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Lorenzo Walker Institute of Technology

Collier County Public School System
Health Science Post Secondary and Secondary Students

Criminal Background Check and Drug Screening

Purpose: To define the background check and drug screening admission criteria for
practical nursing, medical assisting and surgical technology students who will be enrolled
after July 1, 2006.

Scope: All prospective secondary and post secondary health science students interested in
taking one of the above programs of study at Lorenzo Walker Institute of Technology.
This applies to any new student or student readmitted after July 1, 2006.

Policy Statement: Students enrolled in described health science programs must submit
to a criminal background check and a drug screening test. Clinical agencies require
students to meet standards, similar to employees, for criminal offenses and use of illegal
drugs. Therefore, health science students are required to consent to and pay for
background/urine drug screening. Further, while in the program, reasonable suspicion of
drug use or change in criminal history may necessitate a change in student status or
program standing.

Criminal Background Screening Process

1. The first point of contact at the school (admissions counselor, guidance counselor,
coordinator, etc.) informs prospective students that a background check and drug
screening are prerequisite requirements for health science students.

2. Before registration students are required to pay the $52.00 fee. This is a non-
refundable charge and the records of these background screenings will be
accessed via a secure internet site by the Health Science Coordinator or designee.
These records will not be part of the student’s permanent record and will reside in
a confidential file. These files will become the property of the school and will not
be available for copying or for use to meet the requirements of outside employers
or agencies. No unauthorized faculty or staff will have access to the records
without written permission of the student.

Criminal Offenses

Florida Statutes 435.03 and 435.04 and the Florida Board of Nursing are the standards
governing the background screening process at Lorenzo Walker Institute of Technology.
Following these standards, judgments of guilty, pleas of Nolo Contendere, or admission
to a pretrial diversion program to the following crimes will disqualify students from
entering health science programs: murder, manslaughter; vehicular homicide; killing of

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an unborn child by injury to the mother; assault, if battery; kidnapping; false

imprisonment; sexual battery; prohibited acts of persons in familial or custodial authority;
prostitution; lewd and lascivious behavior; lewdness and indecent exposure; arson; theft;
robbery; and related crimes, if offense was felony; fraudulent sale of controlled
substances, only if the offense is a felony; incest; abuse or neglect of a disabled adult or
elderly person; exploitation of a disabled adult or elderly person; aggravated child abuse;
child abuse; negligent treatment of children; procuring sexual performance by a child;
sale, possession or use of obscene literature; violation of drug abuse prevention and
control laws, only if offense was a felony or if any other person involved was a minor;
has not been judicially determined to have committed abuse or neglect against a child. FS
435.03 and 435.04

3. High school students of any age and adult post secondary students under the age
of 18 must provide the notarized permission form signed by his or her
parent/guardian to obtain background screening. (Appendix A) All prospective
students will sign this release form.

4. Any student placed “on hold” because of background screening results will be
notified in writing, and his/her parent or guardian, if required, indicating the
results of the criminal background check and the additional documents needed.
Student should be advised that only original documents requested for clearance
purposes will be accepted.

5. Health science coordinator, or designee, will either clear student after review of
documentation or deny entry into health science programs, based on the
previously referenced decision making standards Florida Statute 435.04 and
industry standards.

6. Students and their parent/guardian, when required, who were not cleared will be
notified in writing and advised of the appeal process. Appeal process is defined
in Appendix B.

7. The student is responsible for notifying the health science coordinator, or

designee, of any arrests, regardless of adjudication, that occur after beginning the
program. Failure to notify the coordinator within 3 days shall be grounds for
dismissal from the program.

8. After acceptance into the program, the student must not be found guilty,
regardless of adjudication, of an offense that would disqualify the student under
the previously stated standards (FS 435.04) If this occurs, the student will be
subject to dismissal from the program.

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Drug Screening Process

Prior to Admission
1. Lorenzo Walker Institute of Technology and associated health care agencies are
drug free environments. Students defined under scope of the policy in the health
science department are required to obtain a five-panel substance abuse drug
screen before the first day of class.

2. Prospective students will be provided with an appointment for this service prior to
class starting.

3. The medical review officer (MRO) contacts the student or in the case of a minor
or high school student over the age of 18 the parent/guardian, with a positive or
questionable result. Subsequent to discussing the results with the student or
parent/guardian, the MRO sends the results to Lorenzo Walker’s Health Science
Coordinator for review.

