Northeast recognizes that students, faculty, and staff with lifethreatening illnesses (LTI), including but not limited to cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and AIDS, may wish to continue to engage in as many of their normal pursuits as their condition allows, including work. As long as the students, faculty, or staff members are able to meet the same performance standards as those persons without LTI, and medical evidence indicates that their conditions are not a threat to others, deans, directors, and division chairs should be sensitive to their conditions and ensure that they are treated consistently with other students, faculty, and staff members. It is the policy of Northeast to provide a safe environment for all students, faculty, and staff.
LTI Policy Guidelines
- Northeast will not undertake programs of mandatory testing of either employees or students for the presence of indicators of LTI. For health status testing and/or counseling, students, faculty, and staff should be aware of appropriate community health agencies.
- The existence of conditions related to LTI in an applicant for Northeast admission or employment will not be considered in admission or employment decisions.
- Northeast students with LTI conditions, whether or not symptomatic, will be allowed regular classroom attendance in an unrestricted manner, as long as they are able to attend classes.
- Northeast faculty and staff who have LTI-related conditions, whether or not symptomatic, will be allowed to continue their work in an unrestricted manner, so long as they are able to perform the duties of their jobs, in compliance with the College’s employment policies and federal guidelines.
- The access of Northeast students or employees with LTI or LTI-related conditions to the College’s public areas will not be restricted, in compliance with College and federal guidelines.
- There will be an ongoing program to educate students, faculty, and staff in regard to LTI.
- Information regarding an individual diagnosed as having an LTI or LTI-related condition will be maintained-in the strictest confidence. Only people within the college with a legitimate need to know should be informed of the identity of students, faculty, or staff who have LTI or LTI-related conditions; this number should be kept to an absolute minimum. Individuals should be aware that medical information cannot be released to anyone outside of the college without the specific written consent of the individual involved, except where required by law.
- Reasonable accommodations will be made to persons with LTI consistent with established laws and rules including ADA and public health policies.
- Persons with LTI may be required to exhibit and establish that they are fully acquainted with all possibilities of complication and possible contagion and are following authorized medical advice in limiting exposure to others and in avoiding complications to themselves.
- This policy is subject to change from time to time based on advances and increased knowledge of various conditions involving LTI.
- Any breach of the above guidelines should be reported to the ADA Compliance Coordinator, in writing. Such reports should be made within seven (7) days of the incident.