PLU Student Handbook - 2007-2008

AIDS

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)


With regard to any concerns associated with the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), the fundamental policy of the university is to protect the welfare and rights of the whole university community, as well as the welfare and rights of the individual(s) involved.

To achieve this purpose, the university is committed to pursuing the following measures:

  1. To provide relevant and current educational information through published material, knowledgeable professional speakers, and individualized counseling, with emphasis on the importance of sexual abstinence/sexual fidelity, and avoidance of substance abuse in controlling disease;
  2. To engage proactively in dealing with any known or suspected cases by assisting in arrangements for provision of appropriate paraprofessional and/or professional services;
  3. To protect the confidentiality and trust of any member of the PLU community who is HIV positive or who has been diagnosed as having AIDS, so far as this entails no health risk to the PLU community as such, or to any members of it; and
  4. To assure that the university comply with relevant recommendations of the American College Health Association (ACHA).

Implementation of this policy is the responsibility of the Health Center, Counseling Center, and the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students.  Other university offices and administrators are to cooperate in whatever way may be appropriate under given circumstances.

The most current research indicates that the HIV virus is not transmitted through casual contact.  Exposure through intimate sexual contact, contaminated needles, or blood and blood by-products are the only known transmission factors.  The HIV virus has been isolated in small amounts in other body fluids, such as tears and perspiration, but no disease transmission from these fluids has been documented.  It is anticipated that any AIDS-related illness will be addressed on an individual basis and that strict confidentiality will be maintained as outlined in the ACHA policies on housing and institutional response to AIDS.  High priority will be given to prevention education and efforts to avert "AIDS Hysteria" or an irrational fear of AIDS.