4. Students with positive urine drug screen results will be given a reasonable
opportunity to explain the confirmed test result to the Health Science Coordinator,
or designee. If the explanation is unacceptable and cannot be satisfactorily
documented by the students’ physician, the student will not be allowed admission
to the program. Appendix D will be used as documentation of current medication
and must be filled out by the student.

5. The student may reapply and be considered for application to a health science
education program after positive reference from a treatment team who has
followed the student for one (1) year or current industry standard, and has dealt
directly with the students’ chemical dependency problem.

While In The Program

1. All health science students must submit to drug testing to Lorenzo Walker, or
affiliating agencies (including parking lot and grounds), including, but not
limited to, when there is reasonable suspicion to believe a student may be
impaired, or is using illegal drugs, or has used illegal drugs and/or alcohol, the
student may be tested in accordance with the affiliating agency’s policy at the
agency’s expense.

2. If tested by an affiliating agency, the student shall provide to the Health Science
Coordinator a copy of any test results. Failure to do so within 3 days shall be
grounds for dismissal from the program. A positive drug or alcohol test shall be
grounds for the student to be withdrawn from the program. Re-admission to the
program can occur only after re-application that includes an advisement, in

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writing, by a professional counselor that the student is drug free and it is

documented through testing. These students must continue to be monitored by
the counseling service while completing the program or they will be dismissed.

3. If a positive drug screening deems a student ineligible for admission to, or

continuation in, a health science education program, an appeal can be filed. The
appeal process follows the Lorenzo Walker grievance process. The appeals
committee will follow the industry standard for employment in the profession as
the guide for decision making. The Florida Board of Nursing decision making
matrix is the industry standard of reference.

4. Individuals will receive notice in writing what the appeals committee’s decision
is. This is the final decision of the school. Appeal process outlined in Appendix
C.

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Appendix A

Lorenzo Walker Institute of Technology

Collier County Public School System
Health Science Department
Authorization for Release of Information and Parental Consent

I, (Print Student Name)_________________________________ as a student in the

Health Science Program at (Print School Name)
_______________________________hereby voluntarily consent to a criminal
background check and a drug screening test and authorize related agencies to release a
copy of the final disposition, of the tests, to the School designated above.
I furthermore agree to self-report within 72 hours to appropriate authorities (as
determined by the district) any arrests/charges involving the abuse of a child or the sale
and/or possession of a controlled substance. Such notice shall not be considered an
admission of guilt nor shall such notice be admissible for any purpose in any proceeding,
civil or criminal, administrative or judicial, investigatory or adjudicatory. In addition,
shall self-report any conviction, arrest, finding of guilt, withholding of adjudication,
commitment to a pretrial diversion program, or entering of a plea of guilty of Nolo
Contendere for any criminal offense other than a minor traffic violation within 48 hours
after the occurrence of above. (DUI and reckless driving are not minor and must be
reported) When handling sealed and expunged records disclosed under this rule, school
districts shall comply with the confidentiality provisions of Sections 943.0585(4)(c) and
943.059(4)(c), Florida Statutes. All records, including sealed or expunged, have been
disclosed.

________________________________________________________________________
Print Student’s Name

________________________________________________________________________
Student’s Signature Date
______________________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature, as required Date

The notarized signature of the parent/guardian on this form (when required) indicates
parental consent and permission for a criminal background check and drug screening on
the minor identified herein,
______________________________ My Commission Expires:
Signature – Notary Public (SEAL)
_____________________________
Printed Name of Nary
_____________________________
Notary’s Commission No.

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Appendix B

LORENZO WALKER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Health Science Department

Guidelines for Appeal related to Criminal Offenses

Note: To appeal a denial for admission to or continuation in a health science program

because of a criminal offense(s), a written request with the following documentation must
be submitted. In considering an appeal, Lorenzo Walker Institute of Technology is
limited in its decision by the industry standard requirement(s) of the clinical agency or
profession.

1. If you have been found guilty of, or pleaded guilty or no contest to, any charge
(all misdemeanors or felonies) other than a minor traffic offense, you must submit
arrest and court records of the final disposition of each offense listed with your
completed appeal package.

