HIV Infection/AIDS

This information is provided pursuant to Texas Education Code 51.919.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is a disease which is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV). People infected with HIV may be otherwise healthy for a prolonged period of time; however, eventually, their immune systems may become weakened due to increasing numbers of reproducing HIV cells, and they will be at increased risk of severe life threatening complications due to common and/or opportunistic diseases.

A positive diagnosis of HIV infection is dependent upon valid, reliable blood testing procedures. A person whose blood has been tested with such procedures, and whose test results indicate HIV infection, is said to be HIV-infected/HIV-positive/HIV-seropositive. A person who has AIDS has developed one or more of the specific, severe/life-threatening symptoms resulting from infection by other diseases or from progressive degeneration of the immune system due to HIV infection. A person may be HIV-infected and not have AIDS.

According to the best available and reliable information from the Centers for Disease Control of the United States Public Health Service, individuals infected with HIV and individuals with AIDS do not present a health risk to other people in circumstances that do not include sharing or direct exposure to infected blood, other body fluids, and/or blood products. Exposure to HIV is defined in terms of broken skin, mucous membrane, or parenteral contact with infected blood/blood products, body fluids, tissues, cell cultures, and/ or culture media.

1. A TWU student or employee who has been diagnosed clinically as infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), or as having Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), will be treated by the University in a manner that is consistent with federal and state laws, the latest policies set forth by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and approved University policies, regulations, and protocols.
2. The University will not discriminate against and will make reasonable accommodations for anyone who is HIV-infected, consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (PL 101-336, 1990). The University will recognize that those who are diagnosed with AIDS are considered qualified handicapped individuals by virtue of the 1988 Supreme Court ruling that persons with AIDS qualify as handicapped in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, No otherwise qualified handicapped individual shall, solely by reason of handicap, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity [conducted by Texas Woman’s University]. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Acts (ADA) of 1990: The ADA upholds and extends the standards for compliance set forth in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to employment practices, communications, and all policies, procedures, and practices that impact the treatment of students with disabilities. Therefore, initial student admission to and continued attendance at TWU and initial or continued employment by TWU will not be denied to an HIV-infected individual because of that infection, nor denied to a person with AIDS based solely upon that handicap.
3. Refusal to work with or provide services to an HIV/AIDS infected individual does not excuse a student or employee from fulfilling assigned responsibilities.
4. The University, and all that it has authority over, will make available to its students and employees accurate information and a coordinated, comprehensive educational program about the transmissibility of HIV/AIDS and the precautions that should be taken by HIV-infected persons and other individuals to prevent the spread of the disease.
5. The guidelines most recently recommended by the Centers for Disease Control concerning the handling and disposing of blood, blood products, body fluids, and contaminated materials will be followed in all applicable learning or working situations. Each component of the University may develop and maintain appropriate additional guidelines consistent with approved TWU policies, regulations, and protocols concerning HIV/AIDS. University personnel who supervise students and/or employees in applicable learning or working situations will be responsible for the education of their supervisors concerning CDC and University policies, regulations, protocols, and guidelines.
6. The University will comply with federal and state laws, regulations, and policies that protect the confidentiality of medical and educational records. Information regarding HIV/AIDS which may be contained in student and employee records may not be released without the prior, written permission of the individual affected unless otherwise specifically provided by law. No individual affiliated with TWU may disclose the identity of an HIV-infected person or person with AIDS who also is affiliated with TWU without the prior written consent of that person.