Pine Technical College
Policy and Procedure

Policy Number: 223 Date: October 14, 2005 Revision Date:
Division/Department: Academic Affairs Author: Defenbaugh, Felland, Musgrove
Subject: Background Checks

Authorities:
Federal Firearms Regulations, U.S. Bureau of Tobacco and Firearms
Minnesota Department of Human Services Regulations
Minnesota Board of Nursing Regulations
Minnesota Board of Teaching

Purpose:
State and Federal regulations require that individuals entering certain occupations meet sets of criteria before they may practice that profession. These criteria often take the form of background information of some sort on the prospective practitioner. It is the purpose of this policy to establish entrance requirements for disciplines and professions to which such Federal or state background requirements apply.

Policy:
It is the policy of Pine Technical College that students wishing to enter a profession or occupation conform to Federal or state requirements for that occupation prior to entering the program. Consequently, students wishing to enroll in these programs must undergo a background, criminal history background or personal history check as a prerequisite to matriculation. Prospective students who do not meet the background requirements of the program or industry may be admitted to the college but not to that program. It will be the policy of the college to provide those students with counseling or academic advising to assist them in selecting an alternative program.

Procedure:
For students wishing to enroll in Gunsmithing:

• Gunsmithing students must have on file a criminal history record and a signed and notarized Federal Firearms License (FFL) questionnaire.


• Prospects will be sent with their program information an informational sheet on the procedures involved in a mandatory background check for the Gunsmithing program. Prospective students will also be sent a questionnaire asking the same questions asked when applying for an FFL.
  
• Before entrance into the Gunsmithing Program a student must have a clean criminal history check from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in Minnesota or a criminal history check from their State Crime Center, if they have not been a Minnesota resident for more than a year. A clean record is one that is free of an FBI number, a National Information Center (NIC) number or a State Identification (SID) number.
  
• Prospective students who are ineligible for a FFL will not have access to the program. Ineligibility would be determined by Student Services after review of the applicant’s criminal history record and verification of a completed FFL questionnaire.
  
• In cases where Students Services is uncertain of eligibility, the advice of a gunsmithing instructor should be sought out and the recommendation of that faculty member would be followed. In cases where a student is exposed as having provided false information on Pine Tech’s FFL questionnaire, expulsion from the Gunsmithing program will be mandatory and immediate.
  

• Minnesota Statutes governing early childhood program licensing requires individuals who provide direct care to children to have successfully completed a criminal background study. Early Childhood Development (ECD) students must have on file the results from a criminal history background check before they are allowed to work with young children in the on-site child care center or other community early childhood care and education program.
  
• Prospects will be sent with their program information a sheet explaining the procedures involved in completing a mandatory criminal background check for the ECD program. If the prospective student refuses to comply with this program requirement, he or she will not be allowed to enroll in program courses.
  
• Before registering for program courses, a criminal history background study must be successfully completed and the results received by Pine Technical College. A copy of these results will be shared with the participating community early childhood care and education program(s) where the student may intern. A copy of these results will also be stored in the students’ locked advising files in the instructors’ office area and the master copy of the report will be kept in the students’ master academic file in Student Services.
  
• Ineligibility would be determined by the program faculty after review of the applicant’s criminal background check report. Prospective students who are deemed ineligible to work directly with young children in licensed community early childhood care and education programs will not be allowed to enroll in program courses. Advising will be provided by program faculty and/or Student Services staff to support the ineligible student in determining another program of study if deemed appropriate.
  
• In cases where it is determined a student has provided false or misleading information during the criminal background check process, removal from the ECD Program will be mandatory and immediate.
  
• More information on the background studies process and Minnesota Statutes can be found through the Department of Human Services website (www.dhs.state.mn.us).
  

• Background Study for all Students in Clinical Placements or Indirect Contact with Patients/Residents: Minnesota law requires that any person who provides services that involve direct contact with patients and residents at a health care facility licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health have a background study conducted by the state. An individual who is disqualified from having direct patient contact as a result of the background study, and whose disqualification is not set aside by the Commissioner of Health, will not be permitted to participate in a clinical placement in a Minnesota licensed health care facility. Failure to participate in a clinical placement required by the academic program could result in ineligibility to qualify for a degree in that program. Students attending clinicals at a Wisconsin facility will be required to have a Wisconsin background study at the current cost.
  
• On the first day of fall semester or orientation