Gwinnett College to pay student; remove AIDS questions from applications
Gwinnett College has agreed to remove questions related to HIV and AIDS on its application and pay $23,000 to a former student forced to leave the school because she has HIV, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
The College has also agreed to draft new policies indicating that it does not discriminate against applicants or students on the basis of disability, including HIV, and conduct ADA training for its employees, U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said. The changes are part of a settlement agreement following an investigation into whether the school violated Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“Despite years of education regarding HIV and AIDS, many people still encounter discrimination based on the stigma of this disability,” Yates said in an emailed statement. “Our office will continue to devote resources to fight injustices for people with HIV.”
The complainant, whose name was not released, was accepted into the medical assistant program at the school and completed one quarter before being told she could not continue because she posed a safety risk to others. She chose to leave the school.
Title III of the ADA prohibits places of public accommodations from excluding people with disabilities, such as HIV, from participating in or benefiting from the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Located in Lilburn, Gwinnett College offers both diplomas and associate degrees.
