Background Check Process and Requirements | Grand Rapids Community College

Background Check Process

When you enroll in a class that has a lab component, certain assignment requirements or is located in the Early Childhood Learning Lab (ECLL), you are giving us permission for the GRCC Police to run a Criminal Background Check through ICHAT (The Internet Criminal History Access Tool). Once this process is completed, you will receive a copy of your results in your GRCC email account.

To complete the required Department of Human Services (DHS) Central Registry Clearance, download the form at the link on the right hand side of your screen. Please complete section 1 of the form, which includes: your first, middle, and last name; any maiden name or aliases; your social security number; your complete mailing address; the best phone number to reach you at; your date of birth; and your signature. Please do not mark anything in section 2 of the form.

You may choose how to return the completed form and a clear copy of your driver's license or state ID to the Child Development & Education Department office from one of several ways:

Mail to:

Grand Rapids Community College
Department of Child Development & Education
143 Bostwick Ave. NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Fax to: (616) 234-3370

Scan in and Email to: Abbey Atanasoff at abbeyatanasoff@grcc.edu

Please do not send photos taken directly from your phone. There are several free applications for downloading that will allow you to scan your form and driver’s license using your phone into a clear, readable format. A few of these include:

Genius Scan
Cam Scanner
Evernote Scannable
Tiny Scanner
iScanner
Office Lens
Scanner Mini
Doc Scan

The DHS Clearance process takes about 7-10 business days. Once we receive your clearance back in the mail, we will email it to your GRCC email account.

If the DHS finds that you have been substantiated of abuse and/or neglect, a letter will be mailed to the address on your driver’s license. We will NOT receive a copy. It is important that you communicate the receipt of this letter to our department so that we can help you with the next steps.

Questions or concerns can be directed to Abbey Atanasoff at abbeyatanasoff@grcc.edu

Background Check Form

DHS Clearance Form 2019

Background Check Requirements

Field experiences are a central component of the Child Development and Education Programs at Grand Rapids Community College. Lab placements are included in CD 118, CD 209, CD 210, CD 229 and CD 230. CD 105, CD 215 & CD 260 students are required to participate in tutoring through Grand Rapids area schools.

Through these field experiences, students are placed in a variety of settings including the GRCC Laboratory Preschool, local nationally accredited Early Childhood programs and in more than 100 different elementary, middle and high schools. In order to ensure the safety and well-being of the children in these programs, all students enrolled in the classes listed below will be appropriately screened using the following method:

Child Development Lab Classes

Students enrolled in Child Development Lab classes (CD 118, CD 209, CD 210, CD 229 and CD 230) must undergo a Criminal Background Check and a Department of Human Services Central Registry Check. Students enrolled in any course that meets at the ECLL must undergo a Department of Human Services Central Registry Check.

If, as a result of the criminal background check, or if Grand Rapids Community College learns through an authoritative source, that a student has been convicted of any felony, any of the listed offenses as defined by MCL 28.722. (Sex Offenders Registration Act; Act 295 of 1994), or is listed on the Michigan Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry (Child Protection Law; MCL 722.627-722.627j) the student will be refused lab placement and removed from the course.

"Listed Offenses" are those defined in MCL 28.722 (Sex Offenders Registration Act; Act 295 of 1994) and include the following:

MCL 750.145a. Accosting, enticing or soliciting a child (less than 16 years of age) for immoral purposes.
MCL 750.145b. Accosting, enticing or soliciting a child (less than 16 years of age) for immoral purposes - second or subsequent offenses.
MCL 750.145c. Child (a person less than 18 years of age who has not been legally emancipated) sexually abusive activity or material, including possession of child sexually abusive material.
MCL 750.158. Crime against nature (i.e., sodomy and bestiality) if the victim is an individual less than 18 years of age.
A third or subsequent violation of any combination of the following:

MCL 750.167(1)(f). Indecent or obscene conduct in a public place;
MCL 750.335a. Indecent exposure;
MCL 750.338. A local ordinance of a municipality substantially corresponding to a section described in A or B, supra.

Except for juvenile disposition or adjudication, a violation of:
- MCL 750.338. Gross indecency between males; fellatio or masturbation;
- MCL 750.338a. Gross indecency between females, oral sex;
- MCL 750.388b. Gross indecency between male and female persons.
If the victim is an individual less than 18 years of age:
- MCL 750.349. Kidnapping, if victim is an individual less than 18 years of age.
- MCL 750.350. Kidnapping; child under 14 years of age with intent to detain or conceal from child's parent or legal guardian.
- MCL 750.448. Soliciting or accosting by a person 16 years of age or older, if victim is an individual less than 18 years of age.
- MCL 750.455. Pandering.
- MCL 750.520b. First degree criminal sexual conduct.
- MCL 750.520c. Second degree criminal sexual conduct.
- MCL 750.520d. Third degree criminal sexual conduct.
- MCL 750.520e. Fourth degree criminal sexual conduct.
- MCL 750.520g. Assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct.
- Any other violation of a law or the state or a local ordinance of a municipality that by its nature constitutes a sexual offense against an individual who is less than 18 years of age.
- MCL 750.10a. Offense by sexually delinquent person (i.e., "any person whose sexual behavior is characterized by repetitive or compulsive acts which indicate a disregard of consequences or the recognized rights of others, or by the use of force upon another person in attempting sexual relations of either a heterosexual or homosexual nature, or by the commission of sexual aggressions against children under the age of 16").
- An attempt or conspiracy to commit an offense described above.
- An offense substantially similar to an above offense under a law of the United States, any state, or any country or any tribal or military law.

A student should report any convictions involving a felony or listed offenses and if he or she is placed on the Michigan Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry within three business days to the Education Program Director. This will result in being removed from the class and lab.

If the student disagrees with the information obtained from criminal background check, the student should submit voluntarily to a fingerprinting background check through the Michigan State Police and FBI records. The student is required to pay for any fingerprinting costs.

CD 105, CD 215, & CD 260

Students enrolled in these courses are required to participate in tutoring through Grand Rapids area schools and each student will need to go through a Department of Human Services Central Registry Check. CD 260 students must also undergo a Criminal Background Check.