With the goal of protecting Metro State’s students, employees and assets, the College has instituted a temporary procedure for conducting background checks on all finalists for employment, current employees seeking promotions and student employees who work in sensitive areas.

The President’s Cabinet tentatively approved the procedure at its Feb. 4 meeting with the understanding that Natalie Lutes, vice president of administration and finance, will address concerns raised by cabinet members by June 30, 2008.

According to Lutes, among the issues affecting the cabinet’s decision was some of the wording. They also want a presentation by HireRight, Inc., the firm used by most other colleges and that Metro State has contracted with to do the checks.

The procedure will begin with the requirement that applicants for college employment must complete a disclosure and authorization form. Finalists must then consent to and complete a background check(s) before any offer of appointment or promotion can be made. The responsibility for obtaining a check and its confidentiality rests with the executive director of human resources or her/his designee.

The type of background check will vary by position, but normally will investigate any criminal activities and misdemeanors for all Colorado counties within the past seven years. A sexual offender search will also be conducted.

Lutes said that she has been working with Auraria and CU to formulate the procedure, as they both already have a policy in place.

“Metro State was one of the few colleges in the Front Range to not have a procedure in place, so this first step toward a permanent policy is important for safety,” Lutes said.

The temporary procedure in its entirety will be posted on the Human Resources Web site http://www.mscd.edu/facstaff/hr/ .