In an effort to promote campus safety and help ensure the security of college funds and other assets, Ithaca College will be instituting a new policy providing for background checks to be completed for all prospective benefits-eligible employees as well as certain current employees based on the duties and responsibilities of their position. While the College has historically had a process of conducting background checks for employees in certain positions, the new policy will formalize that process and expand the scope. This policy will take effect beginning July 1, 2024.
Background checks have become standard in higher education as one of the tools to help manage risk and provide for a safer work environment for employees and visitors and a more secure learning environment for students. The college will continue to contract with HireRight, a longtime service provider in this field, to conduct the background checks.
This policy applies to all prospective Ithaca College employees who have applied for and been offered a benefit-eligible position following normal screening and selection processes; current Ithaca College employees transferred and/or promoted into a benefit-eligible position; and current employees — including student employees and volunteers — who are in certain positions and assigned to work on college-owned or operated property or in support of college-sponsored programs. There are a few positions for which a background check will be required for current employees. If this applies to your position, Human Resources will contact you. The complete policy may be found in policy 2.49 of the Ithaca College Policy manual.
The Office of Human Resources will be responsible for coordinating the process of conducting background checks, through which the college will obtain criminal history record information. The Office of Human Resources, in consultation with the General Counsel, will evaluate any positive criminal history, and after review will make a recommendation to the hiring supervisor as to whether the individual is “not recommended for employment” on the basis of their criminal history. In keeping with the public policy of New York State to encourage the employment of persons previously convicted of criminal offenses, and of Ithaca College’s own inclusive hiring practices, the college will not automatically exclude from consideration for employment individuals with criminal convictions.
Please direct any questions regarding the policy to the Office of Human Resources through the HR HelpDesk or by calling 607-274-8000.