Criminal Background Checks & Policy

The University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry requires all conditional accepted applicants, prior to matriculation, to submit to a criminal background check (CBC). A final decision about matriculation will be made after a review of the applicant's CBC.

The underlying principle for performing criminal background checks is:

• to ascertain the ability of accepted applicants and enrolled dental students to eventually become licensed as dentists.
• to promote patient safety and well being.
• to strengthen the continuing trust of the public in the dental profession.
• to minimize the liability of dental schools and their affiliated clinical facilities.
• to cultivate the highest level of learning environment.

Individuals who are offered a conditional acceptance to the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry (Pacific Dugoni) must successfully complete a criminal background check (CBC) prior to matriculation into our DDS program. The CBC will serve to verify information provided in the application. Pacific Dugoni requires this criminal background screening process following conditional acceptance and prior to enrollment. The rationale for extending these requirements to incoming dental students is the concept of due diligence and competency.

The criminal background check will not be a component of the application, interview, or selection process but will be a mandatory component of the pre-matriculation process. The final decision regarding matriculation of an applicant will be based on the self-reported information in the candidate's application and information in the CBC report. Factors involved in the final decision may include, but are not limited to:

• the nature, circumstances, and frequency of any reported offense(s).
• length of time since the offense(s).
• available information that addresses efforts at rehabilitation.
• the accuracy of the information provided by the applicant.

The information obtained through a criminal background check will not become part of a student's academic file and will remain confidential unless the findings result in an institutional action by the School of Dentistry.

Only candidates offered class positions and alternate-list candidates will be asked to provide a criminal background check prior to matriculation.

Each candidate shall pay for his or her respective background screen estimated at $40.

Individuals who do not give permission to the conduct of the criminal background check or who fail to provide the report as required will not be allowed to matriculate into the educational program.

Criminal Background Checks will be facilitated by the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) AADSAS and conducted by ADEA selected vendor, Certiphi^® Screening Inc. (CSI). Conditionally accepted individuals will be contacted by CSI after the admissions offer has been made to conduct a background check. Accepted individuals are responsible for the cost for the CBC. Copies of the CBC's report shall go to the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry admissions office and to the conditional accepted student.

Conditional accepted individuals understand that CSI was not involved in any decision that may adversely affect the individual. All information will be separately maintained in a confidential file. The background check document will be destroyed upon graduation/separation from the institution. The report shall include all convictions and deferred adjudications of a felony or misdemeanor level. Individuals will be provided with an opportunity to contest the accuracy of the contents of the report within a specified time period. Validated background reports found to be in conflict with responses on the application may be grounds for withdrawal of an offer of enrollment based upon submission of false or misleading information on the application. The existence of a conviction will not necessarily result in a denial of admission to our dental institution, its programs and/or its housing. Instead each case will be reviewed by a committee other than the admissions committee and evaluated on its facts. Examples of disqualifying criminal offenses are listed below.

This review committee shall include but is not limited to the Associate Dean for Student Services, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (or other administrative deans) and if necessary, the university attorney to clarify legal processes.

Disqualifying Criminal Offenses

Felonies

• A crime of violence.
• Any felony offense involving unlawful sexual behavior.
• Any felony, the underlying basis of which has been found by the court on the record to include an act of domestic violence.
• Any felony of child abuse.
• Any felony offense in another state, the elements which are substantially similar to the elements of any of the above offenses.

Misdemeanors

• Third-degree assault.
• Any misdemeanor, the underlying factual basis of which has been found by the court on the record to include an act of domestic violence.
• A misdemeanor offense of child abuse.
• Any misdemeanor offense of sexual assault on a client by a psychotherapist.
• Any misdemeanor offense in another state, the elements of which are substantially similar to the elements of any of the misdemeanor offenses listed above.

Criminal Histories

• Convictions/deferred adjudications involving crimes against persons (physical or sexual abuse, neglect, assault, murder, etc.).
• Convictions related to moral turpitude (prostitution, public lewdness/exposure, etc.).
• Convictions/deferred adjudications related to the sale, possession, distribution, or transfer of narcotics or controlled substances.
• Registered sex offenders.

For more additional information, please visit ADEA's website: ADEA Criminal Background Checks.