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Criminal Background Check Policy
PURPOSE:
The Southern Illinois University School of
Medicine (SIU SOM) is committed to provide the public with
well-trained physicians who possess the traits of high moral
character and standards. The purpose of this policy is to help
ensure a safe environment for patients, employees, fellow students,
visitors and the general public as well as to protect property by
conducting criminal background checks on all matriculants.
SCOPE:
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This policy applies to all applicants receiving
offers of acceptance from the SIU SOM on the effective date shown on
the acceptance letter.
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Authorization: Illinois law authorizes the SIU
SOM Admissions Office to conduct criminal background checks on
accepted medical students who plan to matriculate to SIU SOM, based
on the expected patient population, which may include children or
vulnerable adults.
POLICY:
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The SIU SOM requires a criminal background check
as part of the acceptance process for all incoming medical students.
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Background checks will be performed only after
the applicant has received an offer of acceptance.
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Matriculation is contingent upon satisfactory
results of a criminal background check.
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Criminal background information released to the
SIU SOM will be used only for purposes of assisting in making
acceptance decisions and/or clinical rotations at affiliated
hospitals.
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If a background check identifies issues, which
may preclude acceptance, the case will be referred to the Dean with
counsel from the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and the General
Counsel’s Office.
PROCEDURE:
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Application: The supplemental application
includes an inquiry about convictions. The supplemental application
will be shared with the Admissions Committee. Applicants, who refuse
to complete this section or do not answer truthfully and completely,
will have their offers of acceptance reviewed.
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Waiver/Consent: The acceptance letter to
the SIU SOM will include a consent form for a Criminal Background
Investigation. Refusal to provide adequate/correct information or to
provide consent for investigation will result in withdrawal of offer
of acceptance.
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Inquiry:
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The SIU SOM Admissions Office will initiate
the background check through an external company, as part of the
routine procedure for medical students prior to matriculation.
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A copy of the informed consent form will be
faxed to the company authorized to perform the background check.
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The authorized company will be instructed to
provide results to authorized individuals only.
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Convictions:
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The existence of a conviction does not
automatically disqualify an individual from eligibility for
acceptance. Relevant considerations may include, but are not
limited to: the date, nature and number of convictions; the
relationship the conviction bears to the duties and
responsibilities of the medical student; and successful efforts
toward rehabilitation. Any decision to reject or accept an
applicant with a conviction is solely at the discretion of the
SIU SOM.
RESULTS:
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Confidentiality: Reasonable efforts will
be made to ensure that results of criminal background checks are
kept as confidential as possible with limited number of persons
authorized to review results.
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Access to Results: The Associate Dean for
Student Affairs will review all criminal background checks. If
adverse information deemed to be relevant to the applicant’s
acceptance as a medical student is contained in the background
check, the Associate Dean for Student Affairs will notify the
applicant in writing.
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Information Available Through Background
Checks: The criminal background check will include a record of
all arrests and convictions. In almost every case, only conviction
information will be considered.
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Ability of Applicant to Review Information:
The applicant may review the criminal background check received by
the University by contacting the Associate Dean for Student Affairs
in writing.
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Right to Respond to Adverse Report: The
applicant will be asked to review any adverse information and to
provide a written response to the Associate Dean for Student
Affairs. When appropriate, the applicant may be asked to meet with
the Associate Dean for Student Affairs in person to answer
questions.
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Right to Change and/or Terminate Policy:
Reasonable efforts will be made to keep applicants informed of any
changes in the policy. However, the SIU SOM reserves the right, in
its sole discretion, to amend, replace, and/or terminate this policy
at any time.
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