Your Privacy Matters
The privacy of our students and employees is very important to us. Health information is legally protected by FERPA privacy rules. We want all our community members to know that their health and self-reporting information is kept confidential. Positive COVID-19 test results will only be shared with authorized health care providers, employees trained to do contact tracing, personnel who will provide support and assistance to students in isolation, and our local Orange County Health Care Agency, which tracks all local cases of COVID-19 infection. To learn more about how we protect your health information, visit cui.edu/COVID-19.
When a student or employee reports a confirmed or suspected case of infectious illness (seasonal flu, meningitis, COVID-19, etc.), the Wellness Center (for students) and Human Resources (for employees) alert close contacts who have been exposed so that they can begin quarantine and possibly pursue testing. The name of the person who is ill is not disclosed. It is up to an individual if they want to disclose their health status with close friends, professors, and other contacts, but this should only be done after notifying the Wellness Center or filling out the Self-Reporting form.
For students, the Wellness Center will contact professors to let them know that a student will not be attending class. For close contacts who must quarantine, professors will be notified that the student needs to take classes fully online until the period of quarantine is completed. Students should also contact their professors directly to let them know if they cannot attend class in person due to an illness or possible exposure. Professors will work with students on attending remotely and, if needed, on accommodations for completing course requirements.
For employees, after they fill out the Self-Reporting form, they may notify their supervisor of illness or the need to quarantine, or they may ask Human Resources to do so for them. Human Resources will work with supervisors to arrange for remote work or teaching.
Please remember to respect the privacy of our community members and do not disclose the health issues of others.