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Background Check Policy

The CSU system-wide policy on background checks is in place and updated to provide directives and guidance on background check requirements.

The California State University, Sacramento campus, follows the background check policy put forth by the Chancellors Office. The Background Check Policy has been incorporated as one of many policies which strive to reinforce preventing risk and ensuring a safe and secure learning environment and workplace for campus employees, students, volunteers, and guests.

Background Check Policy Highlights

Background checks are required for:
  • All new hires (and many rehires)
  • Current employees in positions for which background checks are required by law
  • Current employees under voluntary consideration for Sensitive Positions for which background checks are required (this includes additional appointments)
  • Student workers in positions that require background checks
  • Volunteers, consultants, and employees of auxiliaries, outside entities, and independent contractors in positions that require background checks

Background checks are not required for:

  • Any employee who has successfully cleared a background check in the previous twelve (12) months
  • Current Employees, unless under voluntary consideration for a position in which a background check is required by law or for a position that has been designated as sensitive
  • Student Workers, unless being considered for a position with duties that would require a background check if performed by a CSU employee, for a position that has been designated as sensitive, or for a position in which a background check is required by law
  • FERP Employees, unless they are moved into a sensitive position that would otherwise require a background check
  • Employees Re-appointed to the Same Class & Campus within Twelve (12) months (are not considered rehires)

Background check notifications must be on all job postings. Depending on the type of hire, background checks will be accomplished either with the on-campus Live Scan process, or through a third-party vendor, Accurate Background, Inc.

Live Scan is on-campus fingerprinting performed by Campus Public Safety and will be used for a narrow range of background checks where fingerprinting is required:

  • Sworn CSU Police Personnel (California Government Code §1029 and 1031)
  • Police Officer Cadets (California Government Code §1029 and 1031)
  • Police Dispatchers (Commission Regulation 1959)
  • Positions with direct contact with minor children at a camp operated by the CSU (Education Code §10911.5)
  • Positions with access to stored criminal offender record information (11 CCR §703 and 11 CCR §707)
  • Positions with access to patients, drugs or medication (California Labor Code §432.7)

CSU Policy