Please carefully read the following UB
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (UB SoPPS)
policies:
> Transportation Policy
UB SoPPS requires all doctor of pharmacy program (Pharm.D.)
students to have their own transportation. The school cannot
guarantee that students will be placed in clinical rotation sites
within UB transportation. Therefore, as a student, you will be
responsible for providing your own transportation during practice
experience months.
> Hepatitis B Vaccination
Requirements
Students must be fully immunized against Hepatitis B by the end
of the first year. This three-injection series must be started
within 1 month of the first semester.
> Criminal Background Checks
Policy
Disclaimer
The criminal background check (CBC) process does not guarantee
the safety of students, patients, faculty or staff. An acceptable
CBC does not guarantee the student will be eligible for entry
into the introductory rotations (P1-P3), and advanced rotations
(P4), to complete the Pharm.D. program, or obtain a license to
practice pharmacy upon graduation. Experiential sites and/or
state boards of pharmacy may treat information differently or
uncover newer information not revealed in previous record
searches.
Introduction and Rationale
Pharmacists and pharmacy students in New York State are required
to be of good moral character and work to the highest levels of
ethical and legal conduct. They are entrusted with the health,
welfare and safety of the patients they serve. Access to patient
confidentiality as well as controlled substances requires
pharmacists, pharmacy interns and students to attain the utmost
levels of integrity. The United States Drug Enforcement
Administration requires pharmacy registrants not to employ anyone
in a position that allows access to controlled substances if the
person has been convicted of a felony related to controlled
substances (www.dea.gov). Most
employers including independents, chains, health systems, and
federal and state governments require the use of CBC's and/or
drug testing (DT) for employment purposes.
Policy
All accepted applicants and enrolled students in the Pharm.D.
program (P1 through P4) must submit and complete a CBC from a
vendor approved by UB SoPPS (Verified Credentials - www.verifiedcredentials.com)
at the student's expense. Students who refuse to submit to the
CBC may be dismissed from the program. An accepted applicant must
initiate the CBC review within 15 days of receiving the notice of
this policy. A notice will be included in the "Admissions
Acceptance Confirmation" letter, which will be mailed once
payment and acceptance forms are received. Failure to request a
CBC review in a timely manner is grounds for UB SoPPS to withdraw
the offer of admission. Students currently enrolled in the
Pharm.D. program must request from the School's vendor a CBC
during the month of February in the spring semester. Students who
refuse to obtain a CBC may be withheld from any experiential
rotation (i.e., introductory or advance) and may be subsequently
dismissed from the Pharm.D. program.
Confidentiality and Recordkeeping
Background check reports and other submitted information are
confidential and will be kept in the student's academic file
under the direction of the ADSAPR. This information contained in
the CBC section of the student's file may only be reviewed by
university officials, the designated background check provider,
and affiliated clinical facilities in accordance with the Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Students who have a
break in enrollment of at least one semester (e.g., leave of
absence) will be required to repeat a CBC prior to reentering the
program. It is student's responsibility to pay for all expenses
and for providing a copy of the results to the UB SoPPS by the
appropriate deadlines. CBC's may include a review of the
student's or accepted applicant's criminal history for at least
seven years prior to the requesting date. These CBC's may
include, but is not limited to, any or all of the following:
Social Security number validation
Criminal Records
Federal criminal
history
State and county criminal history
Arrest records
Felonies, misdemeanors, deferred
adjudications, pending charges, expunged criminal
records
Civil searches
Sex offender and predatory registry
search
Adult and child abuse registries
Office of the Inspector General (OIG) List of
Excluded Individuals/Entities
General Services Administration (GSA) List of
Parties Excluded from Federal Programs
Fraud and Abuse Control Information
System
Nationwide Healthcare Fraud and Abuse
scan
Interpol or country of origin checks for
international students
Patriot Act/Terrorist Watch List
Student Academic Affairs Committee
Professional pharmacy students who have been arrested and/or
charged for any criminal activity must report this activity in
writing and include the appropriate information (e.g., court
documents, arrest records, etc.) to the ADSAPR no later than five
days following the charge of any crime. The Student Academic
Affairs Committee (SAAC) will meet to discuss those findings and
may request additional information from the student or request an
additional CBC. Students who fail to provide this information
within the time frame will be subject to dismissal from the
program. If the student's CBC includes adverse information, the
SAAC will meet to discuss those findings and may require
additional information from the student (e.g., court documents,
arrest record, etc.). Adverse information may lead to withdrawal
of the offer for admission or a dismissal from the program. In
reviewing the background check reports and any information
submitted, the SAAC may consider the following factors in making
its decision:
The nature and seriousness of the offense or
event
The circumstances surrounding the offense or
event
The relationship between duties to be
performed as a part of the educational program and the offense
committed
The age of the person when the offense or
event occurred
Whether the offense or event was an isolated
or repeated incident
The length of time that has passed since the
offense or event
Past employment and history of academic or
disciplinary misconduct
Evidence of rehabilitation
The accuracy of the information provided by
the candidate who has received an offer of admission
The accuracy of the information provided by
the student in the application materials, disclosure forms and
other materials
Experiential site or state board licensure
policies
The student has the right to appeal any decision by addressing
the committee in a letter (not e-mail) with the student's
signature and date indicating the appeal. This letter must be
addressed to the SAAC in care of the ADSAPR. The SAAC reserves
the right to request a repeat CBC at any time for any student
from the current vendor or any alternate vendor at the student's
expense. Students who fail to submit to a repeat CBC may be
dismissed from the program. Facilities may request that a student
submit to a CBC at any time prior to or during the time of the
rotation.
Incorrect Records
Occasionally, a CBC may contain incorrect information. If a
student finds that his/her record is incomplete, incorrect,
contains errors and omissions, or misidentifies a student for
someone else, the student may appeal this to the ADSAPR. The
student should also contact the School's vendor with appropriate
documentation to correct the errant information. The ADSAPR will
then request to the vendor (or alternate vendor if one exists) to
verify this information and supply a copy to the student and UB
SoPPS. Depending on the circumstances, the student may or may not
be suspended/dismissed from the program pending the outcome of
the request. For help with a discrepancy on the report, please
contact Troy Gerber at 952-985-2358.
Initiating your CBC
To obtain a criminal background check you must have:
Access to a computer with an internet
connection
A valid email account
A credit card or checking account or savings
account
Read the "Dear Student Letter" and click
"Click Here." Select the appropriate class/program option from
the drop down box and click "Next."
Follow the on screen directions. Read the
Disclosure and Authority to Release Information. Enter your First
Name, Last Name, Social Security Number, Reenter your SS# Select
"Yes" and "I Agree" under I would like a copy of my report.
Sign your name using the mouse and select "Save."
Enter your information. * Denotes required
fields
Click "Next Step."
Review the information you submitted on the
on-line application. Click the "Back" button to edit any of your
information; when you are satisfied, click "Complete" to submit
your information.
Payment Screen: Select one of the three
methods presented-either by use of a credit card, debit card or
directly from your checking or savings account-and enter the
appropriate information. The cost is $99.00.
Click "Place Order."
Review the information for accuracy.
Click "Complete."
Once you place your Background Check order, you will receive a
full copy of the report via email. Turnaround time for the report
is approximately 2-5 days.
