Covered in this Module:

  • MOU- Memorandum of Understanding (Signed in EDUC 211)
  • You have a Background Check Issue, Now What? FAQ
  • Background Check Yearly Process

Background Checks are conducted yearly for students enrolled in EDUC courses. For background check concerns, contact Rebecca Bodenheimer for a appointment rbodenhe@unca.edu.

MOU- Memorandum of Understanding: (Agreement Signed in EDUC 211)

In your first education course, you will be asked to sign an Education Department Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Part of this document relates to background checks. In signing this document in Taskstream, you acknowledge you have read and understood our criminal background check policies and procedures.

A criminal background check is conducted in the first education course (EDUC) requiring field placement. Background check renewals are conducted each year a teacher candidate is enrolled in EDUC courses. Results of these background check may be shared with members of the Department of Education as appropriate as well as school systems in which candidates are being placed for field, clinical, and/or clinical practice internship. It is the responsibility of the teacher candidate to inform the Field Placement Coordinator immediately should future incidents occur.

Some individuals are not permitted to enter teacher education programs because of serious crimes. Others are admissible to the teacher education program, but must be aware of the potential barriers.

There are three gateways to licensure with regards to Background Check issues. UNC Asheville’s Department of Education, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NC DPI), and hiring school districts. Part of the MOU asks you to acknowledge that passing through a gateway with your particular background check issue does not guarantee passage through other gateways.

Field and Clinical Practice Placement at UNC Asheville:

Our partner school systems may vary in their depositions about accepting candidates with court records and/or professional dispositional issues. The UNCA Deparment of Education will make no more that three attempts to place candidates with background check and /or professional disposition issues in school systems. If after three attempts, placement is not possible, the candidate will be removed from the program.

Teaching Licensing through NC DPI:

The Ethics Committee of the State Board of Education reviews all teacher education applications when the candidate has any criminal background history and makes a decision about granting licensure.

Employment:

If the NC DPI Ethics Committee clears a teacher education program graduate for licensure, it is still possible that some school systems will not hire a person because of their local policies about criminal background/history.

FAQ:

You Have a Background Check Issue, Now What?

There are not hard and fast rules about which background check issues are accepted and which are not. There is an understanding, however, that mistakes happens and people learn and grow from their experiences. Teacher/licensure/employee candidates can have the right to state their case to the reviewing agency.

Remember, your particular background check issue is personal information. Do not share details about your situation via email or in class. If you have a background check issue you would like to discuss:

Contact Rebecca Bodenheimer

What are examples of background check issues serious enough to possibly prevent acceptance of a field or clinical placement by partner schools: Felonies, Violent Crimes, Crimes Involving Children.

What are items for consideration/discussion: Recency and/or Pattern of Behavior. How long ago did the incident take place? Are there multiple charges of a similar nature?

What if I have a dismissed charge? When you complete a background check, both convictions and dismissed charges are listed in the report.

What do I do if I have a conviction or dismissed charge listed on my background check report? Rebecca Bodenheimer will review the background check report. If a charge or conviction is part of the report, she will contact you with a request to meet. At that meeting, your particular circumstance will be discussed. You will be required to provide 2 pieces of documentation: court documents related to the incident and a letter of explanation. This is true even if your charge was dismissed.

What do letters of explanation typically include? The letter of explanation is a short explanation of the incident from your perspective.

  • a brief description of the incident
  • the circumstance at the time of the incident
  • what you learned from the incident
  • how you plan to move forward

Where do I get court documents? You will request the court documents from the county courthouse in the county for which the incident took place.

What about minor traffic violations? Minor traffic violations such as speeding citations are the only types of charges/convictions for which we do not collect documentation. A DUI does NOT count as a minor traffic violation.

What does UNCA do with the court documents and letter of explanation? We keep the documents securely on file until you are ready to apply for licensure. At that time you will upload those documents to NC DPI for review. The partner schools for which you are placed can request to review that record as stated in the MOU.

Background Check Process:

Background Checks:

Background Checks are renewed yearly through CERTIPHI for a cost of $18 for students enrolled in EDUC courses. For background check concerns, contact Rebecca Bodenheimer for an appointment rbodenhe@unca.edu. Remember you must report incidents that occur between background checks to both Rebecca Bodenheimer and your education advisor.

Note: The field coordinator will inform you via email when your background check requires renewal. The email will begin with “Action Required:”

For technical support completing the background check through the Application Station website, contact the Application Station Support Team at 888-260-1370 EXT 2006

Background Check Directions:

  • Click the link button below
  • If this is your first time using the Application Station site then please click “Sign Up” to create an account. Once your account has been created please click “Log In”. If you already have an account then you can click “Log In” right away.
  • Enter your Username and Password.
  • Enter the Code: UNCACLINICSTUDENT in the Application Station Code field.
  • Follow the instructions on the Application Station website to complete the application.
Complete Background Check Application (Link Here)

Background Check Application Link Here: https://applicationstation.certiphi.com/