Frequently Asked Questions

• Read the New Protection of Minors Policy
• Register University-Sponsored Programs/Activities involving children and teens.
• Submit to criminal background screening of all staff or volunteers.
• Use university-provided templates for participant forms and safeguard planning.
• Ensure all participating faculty, staff, students, and volunteers complete required background checks and required training.
• Adhere to all reporting obligations.

The university has adopted the Protection of Minors Policy to provide safeguards and guidance for those in the university community who participate in programs or activities that involve minors under the age of 18. The primary goal of this policy is to promote the well-being and safety of minors who participate in programs sponsored by or associated with Illinois State University.

The policy applies to all University-Sponsored Programs/Activities involving minors. All administrators, faculty, staff, students and volunteers are expected to follow the established guidelines.

All University-Sponsored Programs/Activities involving minors that take place in ISU facilities, on ISU property or under the authority and direction of the University at other locations fall under the new policy.

Examples Include:

• Summer camps
• Specialty camps such as academic Camps
• Outreach activities
• Workshops, conferences and educational programs.
• Tutoring
• Music Lessons
• University Sponsored RSO activities where minors are present

Programs need to be registered with sufficient time to meet the requirements of this policy. Please register your Program/Activity at least 60 days before the program start date. Annual program registration/renewal is required. If your event is in less than 60 days, please register immediately and contact the Minors Compliance Coordinator.

All supervising adults including faculty, staff, students and/or volunteers who will be in direct contact with minors must complete:
Mandated Reporter Training
PowerPoint (from OEOA)

We are committed to working with programs with unique circumstances to help them identify how best to comply with the Protection of Minors Policy. Please contact Alicia Lage, Minors Compliance Coordinator at adlage@ilstu.edu for specific program questions.

Criminal Background and sex offender registry checks are required for all supervising adults including faculty, staff, students and/or volunteers who will be in direct contact with minors. These checks are required before an individual can participate in program/acticity involving minors.
Please refer to the Protection of Minors Policy for exceptions to background checks

After the sponsor submits list of supervising adults, it is the individual's responsibility to respond to Illinois State University's Human Resources department request to conduct the background check. Estimated turnaround time is up to two weeks. If an individual does not respond or consent to the background check, they will be unable to participate in the program/activity.

No. If a background check reveals a criminal record history, the individual will be referred to Human Resources Background Check Committee for evaluation consistent with University policy to determine eligibility. HR will notify the sponsor of each individual's participation eligibility. Details of the results are not shared with the sponsor.

Yes, exceptions to the requirement of background checks may be requested as follows:

• For guest speakers, visiting artists, and others who make brief or one-time contributions to programs/activities for minors and are compensated under the provisions of University Policy 7.1.39, Honorariums.
• For visiting individuals who can provide documentation of a successful background check.
• For visiting individuals who can provide documentation of a successful background check conducted within the past 90 days.
• For events utilizing large numbers of volunteers recruited in a time frame that makes background checks run in advance impracticable and where the University will be able to provide on-the-spot checks using government issued identification. A positive result (“hit”) using this system will disqualify the individual from volunteering.
• For other reasons as explained by the organizing group.

Requests for exceptions shall be made to, and reviewed by, the Minors Activity Compliance Committee.

The MACC will review each program/activity request to ensure that the proposed Program/Activity meets the requirements of University policies and procedures.

The MACC will ordinarily consist of representatives from Academic Affairs, University Police Department, General Counsel, Risk Management, Environmental Health and Safety, and Faculty. Representatives from other Vice-Presidential Areas or Athletics will join the Minors Activity Compliance Committee when the program/activity is in their area.

Please allow up to two weeks for committee review. Information will be submitted to and reviewed by appropriate members of the MACC. The MACC may request additional information from the sponsor.

Every member of the university community and those participating in Programs/Activities involving minors share a responsibility to report suspicions of misconduct, abuse or neglect.

If immediate emergency assistance is needed, please contact the police by dialing 9-1-1, and then contact Illinois Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) Hotline at 1-800-25ABUSE