2022–2023 CATALOG AND STUDENT HANDBOOK ACADEMIC INFORMATION AND UNIVERSITY POLICIES ALL CONTENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE BY ADDENDUM 147 Background Checks Policy For some programs, Rasmussen University requires students and potential students to pass background checks for admission or program changes / program transfers. Additional background checks may be required during program enrollment prior to practicum or clinical placement. Note that “passing” a criminal background check for the purpose of program acceptance or practicum or clinical placement is determined by Rasmussen University, in its sole discretion. The background check is designed to alert students and potential students to issues that may impair their ability to complete clinical, externship, or practicum activities or to obtain employment upon graduation. The background check is also designed to prevent the accumulation of unnecessary student loan debt. Background check requirements are program specific. See the program pages in the Rasmussen University Catalog for the background check requirement for each program. A. General Background Check, and Florida Level 2 Background Check Processes A general background check is one that is conducted through Rasmussen University’s chosen third-party vendor. Potential students enrolling or students preparing for practicum or clinical experiences in any program requiring a general background check will agree to the terms and conditions of the background check process as part of placing the order through the vendor. Potential students enrolling or students preparing for practicum or clinical experiences in any program requiring a background check meeting the Florida statutory definition of a Level 2 background check must complete and return to the University a VECHS Waiver Agreement and Statement. If the background check reveals any history, Rasmussen University will individually assess the students’ or potential students’ result to determine whether the students or potential students are eligible to start the program or qualify for practicum or clinical placement. The University will send either a possible issue letter or a pre-adverse action letter to all students or potential students whose background check reveals any history. A possible issue letter informs potential students or students that a potential problem revealed in their background check may prevent them from completing practicum or clinical activities and/or finding employment in-field after graduation. Students or potential students who receive a possible issue letter may acknowledge the issue and make an informed decision to continue with the program, they may choose to change programs, or they may choose to withdraw from the University. A pre-adverse action letter informs the students or potential students that the University is about to take adverse action. After receiving a pre-adverse letter, the student may contact the third-party background check firm conducting the general background check or the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and/or FBI conducting the Florida Level 2 background check directly to dispute the information contained in the background check before the University takes adverse action. Unless a dispute is filed, within seven days of sending the pre-adverse action letter, the University will send an adverse action letter indicating the action to be taken, which could include not allowing the potential student to enroll in a certain program, not allowing the student to continue in a practicum or clinical placement, or removing a student from the University. If the student or potential student wishes to appeal an adverse decision, a written appeal should be submitted following the instructions provided with the adverse action letter. The University will review the appeal and issue a final decision. A denied appeal may cause the potential student or student to become ineligible for enrollment in any program requiring a background check or in any program offered by the University. A potential student enrolling in a program requiring a general or Florida Level 2 background check may begin attending provisionally if the general or Florida Level 2 background check is in progress, but not complete, at the start of the potential student’s first academic period of enrollment. This provision of this policy does not apply to the Physical Therapist Assistant Associate’s Degree program or the Professional Nursing Associate’s degree program at the Bloomington, Hennepin/ Anoka, or Lake Elmo/Woodbury campuses whose potential students must have completed the background check process in its entirety, including any required appeal process, before being accepted and starting the program. If the potential student begins attending while the general or Florida Level 2 background check is in progress and is subsequently issued an adverse action letter and chooses not to appeal, then the potential student will be withdrawn, and any tuition and fees billed will be credited. If the potential student begins attending while the general or Florida Level 2 background check is in progress and is subsequently issued an adverse action letter, chooses to appeal, and the appeal is denied, then the potential student will be withdrawn, and any tuition and fees billed will be credited. If at the end of the potential student’s first academic period of enrollment the general or Florida Level 2 background check process is still in progress, the potential student may not continue into a second academic period and will be withdrawn until future enrollment eligibility can be determined. In any of the circumstances described in the preceding three paragraphs, final grades of “C” or higher awarded in courses completed while the background check was in process will appear on the transcript and will count toward the cumulative grade point average. Final grades of “C-” or lower in courses completed will not appear on the transcript and will have no effect on the cumulative grade point average. Courses attempted, but not completed prior to withdrawal due to an adverse background check will not appear on the transcript and will have no effect on the cumulative grade point average. A potential student enrolling in a program that requires a background check will not have their financial aid submitted until the potential student is determined to be eligible through a clear to proceed memo. This process may delay a potential student’s funding until the general or Florida Level 2 background check process is complete. A student who is required to submit to a general or Florida Level 2 background check as a condition of practicum or clinical placement during active enrollment who is subsequently denied continued enrollment as a result of the background check will receive no refunds or credits greater than what is allowed by the institution’s refund policy for any tuition and fees previously billed or paid. In this circumstance, final grades will be awarded according to the institution’s course drop policy and course withdrawal policy. A student or potential student whose appeal has been denied has the right to file one request for reconsideration to regain future enrollment eligibility but must provide supplemental or additional information not previously available to support such a request for reconsideration. B. Minnesota Department of Human Services Background Check Process A potential student enrolling in any of the MDHS designated programs will complete an Order Initiation Form. Part of the completion of this form will require review and acceptance of the Minnesota Department of Human Services Background Study Notice of Privacy Practices. Upon completion of the Order Initiation Form, Rasmussen University will initiate and submit a background study application to the MDHS via the NetStudy 2.0 system. Once accepted by the MDHS, the MDHS will require the potential student to sign a Consent and Disclosure Form, which will ask the potential student to disclose any prior criminal history directly to MDHS and provide consent directly to MDHS to act on the initiated background study application. Potential students will also be required to schedule an appointment with a MDHS-authorized fingerprint vendor to have their fingerprints and photograph taken. Potential students will have 14 days to complete both of these processes. A potential student enrolling in a program requiring a MDHS background check may begin attending provisionally if the background check is in progress, but not complete, at the start of the potential student’s first academic period of enrollment. This provision of this policy does not apply to the Physical Therapist Assistant Associate’s Degree program whose potential students must have completed the background check process in its entirety before being accepted and starting the program.
