Gwinnett College Settles Discrimination Suit with Ex-Student Who Has HIV

Gwinnett College has reached a settlement in a discrimination case with a former student who said she was kicked out of school because she is HIV positive.

The Lilburn college, which offers diploma and associate degree programs, agreed to change enrollment procedures, educate employees on the Americans with Disability Act and pay the former student for student loans, and emotional pain and suffering.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta said in a press release the settlement resolves a federal investigation into charges that the college told the woman she could longer stay in the Medical Assistant Program “because she was a safety risk to others” due to her HIV.

Prosecutors said the application process at Gwinnett College included questions about HIV and AIDs. The student informed the college she has HIV in the application, and was accepted in the program. After she completed a quarter of coursework, she was told she could no longer participate in the program.

Prosecutors alleged the college violated Title III of the ADA, which “prohibits places of public accommodations, such as Gwinnett College, from excluding people with disabilities, including people with HIV, from participating in or benefitting from the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations.”

In the settlement, Gwinnett College will remove questions related to HIV and AIDs from its application; draft new policies and procedures saying it does not discriminate against applicants or students on the basis of disability, including HIV; conduct ADA training for all employees, and pay the former student $23,000.

“Despite years of education regarding HIV and AIDS, many people still encounter discrimination based on the stigma of this disability,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. “Our office will continue to devote resources to fight injustices for people with HIV.”