University of Akron Criminal Background Checks for Potential University Employees

The University of Akron is committed to providing a safe environment by protecting the health, welfare and safety of all students, employees and visitors to our campus. As such, the University conducts pre-employment background checks for all applicants selected for employment. This policy shall apply, without limitation, to all individuals selected during the hiring process for full and part-time faculty, contract professional and staff positions. It is a condition of employment that all such individuals submit to the criminal background check procedures.

Effective 8/12/2009, The University of Akron’s Board of Trustees approved Rule #3359-11-22 implementing criminal background checks on all potential University employees.

The protocol and means in which criminal background checks will be performed are:

• Background checks are performed once a preferred candidate has been selected for employment.
• All offers of employment will be contingent upon successful completion of criminal background investigation.
• The applicant is required to provide a written release to authorize the criminal background investigation using an approved university form.
• If the candidate has lived in the state of Ohio for the past five consecutive years, a state of Ohio criminal background check will be conducted through the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI&I). If the candidate has not lived in the state of Ohio for the past five consecutive years, a federal criminal background check will be conducted through the BCI&I in addition to the Ohio criminal background check. Certain positions at The University of Akron, if required by law or contract, will be subject to both state of Ohio and federal criminal background check regardless of length of residence in Ohio.
• If a candidate selected for an interview resides outside the state of Ohio, The University of Akron may also conduct a criminal background check of candidates for employement prior to the interview process.
• Applicants will be asked to submit fingerprints and at the discretion of The University of Akron may be asked to submit a DNA sample for the purpose of a federal criminal background check.

In accordance with federal and state laws, a previous conviction will not automatically disqualify an applicant from consideration for employment. Each applicant identified with a criminal conviction will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

The following factors will be considered for those applicants with a criminal conviction history in determining whether to extend an offer of employment:
1. The nature or gravity of the offense(s); and
2. The time since the conviction and/or completion of sentence; and
3. The nature of the job held or sought.