This policy intends to outline responsibilities related to the protection of minors at the university. Employees of Oregon higher education institutions, including the University of Oregon, are by law subject mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect. The university has additional reporting and training requirements for university-affiliated youth programs and activities. The university is committed to providing a safe environment for participants in university-affiliated youth programs and activities.
All employees of the university will gain further clarity as to their obligations and minors who participate in university-affiliated youth programs will be better-served.
For questions about this policy, please contact the Office of the Vice President for Finance and Administration at 541-346-3003.
28 March 2017 - Approved by the university president
The University of Oregon is committed to complying with mandatory reporting legal obligations and providing a safe and positive experience for minors. Faculty, staff, students, student employees, including undergraduate and graduate employees, and volunteers are expected to hold themselves to the highest standards of conduct when interacting with minors. This policy and the associated Youth Programs procedures (https://hr.uoregon.edu/hr-programs-services/youth-programs-protecting-minors) mandate university-wide standards for those in the university community with the goal of protecting minors. This policy should be read and interpreted to be consistent with state and federal law.
1. Mandatory Reporting Requirements
Pursuant to the Oregon Child Abuse Reporting Statutes, all university employees have a duty to make a report to the Oregon Department of Human Services or a law enforcement agency when there is reasonable cause to believe any child with whom the employee comes in contact has suffered abuse or that any person with whom the employee comes in contact has abused a child. For instances that relate to UO authorized activities, all UO employees are expected to make the report immediately to the University of Oregon Police Department. For purposes of this reporting responsibility, “abuse” includes, but is not limited to:
• assault of a child;
• physical injury to a child caused by other than accidental means;
• any mental injury to a child caused by cruelty to a child;
• rape of a child;
• sexual abuse;
• sexual exploitation;
• negligent treatment or maltreatment of a child;
• threatened harm to a child;
• buying or selling of a child;
• allowing a child on the premises where methamphetamine is being manufactured; and
• unlawful exposure to a controlled substance that subjects a child to risk of harm.
The duty of employees of public universities to report incidents of child abuse applies at all times, not just to those incidents occurring during working hours or on campus. For this purpose, university employees include all faculty and staff, student employees including graduate employees, and temporary employees.
Under the law, reports must be made to the local office of the Department of Human Services or to a law enforcement agency in the county where the reporting employee identifies child abuse. Failure to report when required to do so is a Class A violation. Persons who make reports in good faith are immune from liability for making the report. For instances that relate to UO-authorized activities, UO employees are expected to make the report immediately to the UO Police Department (541-346-2919).
2. University-affiliated youth programs standards
Events, operations, endeavors, or activities designed for participation by minors and organized by the University of Oregon in which university employees or volunteers are responsible for the care, custody, or control of minors (“youth programs”) have required standards outlined in the Youth Program Procedures. Youth programs include but are not limited to day camps, overnight camps, clinics, instructional programs, and sports camps. The procedures apply to all faculty and staff, student employees including graduate employees, temporary employees and anyone else employed by the University of Oregon (“university employees”) as well as volunteers who work in youth programs.
These standards do not apply to:
• Undergraduate or graduate academic programs, classes, or activities in which all individuals under the age of 18 are enrolled students or students admitted for enrollment.
• Events open to the public that minors may attend, but where the university is not accepting care, custody, or control for the minor(s), as those terms are defined in the implementing procedures.
• Non-Youth programs where minors are working for the university as employees, volunteers, or interns. University employees and volunteers will be required to comply with the conduct requirements when working with minors.
All university employees will be required to comply with mandatory reporting requirements under this policy and any implementing procedures and under the law.
Youth programs and university employees and volunteers working with youth programs must comply with the Youth Programs procedures, including standards for:
a. Mandatory reporting
b. Criminal background checks
c. Conduct requirements
d. Training
e. Registration of programs
Non-compliance of the youth program procedures may result in discipline up to and including termination of employment or volunteer duties.
To the extent there is a conflict between a separate state or federal law or to the extent that state or federal law already regulate an activity (e.g. licensed child care facilities, Institutional review board (IRB)-approved research), the state or federal law will supersede this policy.
Procedures: Youth Programs as referenced in the Protection of Minors Policy |
The following Youth Programs procedures provide the standards referenced in the Protection of Minors Policy. |
Scope: These procedures apply to youth programs covered by the Youth Programs policy. |
Pursuant to the Oregon Child Abuse Reporting Statutes and university Protection of Minors policy, all university employees have a duty to make a report to the Oregon Department of Human Services or a law enforcement agency when there is reasonable cause to believe any child with whom the employee comes in contact has suffered abuse or that any person with whom the employee comes in contact has abused a child. For instances that related to UO authorized activities, UO employees are expected to make the report immediately to the University of Oregon Police Department. |
The university will conduct criminal background checks for any university employee or volunteer working in youth programs consistent with university policy on background checks and applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements. If a criminal background check reveals information that could affect the individual’s suitability for their role in the youth program, the university will follow its usual policies and procedures regarding confidentiality, assessing the results, informing the youth program and the individual, and any other processes.
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Definitions: To the extent there is a conflict between the below definitions and any term defined in the Youth Protection Policy, the Youth Protection Policy definition controls. Youth Program: all events, operations, endeavors, or activities designed for participation by minors and organized by the University of Oregon in which university employees or volunteers are responsible for the care, custody, or control of minors. Youth programs includes but is not limited to day camps, overnight camps, clinics, instructional programs, and sports camps. Youth Program does not include the following:
Minor: a person under the age of 18 years Care, custody, or control of minors: when an adult is present and has primary responsibility for supervision of minors at any given point throughout the Youth Program. At least one adult must have care, custody, or control of minors at all times during the Youth Program. Working in youth programs: when a university employee or volunteer, as part of their duties in the youth program, is present with minors who are participating in a youth program, but the adult does not necessarily have care, custody, or control for the minors because another adult has care, custody, or control University employee: a faculty member, staff member (including an officer of administration), student employee (including a graduate employee), temporary employee, or anyone else employed by the University of Oregon. Volunteer: any individual providing services on behalf of the university for no remuneration or expectation that he or she will be compensated except for the reimbursement of actual expenses. This includes interns or students. Youth Program administrator: a person who is responsible for a youth program which may include human resources, financial, marketing, and strategic operations. Private one-on-one interactions: An intentional or purposeful interaction where one individual to whom the policy applies is alone with one minor. |
- Volume IV: Finance, Administration and Infrastructure
- Chapter 5: Public Safety and Risk Services