288 St. Botolph Street / Fax: 617-373-8680
Boston, Massachusetts 02115
To: All University Contractors and Vendors
From: Tom Chance, Procurement & Contracts Manager
Date: October 31, 2016
Re: Criminal Background Checks: Policy for Contractors / Vendors
Northeastern University requires a criminal background check, including sex offender record information, for employees holding certain positions at the University. The background check will be conducted in all jurisdictions where the candidate has resided for a minimum of the last seven years. Within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the criminal background check is known as a CORI.
POLICY FOR CONTRACTORS
Contractors’ employees assigned to our campus with key/card access to residence halls and/or who have supervisory responsibilities over workers while the workers are in our residence halls (critical employees), are required to represent that their employees have undergone appropriate criminal background checks, consistent with the University Policy for its’ employees by providing an affidavit that confirms that fact, for each employee, on an annual basis.
The standard that should be adhered to and to which the Contractor certifies its employees have been checked, and the affidavits confirm, is as follows:
CRIMINAL HISTORY STANDARDS
Any candidate with a criminal history will be subject to further review.
Candidates with the following criminal record may not be eligible for hire if the criminal background check shows:
1. A felony conviction for violent acts, sex offenses, or theft.
2. Any repeat felony convictions.
3. A felony arrest for violent acts, sex offenses, or theft with a negotiated plea arrangement (reduction in charge, placed on file, etc.).
4. A misdemeanor conviction depending on the nature and severity of the offense.
5. A current misdemeanor or felony case pending.
In determining whether criminal charges and/or convictions will preclude candidates from being hired, the contractor/vendor will consider the number, nature, severity, recency, and behavior since the conviction and the potential risk factors given the job responsibilities of the position the candidate is seeking.
Contractors will be required to present evidence that their critical employees have been checked in accordance with the University standards. Contractor’s employees who have been properly checked and have been granted key/card access must be present on the job site at all times while Contractor’s crew is working within sensitive areas. Failure to assign appropriate personnel to supervise in these situations will result in sanctions against Contractor up to and including termination as a University vendor.
Kindly indicate your acknowledgement of the university’s CORI requirement, by signing below and emailing this signed policy and certification to Tom Chance, CC KeyTrack: , CC
Please do not send Northeastern actual copies of your employees’ background checks.
Contractor’s Certification
I certify that my firm understands its obligation to conduct background checks as outlined herein, and I certify that appropriately checked employees will be present on job sites as detailed herein:
Signature ______Date ______
Please clearly identify by name your firm/business entity below.
______
Sincerely,
Tom Chance
Procurement & Contracts Manager
Facilities Division