Background Checks

BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT VOLUNTEERS

Students volunteering with the broader community – particularly those working with youth – are often required to present proof that they have cleared background checks overseen by the state or federal governments. The most common among these are:

  • Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Records Check (Act 34);

  • Department of Public Welfare Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 151), and;

  • Federal Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) in a manner prescribed by the Department of Education (this is done through the FBI)

The University will work with an outside vendor, HireRight, to provide the two state-based background checks (Federal background checks will still be the responsibility of the student or their program) for student volunteers who are members of Student Activities Council (SAC)-recognized student organizations with a primary mission of civic engagement and service learning.

WHAT PROGRAMS ARE COVERED?

The following programs should work with the listed administrative contacts to receive support for background checks:

Civic House
West Philadelphia Tutoring Project

Elly Porter-Webb, eport@upenn.edu

Netter Center for Community Partnerships
CSSP, AUNI

Yetunde Pinckney, myetunde@upenn.edu

Fox Leadership
Girl Scouts, West Philadelphia High School
Laura Thornton, lauratho@sas.upenn.edu

Platt Performing Arts House
After School Arts

Laurie McCall, lmmcall@upenn.edu

Office of Student Affairs

Other SAC-recognized organizations with a primary mission of community service

Michael Sievers, vpul-pennosa@pobox.upenn.edu

QUESTIONS?

If you have a question, please email Michael Sievers of the Office of Student Affairs, 215-898-6533