Registration
Syracuse University considers the safety and well being of youth program participants to be important. Each University program sponsor must consider the impact of all activities conducted during the course of a camp or enrichment program, must appreciate the risks and legal responsibilities and take appropriate measures to manage the potential for exposure to program participants to reasonable foreseeable risks, and comply with the policy for the Safety of Minors and Abuse Reporting.
As part of its commitment to provide an open and safe campus environment for all, including minors, Syracuse University needs to identify all programs, events and activities that serve, or otherwise engage, youth. Minors are individuals under the age of 18, who are not a matriculated University students. For laboratories, Minors under the age of 13 are limited to supervised tours only, and may not participate in any hands-on laboratory activities. Effective April 1, 2024, the CSA designation is extended to those individuals associated with youth programs who take the training and attestation as of this date.
A. Syracuse University Programs
The responsible program person for a University program hosting or involving minors (minors program or program) must register the program with the Office of Institutional Risk Management at least thirty (30) days prior to the proposed start date. Recurring programs must re-register every fiscal year. A minors program will not be permitted if it does not first register, or Risk Management denies approval.
- Register the program;
Training
Minors Program staff (including University faculty, staff, students, and third-parties) and volunteers are required to participate in minors safety training provided by Risk Management prior to the start of the Minors Program. The training may consist of online or in-person training. The training shall be completed annually before Minors Program staff and volunteers begin working with minors, and the training shall be documented and tracked by Risk Management.
Background Check
Responsible Program Persons are responsible for (a) identifying and documenting all minors program staff and volunteers (including University faculty, staff, students, and third-parties); and (b) ensuring all staff or volunteers pass a background check performed within the 6-month period immediately prior to the program start date.
Risk Management and Human Resources will procure all background checks, which will include criminal history record checks at the state and federal level, and sex offender registry and child protective services checks at the state level. Human Resources and Risk Management will review the results of any background check. Risk Management will determine the eligibility of staff and volunteers for participation in minors programs, with appropriate consultation from the Office of University Counsel, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and Human Resources. Individuals who refuse to submit to a background check may not participate in a minors program.
B. Third-Party Minors Programs
Third-party sponsors of minors programs taking place on property owned, operated or controlled by the University are responsible for registering the program, procuring and reviewing background checks and conducting training consistent with the policy requirements.