Communicable Disease Policy

Policy Title: Communicable Disease Policy
Policy Number: STU-C13-001
Effective Date: January 28, 2013
Responsible Office: Student Affairs - Health Services/Human Resources
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

I. Policy Statement

The health and safety of the UMass Dartmouth campus community is paramount. When a student, staff or faculty member contracts a specific communicable disease such as Chicken Pox or Mumps, s/he must stay away from campus. If a student, s/he may be voluntarily placed in "Separation Housing" by the University Housing and Residential Education Office until Health Services or the attending Physician authorizes him/her to rejoin the campus community. Additionally, any student or staff/faculty member who does not have the required immunizations for the communicable disease will need to leave campus until immunized. This policy does not extend to all communicable diseases, but only those listed in this policy and/or publicly shared by the Offices of Health Services and Human Resources.

II. Purpose

To protect the well-being of the campus community as a whole and the individual members of the community for whom contracting the disease may have serious medical consequences.

III. Definitions

Chicken Pox

Chicken Pox is highly communicable. Anyone who has no proof of immunity will need to be separated from the community from day 10-21 after last exposure.

Mumps

Students are required to have proof of two mumps immunizations or a positive mumps titer. All students who have no proof would be required to visit a health clinic immediately. Staff born prior to 1957 would be considered immune. Staff born after 1957 that do not have proof of immunity would need to be excluded from work on day 12-26 after exposure.

IV. Procedures

If the source of a communicable disease is a student or staff/faculty member, University Health Services will notify Student Affairs, Human Resources and Public Safety as appropriate. Additionally, Health Services will consult with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) as appropriate. Students and staff names will be withheld when possible.

If the communicable disease presents a threat to the campus community, Health Services, in conjunction with Public Affairs, Student Affairs, Human Resources, and Public Safety will notify the campus community and provide guidelines for preventing the disease from spreading and for responding to students, staff or faculty members who have contracted the disease. Notification will occur via all normal means of communication: campus email, UMD Announce/Notify, and the University website.

V. Responsibility

The Student Affairs Office has the responsibility of communicating and updating this policy to the campus community as appropriate.

VI. Attachments

None.