Campus Health
Immunization Policy
Northwest Iowa Community College encourages students* to discuss the immunizations that are recommended by the American College Health Association with their healthcare provider and then decide whether or not they may want to be vaccinated.
Immunizations recommended by the American College Health Association: Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR), Tetanus (Td), Polio, Meningococcal Disease (Meningitis), Chicken Pox (Varicella), Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV) (females only), Influenza, and Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine.
*Healthcare students will be notified of health assessment and immunization requirements prior to the start of the program.
Meningococcal Disease
The administration at Northwest Iowa Community College is providing all new housing students with vaccination information on meningococcal disease. Please refer to the National Meningitis Association website — www.nmaus.org. We encourage you to discuss the vaccine with a healthcare provider and then decide whether or not you may want to be vaccinated.
Health Risks
There are many health risks associated with substance abuse (use of illicit drugs and excessive drugs and excessive use of alcohol). Abusers can lose resistance to disease, develop physical and psychological dependence, become depressed, develop heart problems, contract infections, become malnourished, become physically exhausted and even die.
With substance abuse, reality is often distorted, reactions may be slower and the risk of accidents can increase. Substance abuse can cause coma, respiratory arrest and convulsions. Injected drugs increase the risk of infectious diseases such as hepatitis and AIDS.
Health Insurance
Northwest Iowa Community College does not have a compulsory insurance plan, but the College recommends that you enroll in a voluntary health program to assure protection in the event of illness or injury.
If you are enrolled as a member of a family health or hospital related plan, you should be aware of the age that family coverage is terminated. The purchase of insurance shall be voluntary with the entire cost being paid by you.
COVID-19
Please refer to the NCC COVID-19 update on the NCC website for the most up-to-date information.
Medical Emergencies
First aid kits are located in each building. If medical attention is needed, NCC’s Medical Emergency Team can be summoned through any employee or the Campus Information Desk in Building A.
NCC assumes no responsibility for medical treatment of a student.
Students Infected With Dangerous and Life Threatening Diseases Policy and Procedure
The following policy is hereby adopted by Northwest Iowa Community College concerning students at NCC infected with dangerous and life threatening diseases:
1. It is recommended by NCC that most persons infected with dangerous and life threatening diseases should be allowed to continue with the education at NCC in an unrestricted manner with the approval of their physician. Dangerous and life threatening diseases are those where potential for transmission of the disease causing agent is present. It is the policy of NCC that benefits of unrestricted education for any student infected with dangerous and life threatening diseases under normal circumstances outweigh the remote possibility that any such student will transmit such an infection within the NCC environment.
2. It is recognized that some persons infected with dangerous and life threatening diseases may pose a greater risk than others. If it is determined that a student of NCC can no longer perform his or her essential functions at NCC without endangering the health and safety of other students or if it is determined that there is reasonable probability of substantial harm to the student or to others by the continued education of the student at NCC, such student may be suspended under the guidelines set out in the policy and procedure.
3. For purposes of determining whether a student presents an unacceptable risk, NCC shall, on an annual basis, designate an individual physician/clinic who has the qualifications to evaluate whether or not an infected student poses a risk to others. Evaluation of a student infected with a dangerous and life threatening disease should be performed regularly by the designated physician/clinic. If it is subsequently determined by such a designated physician/clinic that the infected presents an unacceptable risk and cannot perform his or her essential functions in question without endangering the health and safety of the other students and that there is a reasonable probability of substantial harm, then the student at NCC should be suspended until such time as a subsequent review should be established at the time the initial decision is made to exclude the student from further education at NCC.
4. It is the policy of NCC that the number of students aware of any student’s infected condition should be kept to a minimum and that any persons involved in the case and education of any such student should respect that student’s right to privacy. All records maintained on any infected student shall be confidential.
5. It is not the policy of NCC to require random sampling and screening of students for infection of dangerous and life threatening diseases.
Eye Safety Information
Iowa Law 280.10 requires that students participating in vocational education shops or laboratories shall wear industrial quality eye protection devices at all times while participating in any phase or activity of such course which may subject the student or teacher to risk or hazard from materials or processes used in the courses.
Industrial quality eye protection devices, as referred to in the law, mean devices meeting the standards of the American Standards Association Safety Code Z876.1-1968. Practice for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection promulgated by the American National Standards Institute, Inc.
In order to comply with safety glass requirements, students may choose from the following:
1. Purchase non-prescriptive safety glasses with permanent side shields. Safety glasses are available from the Northwest Iowa Community College Store.
2. Purchase goggles, which may be worn over regular prescription eye glasses from the Northwest Iowa Community College Store.
3. Purchase prescription, industrial quality safety glasses with permanent side shields from the eye doctor.
