Criminal History Background Checks

Northeast Alabama Community College requires criminal background checks for all employees, employees of vendors regularly in contact with students, and volunteers. Any individual selected for employment or volunteer service will be required to submit full consent and personal identifying information to complete a criminal history background check. Any employment or volunteer service offer will be contingent upon an acceptable background check. A criminal background check may also be conducted for selected internal candidates or if the institution has reasonable suspicion that a current employee has been convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude. Because of undue financial hardship, the College will bear the cost of background checks for employees and volunteers.

Individuals convicted of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude will not be eligible for employment except with the Chancellor's approval. Each new hire or current employee convicted of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude must obtain a recommendation from the President that the new hire or current employee is suitable for the Chancellor’s consideration and approval. Factors to be considered include, but are not limited to

  1. the proximity or remoteness in time of the conduct;
  2. the risk of harm to persons or property of the institution;
  3. the nature of the crime and likelihood of recurrence;
  4. the nature of the job; and
  5. any extenuating circumstances.

Within five (5) calendar days, an employee convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude must report the conviction to the President. An unreported conviction will be subject to disciplinary measures for failure to report.

The Human Resources Director is responsible for requesting criminal background checks for all employees. The Dean of Student Services is responsible for requesting background checks for volunteers. Criminal background check request forms can be obtained from the Human Resources Office, who will conduct all actual background checks that are requested through the current vendor selected by the Alabama Community College System.

The Dean of Financial Services is responsible for ensuring that selected vendors who have regular contact with students complete background checks for their employees assigned to work on college property.