Isothermal Community College shall not exclude individuals diagnosed with communicable diseases unless a determination is made that the individual presents a health risk to themselves or others. It is the policy of the college to consider the educational or employment status of those with a communicable disease on an individual basis.
The college will take all reasonable measures to ensure the safety of members of the college community during global and local infectious disease events. “Communicable disease” is defined as an illness caused by an infectious agent or its toxins that occurs through the direct or indirect transmission of the infectious agent or its products from an infected individual or via an animal, vector or the inanimate environment to a susceptible animal or human host. Examples of communicable disease include, but are not limited to, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), chicken pox, hepatitis, measles, tuberculosis, meningitis, mononucleosis and whooping cough, and for purposes of this Policy only, those communicable diseases which constitute a disability pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Proof of immunizations are not required for admission to Isothermal Community College. However, students admitted to programs including but not limited to the Associate Degree Nursing, Practical Nursing, Dental Assisting, and Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) must complete the Health Program Medical Form and provide proof they have met requirements.
While Isothermal Community College does not mandate that applicants of applicable programs receive vaccinations, clinical facilities/program sites reserve the right to mandate vaccinations. Students must comply with the policies and procedures of the clinical/program host sites. If a student chooses not to comply with these policies and expectations, they may not be able to progress through the program and will receive failing grades for the applicable components of said courses. In compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, exemptions for vaccines based on medical or religious reasons may be requested. Students may be required to submit adequate documentation to support these claims and the determination for granting exemptions comes from the clinical/program site.
It is not the responsibility of Isothermal Community College to secure clinical or program placement for students; however, placements must be approved by the respective program faculty to ensure appropriate learning experiences are provided to meet the program learning objectives.
The President, in collaboration with faculty and staff, shall develop procedures for the implementation of this policy. Any actions undertaken pursuant to this policy will be in accordance with applicable federal and state laws, college policies, and in the best interest of all parties.
Many clinical sites are requiring students participating in clinical experiences to receive all required vaccinations and requiring the College to process and approve requests for medical and religious exemptions. For this reason, Isothermal Community College will require proof of vaccinations for students participating in the programs listed below effective on 10/17/2021.
Proof of vaccination should be completed via submission of the attached Vaccination Status Form. At this time, all students may apply for a medical or religious exemption /accommodation request. Students who wish to request a Medical or Religious exemption/accommodation to this requirement may do so using the same form. Students must submit Vaccination Status Forms to the Program of study Director by 10/22/2021 in order to be in compliance with this requirement.
Medical exemption requests should be accompanied by documentation from an appropriate health care provider who is authorized to diagnose the medical condition that necessitates the exception. Requests for an exemption/accommodation will be reviewed in accordance with applicable law. Please note that some clinical sites may not accept religious accommodation requests.
The privacy and security of your information will be protected and will not be shared with any third-party, other than the clinical site in which a student is assigned. This information will be kept confidential in accordance with federal and state laws.
For information on where to obtain a vaccination, please contact the local health department.
Policy Number: 601-02-06BP
Adopted: May 22, 1991
Reviewed: January 2020
Amended: June 29, 2010; April 4, 2021; November 2, 2021; April 6, 2021;