AIDS is a disease in which the immune system becomes inadequate, resulting in repeated infections and ultimately death. It is caused by a virus, HIV, which is transmitted when infected blood, semen, vaginal secretions, or rarely, breast milk comes in contact with a non-infected person’s blood. The ways in which this can happen include sexual intercourse, sharing of needles, transfusions, breast feeding and transmission in utero from mother to fetus. There is no evidence that the virus is ever transmitted by any form of casual contact, including household contact. There is no cure or vaccine available. The following policies are based on this information.

1. Universal precautions for handling blood and other potentially infectious body fluids, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, will be observed based on the assumption that any individual may be infected. These precautions will be observed by all health care staff, and any others who may have contact with such fluids. All appropriate personnel will be instructed about these guidelines.

2. Ongoing, campus-wide education programs will be provided for students, faculty and staff to enable and encourage them to avoid high risk behavior, and to reduce anxiety about the possibility of transmission through casual contact.

3. Students with known AIDS or HIV infection will be encouraged to notify the Student Health Service so they can receive counseling and treatment. Medical and counseling records relating to AIDS or HIV infection, like all medical and counseling records, are completely confidential. This does not preclude reports to the Ohio Department of Health as required by state law. Faculty and staff with known AIDS or HIV infection are encouraged to seek appropriate counseling and treatment.

4. The University will not attempt to identify persons with AIDS or HIV infection by mandatory blood testing, questionnaire or interview.

5. State and federal legislation protecting the rights of the handicapped will apply to all students, faculty and staff who have known AIDS or HIV infection. The University will treat these conditions like any other disability or catastrophic illness.

6. The University will not discriminate against individuals on the basis of AIDS or HIV-positive blood test results or on the basis of knowledge or suspicion of any of those conditions.

7. Known AIDS or HIV infection will not be grounds for students, faculty or staff to be denied access to common areas such as restaurants, pools or the Bowen-Thompson Student Union. Decisions about special student or employee situations will be made on a case by case basis.

8. A select committee consisting of representatives of all classes of University employees will be designated to consider individual cases and modification of the operating guidelines when appropriate.

These operating guidelines are subject to change given new medical information and/or state or federal legislative mandates.