Background Checks and Boundary Maintenance
POLICY STATEMENT:
BACKGROUND CHECKS AND
BOUNDARY MAINTENANCE for STUDENTS
Introduction
The mission of Luther Seminary is to educate leaders called and sent by
the Holy Spirit to witness to salvation through Jesus Christ and to serve in
God’s world. The leaders who are prepared need to be healthy and mature. The
communities in which they learn and to which they are called need to be safe
places for all persons. Luther Seminary is committed to strengthening
congregations in becoming such safe places. Furthermore, Luther Seminary is
committed to being a safe place itself by ensuring that all of its
members—students, staff, faculty, and associated individuals—are aware of
the expectations regarding ethical behavior in the management of appropriate
relational boundaries and practice such standards of behavior in all
interactions.
In order to fulfill its mission Luther Seminary is fully committed to the
goal of educating leaders for the church who are trustworthy as well as
competent, faithful as well as focused on mission, and who are authentic and
healthy persons of integrity. Luther Seminary values its partnership with
other segments of the church in the education of such leaders and is
committed to fulfilling its ethical responsibilities in preparing such
leaders.
Background Checks
In order to embody such values and commitments, Luther Seminary is
prepared to partner with all degree students in assessing their level of
awareness and health around such matters of professional and ethical
behavior and will provide educational opportunities with respect to such
concerns on a regular basis. The initial step in that process will be
submission and review of a background check by every student enrolled in a
degree program at Luther Seminary. Students will authorize Luther Seminary
to conduct the background check by submitting a signed release form. A
Previous Employer Record Form will be required of each student, providing
employer information covering the last seven years.
In order to ensure the participation of all students in such a process,
Luther Seminary will have on file the results of such a background check for
each student by the end of the first semester or applicable term in which a
student has been admitted to a degree program. The background check will
address a seven-year period covering a criminal history database search, a
county record criminal check, motor vehicle check, and an employment
background check (looking at issues of inappropriate conduct). Payment of
the fee for the background check will be the responsibility of the student.
The results of such a background check will be received by the dean of
students, who will maintain the records in secure files to insure
confidentiality with regard to information received through such background
checks. The results of the background check will be reviewed by a regularly
convened review committee. The committee will be comprised of the dean of
students, the director of contextual education, the associate dean for
graduate theological education, the associate dean for missional pastors,
and the associate dean for specialized ministries. Background checks will be
assessed pursuant to institutional standards and processes developed by the
review committee in accordance with this policy. Written documentation that
a student’s file has been reviewed will remain on file in the office of the
dean of students for the duration of the student’s enrollment. At the time
of graduation or withdrawal from studies a student’s file will be kept in a
secure location.
A student will be notified of any information of concern to the review
committee, which has been discovered in the review process, and will be
given an opportunity to present a written response to the review committee
which may include a clarification of the report and/or an explanation of the
circumstances surrounding the noted incident. In such circumstances, a
student may request a face-to-face meeting with the review committee. Such
requests are to be submitted to the dean of students in writing. If the
review process reveals information of concern to the committee that is not
sufficiently explained, Luther Seminary reserves the right to take
appropriate action, including but not limited to, requiring the student to
withdraw from enrollment.
Doctor of Ministry students may satisfy this requirement by providing a
written certification by an adjudicatory, congregation, or employer
currently providing oversight attesting that the student has undergone a
similar background check as a precondition for their present service or
employment. Other students may request that information from a similar
background check, pursued through a church oversight process or
denominational candidacy committee, be released to Luther Seminary in lieu
of undergoing a parallel process upon admission. The review committee will
decide whether such materials adequately address this requirement.
Enrolled students are expected to update the information in their
background check file to reflect any criminal charges and convictions,
non-routine motor vehicle citations (e.g. D.W.I., reckless driving, etc.),
and/or any allegations of inappropriate conduct in the workplace, which
occur subsequent to the date of completion of the background check. Failure
to do so will be cause for disciplinary action.
For students placed in church or agency settings as part of their degree
requirements, the background check will be completed and reviewed prior to
the beginning of active leadership within that assigned setting. During the
first semester of enrollment a student may observe or assume a position of
leadership only in the presence of the contextual supervisor until the
background check and review have been completed. Each student’s file will be
updated as part of the preparation for internship placement.
Boundaries Workshops
The second requirement of this effort to prepare healthy church and
community leaders includes participation in a boundaries workshop by every
student in a degree program at Luther. Boundaries workshops will be offered
at least once a year with leadership provided by a team of trained faculty
and/or staff members. As with the background check, documentation of a
student’s successful participation in a boundaries workshop will be required
and kept on file.
For Master of Divinity students no internship placement will be possible
without documentation of successful participation in such a workshop. For M.
Div. students who have the internship requirement waived, completion of the
workshop is required for registration for senior level courses.
Master of Arts students will need to have completed the workshop prior to
the semester in which they intend to complete their academic program. MTh,
PhD, and Doctor of Ministry students need to complete such a workshop prior
to graduation.
A request to substitute an alternate experience as fulfillment of the
workshop requirement may be submitted in writing to the review committee in
a timely manner respecting the above noted deadlines.
View FAQs about Background Checks and
Boundary Maintenance
Adopted by the Board of Directors, October 25, 2005
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