Dr. Lin's Instructional Web - Barry University

POLICY ON AIDS
(Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
AIDS presents society with a spiritual, ethical and medical crisis. AIDS challenges
society in general, and the university in particular, to respond to the AIDS crisis in a way that
shows respect, compassion and understanding for those afflicted. The university is also
challenged to protect, insofar as is reasonably possible, its students and employees from health
risks associated with AIDS. Concern for the individual integrity of members of the Barry
community has been a long-standing tradition of the university. This tradition and the
university’s mission to provide a caring environment serve as a framework for our response to
the challenge presented by the AIDS crisis.
AIDS is a serious danger to the public health and welfare. When a person is ill with
AIDS, he or she is in the final stages of a disease process caused by a human retro virus,
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV attacks the immune system and over time
damages a person’s ability to fight other diseases, leaving the affected person vulnerable to a
host of other infectious agents. Presently, there is no know cure or effective vaccine.
HIV is transmitted only through the exchange of bodily fluids during sexual
contact, from transfusions of unscreened blood products that have been contaminated by the
virus, by the shared use of contaminated hypodermic needles, and between an infected mother
and her fetus.
HIV cannot be spread by casual contact with an infected person. The types of
contact experienced in a classroom or workplace do not place individuals at risk of contracting
the virus from infected persons. Considering current authoritative medical opinion, there is no
basis for routinely excluding or dismissing employees or students because of AIDS or HIV
infection. Since these conditions have been designated as handicaps, it is also against the law
to exclude or dismiss someone on the basis of AIDS and HIV infection.
The university has counseling and pastoral guidance available for those with AIDS
and HIV infection. If appropriate, counseling may include providing information on the nature
of AIDS and HIV infection and the importance of not engaging in behavior that could result in
transmission. Depending on the medical circumstances of each situation, the university may
wish to keep apprised of the medical condition of an infected individual after obtaining the
individual’s informed consent. The right to privacy of all individuals will be respected and
protected, and the confidentiality of any required records will be maintained. Because the
virus is not transmitted by casual contact, it is neither necessary or appropriate for the
protection of a roommate, classmate, or employee to share with them any information
regarding a student or employee with an AIDS-related condition.
Resident students shall not be denied the opportunity to live in the residence halls
solely on the basis of a diagnosis of AIDS or HIV infection. Nor will students be moved
within or removed from the residence halls solely on the basis of a diagnosis of HIV infection.
Changes in room, or removal from the residence halls, will be made on a case-by-case
examination in which it is determined that one of the following situations exists: 1. The student
has communicable opportunistic infections and requires care which cannot reasonably be
provided in the residence hall setting. 2. The student is demonstrating symptoms, needs or
behaviors which are inappropriate in a residence hall and cannot be reasonably accommodated.
3. The student presents a major risk to himself/herself or the other residents of the residence
hall.
Students, faculty and staff who are performing health care work as part of an allied
health program of study will be provided instruction and required to follow departmental or
school guidelines concerning AIDS and HIV infection.
Barry University will comply with all federal and state laws and regulations,
including those of the United States Public Health Service and the guidelines from the Center
for Disease Control, which relate to HIV infection and bear on the health and welfare of
persons within the university community. The university will continue to provide educational
programs designed to acquaint the campus community with current information about AIDS
and how to avoid and minimize the risks of HIV transmission.
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