Campus Resources

Minors on Campus Policy

•  I.      Purpose and Scope of Policy

Purpose:  Saint Joseph's University ("University" or "Saint Joseph's") strives to conduct its operations and maintain its facilities in a manner consistent with its mission as an institution of higher education. While there may be occasions when the presence of Minors on or brief visits by Minors to campus may be appropriate or necessary, Minors are not permitted to be unescorted or unsupervised on University premises, except as set forth in this Minors on Campus Policy ("Policy"), including, but not limited to circumstances when they are hired to work on and/or permitted to participate in activities on campus or sponsored (on- or off-campus) by the University. In addition to the requirements of this Policy, the visits of Minors are subject to the same conditions as any other visitors to the University.  Any University employee who suspects that a Minor who is on University premises for any reason, or is participating in a University-sponsored activity at another location, has been the victim of child abuse shall immediately report the suspected abuse consistent with the University's Mandatory Child Abuse Reporting Policy.

Scope:  This Policy applies to activities and programs taking place on Saint Joseph's campus, or University-sponsored off-campus activities, in which Minors will be physically present and participating, with the following exceptions: (1) undergraduate and graduate academic programs; (2) activities sponsored by Campus Ministry and previously approved by the Vice President for Mission, in which enrolled undergraduate students of Saint Joseph's, or of another university participating in such activities or programs, are the only Minors participating; (3) research programs subject to the review and approval of an Institutional Review Board (IRB) sponsored by Saint Joseph's University or authorized by Saint Joseph's University to provide oversight concerning such research programs; (4) Shadow Visits, Lil' Sibs Weekend, Hand-in-Hand, Family Weekend, Boo Crew and such other similar, ongoing programs as may be designated from time to time by the appropriate Vice President, the Senior Vice President or Provost in advance and in writing as exempted from this Policy; and (5) on campus prospective student recruitment events.  Minors subject to any such exceptions shall still be covered by the University's Mandatory Child Abuse Reporting Policy.

NOTE:  Athletic camps, debate camps, laboratories and workshops intended for elementary and high school students and similar activities will fall within the scope of this Policy. This Policy applies to such programs and activities whether they are limited to daily activities or also involve the housing of Minors in residence halls.

"Minor" for purposes of this Policy means any person under the age of 18 who is covered by this Policy.

"Authorized Adult" for purpose of this Policy means a parent, legal guardian or other adult, including but not limited to Employees, who is responsible for escorting or supervising the Minor(s) while on campus or while participating in any University-sponsored off-campus activity.

"Employee" for purposes of this Policy includes independent contractors and volunteers who perform work for or donate services to the University.

•II.            Requirements of Policy Governing Presence of Minors on Campus

In an effort to minimize any disruption to the essential functioning of the University and maximize the safety of Minors on campus, certain requirements must be met, as follows:

• Minors must be supervised at all times by an Authorized Adult while on campus or participating in a University-sponsored off-campus activity.

• Minors are permitted in the general use facilities (Athletic Fields, Public Spaces, Academic Buildings, Food Services Area etc.) with an Authorized Adult, but may be restricted from certain areas of the facilities or from utilizing certain equipment.

• Even when accompanied by an Authorized Adult, pre-high school age Minors not participating in a program on University premises or a University-sponsored off-campus activity are prohibited from laboratories and other areas where significant potential safety hazards and liabilities may exist, and where strict safety precautions are required.

• Minors and Authorized Adults not meeting relevant University community conduct standards will be asked to leave the campus.

• Minors are not allowed in classrooms while classes are in session unless permission is granted by the faculty member having authorized access to the classroom in advance of the start of class. Should a Minor become disruptive, the Authorized Adult and Minor may be asked to leave.

III.   Implementing This Policy in Connection with Programs on University Premises or University-Sponsored Off-Campus Activities

•A.    Program Registration

Departmental units shall, prior to the beginning of the University's fiscal year for ongoing programs and activities and at least sixty days prior to the first scheduled date of participation by Minors, inform the Director of Employment of the details any program or activity in which Minors are expected to participate on forms posted on Department of Human Resources Website.  Such forms are to be completed by the appropriate Vice President or area Director. http://www.sju.edu/int/resources/humanresources/pdf/WorkingwithMinorsProgramNotificationForm.doc.

Any requests for clarification as to whether a particular program or activity is subject to this Policy, or a request for a waiver to this Policy, should also be sent to the Office of the General Counsel, appropriate Vice President and the Director of Employment. Information provided shall include, at a minimum, the Saint Joseph's person in charge of the program or activity; the dates and locations where Minors will be participating; the general nature of the activities and program to be undertaken or offered; the names of all adults who will be participating directly with Minors in the program or activity; and the administrative requirements associated with the program or activity, including but not limited to waivers and permission slips to be obtained from the parents/guardians of participating Minors and medical emergency forms.

