What does the background check include?
The background check consists of a review of criminal records for the past seven years in counties where credit was established (limited to a total of seven counties), Social Security verification and the National Sex Offender Registry. Foreign nationals undergo a check through the visa screening process conducted by the State Department.
Do I need to arrange for background checks for members of my study team?
No. Each member of a study team who may interact with minors as research participants will be contacted automatically, based on the information in the IRB application submitted to eResearch. Study team members will receive an email from HireRight for consent to the background check and must respond to the email within seven days.
How are the background checks administered, and what is the notification process?
When study team members respond to the email from HireRight, they will be asked to submit their information on a secure website. Risk Management Services will review the background check. The estimated turnaround time is five to seven business days but this is dependent upon the responsiveness of the jurisdictions contacted. We recommend allowing up to 60 days for processing requests.
What types of findings in a background check would exclude someone from being authorized to interact with minors as research participants?
Serious offenses that would potentially put minors' safety at risk.
Who will know the results of my background check?
Risk Management Services will review the background check and will contact you to gather additional information before any other members of the university are contacted. Findings on background checks are confidential and are not shared outside of Risk Management Services and the Office of General Counsel without the study team member’s knowledge. If any events of concern are identified in your background check, the first step is for you to be contacted by Risk Management Services to discuss the event in more detail. Depending on the results of this discussion, if the event raises concerns about the appropriateness of interacting with minors as research participants, and you still wish to be approved to do this work, this will lead to a discussion with supervisors in your unit to determine the best next steps.
I think the policy requirements apply to my role in research, but I did not receive an email from HireRight asking me to consent to a background check. What should I do?
Check the spam folder in your email. If you still don’t find an email from HireRight, contact [email protected].
Is there a fee or cost associated with background checks?
No.
I interact with minors as research participants and completed the eLearning course but have not been contacted for my background check. What should I do?
Study team members on new studies will receive an email from HireRight within two weeks of IRB approval asking you to consent to a background check. If you did not receive such email, please check your spam folder before emailing [email protected] for assistance.
Do I need to alert or work with my local HR office to complete my background check?
No. This process is managed centrally by the Office of Research Compliance Review and the Shared Services Center. If you are subject to the policy, you will receive an email from HireRight asking you to consent to a background check.
I recently received a background check for my new position at the university. Do I need to complete another background check?
Background checks for the Minors in Research policy are required every two years. You will only be required to consent to a background check if it’s needed or out-of-date. Individuals who have had a background check completed by the university at hire within the last two years will not be contact for a background check until it has been at least two years from the date of hire.
I have some data security concerns. Is it safe to consent to the background check?
Yes. The university’s background check vendor has a highly secure system. You may refer to the HireRight data security materials on the HireRight website for additional information.