2. Examples of offenses that will be listed on the background record report include:
writing bad checks, disorderly conduct, petit theft, DUI, welfare fraud, marijuana
use, assault/battery, grand theft, use of controlled substances, abuse/neglect, lewd
& lascivious behavior, and other felony offenses.

3. If you have been adjudicated guilty of a felony, you must submit documentation
of restoration of your civil rights. You are not eligible for appeal without
demonstrating that your civil rights have been restored.

4. Juvenile offenses may also be appealed using the same process.

5. If you are requesting the court to submit official records directly to the Health
Science Coordinator, the Coordinator must have received a letter indicating
records are being sent separately from the court.

6. If you are submitting the court records with your appeal packet, each document
page must have the court seal on it. (You are advised to keep a certified and true
copy of the court records in your personal file.)

7. If the record has been sealed, you must submit the court order sealing the record.
This is required because the charge may still appear on the background screen.

8. If official records are not available, you must submit a letter from the court and/or
law enforcement agency on Official letterhead with the court or agency seal on it
stating the record has been purged.

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9. Lorenzo Walker Institute of Technology will inform you if an appearance is

required before the appeals committee. Appearance is always required when
court ordered probation is still in effect.

10. Three letters of recommendation are required. One letter should be from your
current employer. Letters of recommendation should not be from family
members but rather individuals who can endorse your role as a future health care
provider.

11. If you have any questions, please contact the Health Science Coordinator at 239-
377-0918.

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Appendix C

LORENZO WALKER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Health Science Department

Guidelines for Appeal related to Positive Drug Screening

To appeal a denial for admission to or continuation in a health science education program

because of a positive drug screening the following documentation must be submitted.

1. A letter stating the situation, why you feel the actions of Lorenzo Walker Institute
of Technology are incorrect and what you desire as a result of the appeals process.

2. Three letters of recommendation are required. One letter should be from your
current employer. Letters of recommendation should not be from family
members but rather individuals who can endorse your role as a future health care
provider.

3. Lorenzo Walker Institute of Technology will inform you if an appearance is

required before the appeals committee.

4. If you have any questions, please contact the Health Science Coordinator at 230-
377-0918.

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LORENZO WALKER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Health Science Department

Criminal Background and Drug Screening Appeal Committee

Appeals Committee Members: Lorenzo Walker Institute of Technology Principal,

Lorenzo Walker Institute of Technology Administrator, Health Science Coordinator,
Student Services Department Chair and a Guidance Counselor.

1. The Health Science Coordinator, or designee, sets up the meeting within two
weeks of receipt of the appeal.
2. The Appeals Committee meets (with the student, if necessary) to discuss the
appeal.
3. The Appeals Committee reviews all materials. The Committee’s decision is final.
4. The Health Science Coordinator, or designee, notifies the student of the
Committee’s findings via letter within one week of the Appeals Committee
meeting.

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Appendix D

Name_______________________ Date __________________

Please list all current medications and be able to show documentation if the urine
drug screen comes back positive.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Administrative Signature________________________

Date________________

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CONSEQUENCES OF POSITIVE DRUG TESTING

1. The laboratory medical review officer (MRO) will contact the student when
results are positive or questionable.

2. The medical review officer (MRO) will also send the results to health science
coordinator or designee.

3. Student will be counseled by health science coordinator, or administrator of the

Bethune campus, and referred for drug counseling. The preliminary appointment
for drug counseling must be made within 14 days of referral. If the student is
unable to schedule the appointment within the 14 day time frame, the student is
obligated to inform administration of this dilemma. Only then may the
administrator extend this 14 day deadline.

4. After 30 days, student will pay for another drug screening test, unless otherwise
determined by the administrator.

5. Student will sign a release form at the counseling center, allowing the school to
monitor their progress in recovery.

6. If the drug screening results are positive for the second time, the student will be
withdrawn from the program. At that time the student would need to submit a
request for their situation to be heard in front of the appeals committee. On a case
by case basis, the appeals committee will determine further obligations the student
must meet to reenroll, using industry standards for decision making.

_______________________________________________________________________
Student Signature Date

_______________________________________________________________________
Administrator Signature Date

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