Background Check Policy

Criminal Background Check and MD Child Abuse Clearance Check Policy

University of Maryland Eastern Shore PA Program requires a criminal background check (CBS) and Maryland Child Abuse Clearance Check on all of its conditionally admitted applicants and current students in order to enhance the health and safety of patients, students, faculty, and staff in the academic and clinical environments, to adhere to applicable healthcare regulations, and to attest to affiliated clinical facilities a student’s background and eligibility status. The criminal background check and Maryland child abuse clearance check will identify incidents in an applicant’s or student’s history that might pose a risk to patients or others.

Policy Statement 

All UMES Physician Assistant Program conditionally admitted applicants and current students will be required to undergo a CBC and MD child abuse clearance check prior to matriculation, prior to the Clinical Year, or more frequently, at the discretion of the clinical faculty. For conditionally admitted applicants, the offer of admission is conditional upon results of the background and child abuse checks. If a conditionally admitted or current student declines to undergo a background or child abuse check or if findings of a grievous nature are revealed, this will be grounds for rescinding an offer of admission or dismissal from the program. Costs of the CBC and MD child abuse clearance check are the responsibility of the applicant/student. A copy of the CBC and the MD child abuse clearance check results will be made available to the applicant/student upon request.  Other copies will be distributed as appropriate on a need-to-know basis.  All applicants/ students will sign a release form indicating that the program has the right to release appropriate information to clinical sites.   

CBC or MD child abuse check results that limit the Program’s ability to secure clinical experiences may prevent a student from progressing in their didactic phase of study, being promoted to the clinical education phase or being recommended for graduation. By accepting admission to the Program, applicants agree to submit to national criminal background checks and to Child Protective Services MD child abuse checks; and also agree to pay expenses associated with this requirement. 

Program Examination of Criminal Background Check and MD Child Abuse Clearance Check

  1. The Program Director, Assistant Program Director, Clinical Education Director, Clinical Coordinator, or Admissions Coordinator will review the CBC and MD child abuse clearance check report results for all conditionally admitted applicants and enrolled students.  
  2. If a CBC or MD child abuse clearance check report contains adverse information, that report will be referred to the Conduct Administrator and the Progress and Promotions Committee (PPC); and the applicant/student will be informed and provided with the contact information to challenge the finding or provide explanatory information.    

Criminal Background Check and MD Child Abuse Clearance Check Review Process

  1. A standing Conduct Administrator and the PPC, comprised of members of the university graduate and undergraduate admissions offices, student affairs office, university counsel and university police chief, will be responsible for reviewing all materials referred to it by the UMES PA Program Director. Other University officials may be consulted, as appropriate.  
  2. The Conduct Administrator and the PPC will evaluate adverse CBC or MD child abuse clearance check reports in order to make a determination about the student’s suitability for continuation in the program. The committee may consult with the UMES PA Program Director or Assistant Program Director in order to clarify program and professional standards prior to final determination.   
  3. Conditionally admitted applicants and students who have adverse information in their CBC or MD child abuse clearance check report, and who believe that there are mistakes in the report or extenuating circumstances to be taken into account, may submit a written request for consideration to the Committee.  Any written request for consideration must occur with seven (7) days of notification of adverse information.   
  4. The Conduct Administrator and the PPC will conduct a careful review of the information in the CBC or MD child abuse clearance check report, any self-reported information in the student’s file, including criminal convictions and pending adjudications, and any relevant supplementary information obtained from the student or from other sources, including court documents. Factors involved in the individual case review may include, but are not limited to: 
    • The nature, circumstances, and frequency of any reported offense(s) 
    • The length of time since the offense(s) 
    • Available information that addresses efforts at rehabilitation 
    • The accuracy of the information provided by the student in their application materi
      • The relationship between the duties to be performed as part of the educational program and the offense committed 
  5. The Conduct Administrator and the PPC will be responsible for deciding whether the results of their CBC or MD child abuse clearance check report investigation indicate the applicant is disqualified from entrance into the program or student should be dismissed from the program. Final decisions on student program dismissal are determined by the Provost/VP of Academic Affairs. He/she will forward his/her decision in writing to the applicant/student, the UMES PA Program Director, and the Dean of the Graduate School within twenty-eight (28) days after receipt of the report from the UMES PA Program Director. 
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