APPENDIX C - AIDS POLICY

The following policy is intended to express Jackson State University’s commitment to enhance the awareness of the campus community in response to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic.  Jackson State University is committed to the principles of equal educational opportunity, equal employment opportunity, and affirmative action.  The University does not discriminate against a qualified individual with a disability with regard to job applications, hiring, advancement, discharge, compensation, training, or other terms, conditions, or privileges of employment.  Equal Employment Opportunity shall be without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, physical and mental disability (except where such disability renders the person incapable of doing the job).  The University recognizes that employees and students with life-threatening illnesses -- including but not limited to cancer, HIV/AIDS, and heart disease -- and other disabilities may wish and be physical able to work a regular of modified schedule.Because there is no known cure and some medications are showing promising results, the most pressing need for Jackson State University is to increase awareness and provide education to prevent the further spread of the HIV/AIDS virus.  It is also important that HIV/AIDS education programs be implemented to provide not only information that is available on HIV/AIDS, but information relating to knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors.  The following are specifics concerning HIV/AIDS as it relates to increasing awareness at Jackson State.

1. Comprehensive HIV/AIDS educational programs will target undergraduate, graduate and professional students.
    
2. HIV/AIDS educational programs will be offered to faculty and staff.
    
3. HIV/AIDS educational programs will play a major role in ensuring the University’s responsibility to protect its student body, faculty and staff from the transmission of HIV/AIDS through the provision of current and accurate information.
    

HIV/AIDS education programs provided by Jackson State University emphasize the following:

1. Students playing a major role in the planning and implementation of HIV/AIDS  education programs.
    
2. All employees and students receive highly-structured  HIV/AIDS education training on an ongoing basis.
    
3. Increased HIV/AIDS awareness through the availability of film, printed materials, ongoing training and community outreach programs and workshops.