Communicable Disease

Policy Statement

Cape Fear Community College is committed to maintaining environmentally healthy and safe surroundings for students, employees, and the entire College community. The College adheres to local, State, and Federal requirements and operates in accordance with these requirements and
recommendations from public health officials during communicable disease emergencies. 

Procedure

As required by the State Board of Community Colleges, 1C SBCCC 200.94, Cape Fear Community College is committed to providing a safe and healthy learning environment. The purpose of this policy is to prevent and protect all students, faculty, staff and visitors from the spread of a communicable disease, while also prohibiting discrimination against persons with a reportable communicable disease.

A communicable disease is any condition that may be transmitted directly, or indirectly, to a
person from an infected person whether via airborne or by physical contact. As defined,
a communicable disease is an illness due to a specific infectious agent or its toxic products that
arises through transmission of that agent or its products from an infected person, animal or
reservoir, to a susceptible host, through an intermediate plant or animal host, vector, or the
inanimate environment (Dictionary of Epidemiology, 2001). By definition and determination by
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the NC Department of Health and Human
Services – Epidemiology (NCDHSS), any reportable communicable disease or condition must be
evaluated and assessed by a medical physician to protect the health and safety of the College.

Students who suspect, or have reason to believe, that they have a communicable disease are expected to seek expert medical advice about their health circumstances and are obligated, legally and ethically, to conduct themselves responsibly for the protection of themselves and others. Students who know that they are infected with a communicable disease are encouraged to contact the Dean of Student Affairs, so that the College can assist in the appropriate response to their health and/or educational needs and can make any reasonable accommodations, if necessary. As a general rule, individuals that have been diagnosed with a reportable communicable disease and have been cleared by a physician, and provide appropriate documentation, will be permitted to attend classes, access facilities, services, programs or activities provided by the College. Additionally, all inquiries will be handled on a case-by-case basis to ensure the appropriate measures have been executed.

Students of the College who may be infected with a reportable communicable disease, as defined
by the NCDHHS, shall not be excluded from enrollment or restricted in their access to College
facilities, services, programs, or activities, unless it has been determined by a healthcare
professional and/or the NCDHHS that exclusion or restriction is reasonably necessary because the
infected individual poses a significant risk of substantial harm to the health or safety of him/herself
or others at the College that cannot be eliminated or reduced through other reasonable
accommodations.

Specific health conditions and medical information will remain confidential, unless authorized by
the individual in writing to be released, except when appropriate health care providers and/or
College officials on a need-to-know basis and required by local, state and federal law to prevent
and/or protect the surrounding community.

Please refer to the Excused Absences Due to Public Health Emergencies policy in the student
handbook for further guidance regarding these procedures.

Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Cape Fear Community College is committed to the safety of our students, faculty and
staff. Accordingly, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) may be required for students
and visitors to campus in certain areas or within classroom or laboratory spaces as directed by
instructors and/or external requirements such as those set by the American National Standards
Institute (ANSI), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and/or the Centers
or Disease Control (CDC). Notification will be provided on our website and other media when
PPE is required in Cape Fear Community College buildings and public spaces due to a public
health emergency. PPE requirements for specific classes and instructional spaces will be listed on
class syllabi.

Revision History:
May, 2023