HIM Criminal Background

Criminal Background Check

Background checks will be conducted as a condition of full acceptance into the Health Information Management (HIM) program. The results will be accepted for the duration of the student’s enrollment in the program if the participating student has not had a break in enrollment at the college and if the student has had no disqualifying allegations or convictions while enrolled. Alvin Community College will designate the agency selected to do the criminal background screening. Results of the background check will be sent directly to the Program Director electronically via the secure portal. The student will pay the cost of the background check directly to the agency. The student will sign a form indicating knowledge of this requirement and their belief that they do not have any criminal history that would disqualify them from clinical rotations.

Unsatisfactory Results

A student with a significant criminal background finding will be ineligible to enroll in the Health Information Management program. Students have the right to petition the ARDMS to have a minor criminal offense evaluated. Upon clearance from the ARDMS, a student will be allowed to enroll or continue in the program.

All criminal background information will be kept confidential. ACC HIM does not keep documentation of criminal offenses on campus. Those files are provided by the student to the investigating agency directly. Students are not obligated to share their criminal history or records with the program. A letter of clearance from the ARDMS/CCI is all the program requires. A student who is convicted of a criminal offense while enrolled in the program must report the offense to the Program Director within three days of the conviction, seek clearance from ARDMS, and provide a letter in order to continue in the program. Failure to report an offense while enrolled in the program is grounds for immediate dismissal.

Student Rights

Students sign a release form that gives the Program Director the right to receive their criminal background information from the agency. If the student believes his or her background information is incorrect, the student is responsible for providing the evidence of the inaccuracy of the information to the investigating agency. The student will not be able to enroll in the Health Information Management program  until the question is resolved. The inability to participate in a clinical experience could prevent a student from meeting course objectives and result in failure of the course. Furthermore, a criminal background of any nature could prevent the candidate from becoming employed.