are not limited to, measles, influenza, viral hepatitis-A (infectious hepatitis), viral hepatitis-B (serum hepatitis), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV infection), AIDS, AIDS-Related Complex (ARC), leprosy, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and tuberculosis. Ringling College of Art and Design may choose to broaden this definition within its best interest and in accordance with information received through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Ringling College of Art and Design will not discriminate against any student, employee or job applicant based on the individual having a communicable disease. Students, employees and job applicants shall not be denied access to the College solely on the grounds that they have a communicable disease. Ringling College of Art and Design reserves the right to exclude a person with a communicable disease from facilities, programs and functions if the organization finds that, based on a medical determination, such restriction is necessary for the welfare of the person who has the communicable disease and / or the welfare of others within the College.

Ringling College of Art and Design will comply with all applicable statutes and regulations that protect the privacy of persons who have a communicable disease. Every effort will be made to ensure procedurally sufficient safeguards to maintain the personal confidence about persons who have communicable diseases.

Any concerns about communicable diseases related to a student should be referred to the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students. Any concerns about communicable diseases related to an employee or job applicant should be referred to the Office of Human Resources.