•B.     Background checks

A successful background check will be required of each Employee prior to his or her direct participation with Minors in a program or activity covered by this Policy and at least once every four (4) years thereafter.  Background checks may be conducted by an outside contractor at the request of the Director of  Employment, though certain background requests may be accessed directly by the applicant (e.g., Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/resources/documents/pdf/fillinforms/dpwchildabuse.pdf). Background check request forms and information, including required waivers of liability, will be posted at the Department of Human Resources Web page. http://www.sju.edu/int/resources/humanresources/hrforms.html 

It is the responsibility of the person in charge of the program or activity to assure that each participating adult has submitted the required background check request form and has subsequently received clearance to participate. The Department of Human Resources will maintain a roster of individuals who have been cleared to participate and the dates on which a new background check will be required.  The failure of an employee to fulfill his or her obligations under this paragraph shall be subject to discipline, up to and including termination.

The background check will be limited to criminal offenses, including, but not limited to, child abuse, for which an individual has been convicted, pled guilty to a felony or misdemeanor, or where such charges are currently pending. The University may accept successful documented background clearances from the governmental agencies (e.g., School Districts) that have been completed within one year from the start date of employment.

A decision not to permit an individual to participate in a program or activity covered by this Policy based on the results of a background check will be made by the Assistant Vice President for Human Resources after consultation with the appropriate Vice President(s), the Office of the General Counsel, or others as needed. The results of background checks conducted under this Policy will be used only for the purposes of this Policy, except that Saint Joseph's reserves the right to take appropriate action with respect to employees who may have falsified or failed to disclose information material to their employment on employment applications uncovered as a result of the background check, including and up to immediate termination of employment. Copies of background check reports will be retained in the Department of Human Resources.

•C.    Training

Employees who will be participating with Minors in a covered program or activity shall attend annual mandatory training on the conduct requirements of this Policy, on protecting Minors from abusive emotional and physical treatment, and on mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse. The appropriate Vice President, the Senior Vice President, Provost or area Director may enhance and/or modify the required training program to meet specific needs of the particular program or activity involved, in consultation with the Director of Employment, but any such enhanced or modified program must include all the elements described in this section.  In addition, the appropriate Vice President, the Senior Vice President, Provost or area Director shall arrange for sufficiently frequent training sessions to permit covered programs and activities to continue to function on a regularly scheduled basis. 

Note:  Beginning June 1, 2012, all contracts for the services of independent contractors must include a provision assuring that the employees of such independent contractors or the contractor (in the case of a solo contractor) has complied with, at a minimum, background checks and training comparable to those required by the University under this Policy.   In addition, all independent contracts must reference and attach copies of this Policy and the University's Mandatory Child Abuse Reporting Policy to such contracts.

Training resources can be obtained from the Director of Employment or the Coordinator for the Safe Environment Program, Office for Child and Youth Protection, Archdiocese of Philadelphia, reachable at either 215-965-1747 or etarpey@adphila.org.  The wording for inclusion in contracts for independent contractors, as well as copies of both policies can be obtained from the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) and are also available on the Human Resources and OGC websites http://www.sju.edu/int/resources/humanresources/ or

http://www.sju.edu/int/resources/generalcounsel/

•D.    Conduct Requirements

Employees or any adult participating in programs and activities covered by this Policy shall not:

• Have one-on-one contact with Minors; in general, it is expected that activities where Minors are present will involve two or more Authorized Adult participants/supervisors.

• Participate in a sleepover under the auspices of the program or activity, unless (1) an Authorized Adult is present or (2) an Authorized Adult has given his/her written consent and there is at least one other Authorized Adult or Employee, and the two Authorized Adults and/or Employees remain in each other's presence at all times.

• Engage in abusive conduct of any kind toward, or in the presence of, a Minor.

• Strike, hit, administer corporal punishment to, or touch in an inappropriate or illegal manner any Minor.

• Pick up Minors or drop off Minors from their homes, other than the driver's child or children or friends of the driver's child or children other than when such child or children are present, at their homes in the adult's personal vehicle, whether before, during, or after the program or activity.

• Engage in the use of alcohol or illegal drugs, or be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs during such programs or activities.

• Make pornography in any form available to Minors participating in programs and activities covered by this Policy or assist them in any way in gaining access to pornography.

•E.     Allegation of Inappropriate Conduct

Employees participating in programs and activities covered by this Policy shall:

• Be familiar with and strictly adhere to the University's Mandatory Child Abuse Reporting Policy, which can be found at http://www.sju.edu/int/resources/humanresources/pdf/mandatorychildabusereporting_April2012.pdf

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• Strive to ensure the safety of Minors participating in programs and activities covered by this Policy, and, when appropriate, remove Minors from dangerous or potentially dangerous situations. In such case, the Director of Public Safety must be notified immediately and, in the event that the Director of Public Safety is not immediately available, then the Vice President for Administrative Services.

• Discontinue any further participation in programs and activities covered by this Policy when an allegation of inappropriate conduct has been made against him or her, until such allegation has been satisfactorily resolved.

Effective: July 2010

Update: April 2012