The Colorado Community College System (“CCCS”) and the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education authorize the nursing programs to conduct a background investigation of all student applicants. The clinical sites used in the nursing programs require background checks of all potential interns. The purpose is to maintain a safe and productive educational and clinical environment. New students who refuse to comply with the background investigation will not be allowed to enter a CCCS Nursing Program.
An Applicant will be disqualified from a CCCS nursing program based on the following guidelines:
- Any violent felony convictions of homicide. (No time limit)
- Crimes of violence (assault, sexual offenses, arson, kidnapping, any crime against an at-risk adult or juvenile, etc.) as defined in section 18-1.3-406 C.R.S. in the 10 years immediately preceding the submittal of application.
- Any offense involving unlawful sexual behavior in the 10 years immediately preceding the submittal of application.
- Any crime, the underlying basis of which has been found by the court on the record to include an act of domestic violence, as defined in section 18-6-800.3 C.R.S. in the 7 years immediately preceding the submittal of application.
- Any crime of child abuse, as defined in section 18-6-401 C.R.S. in the 7 years immediately preceding the submittal of application.
- Any crime related to the sale, possession, distribution or transfer of narcotics or controlled substances in the 7 years immediately preceding the submittal of application.
- Any felony theft crimes in the 7 years immediately preceding the submittal of application.
- Any misdemeanor theft crimes in the 5 years immediately preceding the submittal of application.
- Any offense of sexual assault on a client by a psychotherapist, as defined in section 18-3-405.5 C.R.S. in the 7 years immediately preceding the submittal of application.
- Crimes of moral turpitude (prostitution, public lewdness/exposure, etc.) in the 7 years immediately preceding the submittal of application.
- Registered Sex Offenders. ( No time limit)
- Any offense in another state, the elements of which are substantially similar to the elements of any of the above offenses.
- More than one (1) D.U.I. in the 7 years immediately preceding the submittal of application.
If any applicant feels the criminal background check is inaccurate, they may appeal the decision and request a review with the specific community college applied at. It is the applicant’s burden to produce substantial evidence that proves the crimes charged are incorrect.
