Health & Safety

ACC Police Department

ACC has a commissioned, state-licensed police force. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to report criminal activities, emergencies, and incidents that occur on ACC property. Students also may contact the ACC Police Department for assistance with dead vehicle batteries, keys locked in their vehicle, or to request an escort to their vehicle. Lost and found is located in each ACC Police Department office.

When warranted, the ACC Police Department investigates incidents for possible action, which may include:

• Referral to the campus dean of student services for cases involving student discipline
• Further investigation by ACC Police
• Requesting assistance from another law
  enforcement agency

By law, ACC is not prohibited from disclosing to an alleged victim of violence the result of any disciplinary proceeding conducted by the college against the alleged perpetrator of the offense, with respect to that offense (as defined in Section 16, Title 18 of the USC).

Communicable Diseases

 “Communicable disease means an illness that occurs through the transmission of infectious agent toxic products from a reservoir to a susceptible host,” according to the Texas Health and Safety Code, Sec. 81.003, et Seg. Communicable diseases include, but are not limited to, measles, influenza, viral hepatitis-A (infectious hepatitis), viral hepatitis-B (serum hepatitis), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV infection), AIDS, AIDS-related complex (ARC), HIV infection (human immunodeficiency virus infection) and AIDS, meningitis, meningococcal infections, and tuberculosis. The term “HIV infection” shall include AIDS, AIDS-related complex (ARC), and a positive test for the antibody to human immunodeficiency virus. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS (a result of HIV infection).

Medical Judgment:
Any decision that ACC makes concerning a person who has a communicable disease shall be based on current and well-informed medical judgment, which includes the nature of the disease, risk of transmission to others, symptoms, and special circumstances of the person. The decision that a person poses a threat will be based solely on knowledge of the duration of the risk; nature and severity of the potential harm; likelihood the potential harm will occur; and imminence of the potential harm.

Clinical and Lab Supervision:
ACC requires college faculty and students participating in clinical and laboratory programs that require the handling of blood, blood products, or body fluids to observe standard precautions and safety guidelines prescribed by the U.S. Public Health Service. College faculty will supervise students in clinical and laboratory experiences and monitor compliance with the precautions and guidelines prescribed by the U.S. Health Service.

Available Information:
Educational pamphlets on the subject of HIV/AIDS prevention are available in the Student Services Office and are provided to students upon request. Likewise, information on prevention of other communicable diseases shall be made available upon request. This information is available through the Environmental Health, Safety, and Insurance Office. The college also requires students to read information on bacterial meningitis (its causes and how to avoid it) as part of the application process.

Confidentiality:
The medical history or records of any employee or student are considered confidential information and may not be released without the individual’s consent, except as otherwise provided by law.

Drug and Alcohol Free Campuses

ACC policy and state law prohibit the possession of illicit drugs and drug paraphernalia on college premises. The possession, sale, or use of alcoholic beverages on ACC premises also is prohibited by college policy. Students who violate ACC policy or state law will be subject to disciplinary action and/or criminal prosecution.