Background check and substance screening

Background check

UWM students enrolled in academic programs that require clinical placements at partner agencies are required by Wisconsin State Statute to undergo criminal background checks and caregiver background checks. As the MPH-Nutrition and Dietetics program requires that students complete supervised experiential learning at clinical placement sites, students in this program are subject to this requirement.  Learn more about these requirements.

The MPH-Nutrition and Dietetics program requires that students, prior to any clinical placement, undergo criminal background checks and caregiver background checks as required by Wisconsin State Statute and affiliation agreements with partner agencies.  

Background checks must be completed by published deadlines through the MPH-Nutrition and Dietetics program’s designated vendor. If a criminal or abuse record is present, the student may not be eligible to complete supervised experiential learning experiences at partner agencies and, consequently, unable to complete program requirements.  

A student who does not pass or refuses to complete a background check may be delayed or unable to complete program requirements (potentially resulting in dismissal from the Nutrition and Dietetics track), or subject to other remedial action according to Zilber College of Public Health policies and procedures. Students may apply for consideration to transfer to a different MPH track if unable to complete the Nutrition and Dietetics track.  

Complete information about Wisconsin’s Caregiver Law and required background and criminal history checks is available from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.  

More details about the background check requirement and process will be provided at the program orientation.  

Substance screening  

While the MPH program does not require that all students complete a substance screen, students enrolled in the Nutrition and Dietetics track must obtain a substance screen in order to complete the supervised experiential learning program requirements. Students must abide by the substance screen policies of each partner agency to which they are assigned.  

A student who does not pass or refuses to submit a substance screen, and/or attempts to tamper with, contaminate or switch a sample, may be delayed or unable to complete program requirements (potentially resulting in dismissal from the Nutrition and Dietetics track), or subject to other remedial action according to Zilber College of Public Health policies and procedures. Students may apply for consideration to transfer to a different MPH track if unable to complete Nutrition and Dietetics track requirements.  

More details about the substance screening requirement and process will be provided at the program orientation.