IMPORTANT UPDATE:
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, on-campus programs have been cancelled or postponed. However, many of our campus are transitioning to virtual modalities. To assist our programs, we have provided the training materials that are required for staff and administrators as PowerPoint presentations. They can be found here or below on this page.
In addition, the University System of Georgia has provided additional guidance related to virtual programs involving minors. This can be found here.
Augusta University offers many programs and activities serving non-student minors. These may include camps, athletic clinics, after-school activities, research activities, healthcare educational opportunities, and others, some that are sponsored by Augusta University and others that are hosted by third-party entities.
The highest concern of Augusta University is protecting the safety of our visitors. The Minors on Campus policy, aligned with Board of Regents policy and expectations, ensures a safe and healthy environment for minors participating in programs at AU.
The purpose of this website is to provide expectations, resources, and registration for programs involving minors. For additional information or questions, please contact the Office of Compliance, Ethics, and Risk Management at compliance@augusta.edu.
In accordance with AU and USG policies, all program/activity staff (including volunteers) who will have contact with minors must undergo background checks.
All program/activity staff, including volunteers, who will have contact with minors must undergo training on the Minors on Campus policy, the Code of Conduct, and the responsibilities of being a mandatory reporter.
Augusta University is committed to the safety and well-being of children and the prompt reporting of suspected child abuse or neglect.
Registration should be completed as the final step of the program checklist. It will ask basic questions about the program but will also require attestations that background checks and training have been completed.
In accordance with AU and USG policies, all program/activity staff (including volunteers) who will have contact with minors must undergo background checks. As required by the USG Human Resources Practice Manual, these background checks must include, at a minimum:
AU employees who are serving as program staff must have a background check performed upon hire and at least every three (3) years to be in compliance with this policy. All non-AU program staff must have a background check performed annually.
If the program/activity is sponsored by Augusta University, please contact AU Human Resources at (706) 721-9365 to have background checks run.
If the program/activity is sponsored by a third-party entity, the entity is responsible for performing these background checks; Augusta University Human Resources does not perform background checks on third parties. Third parties working with minors using AU facilities must ensure all of their program/activity staff, including volunteers, are background-checked in compliance with the Policy. As a condition of utilizing University facilities, third parties are required to certify that they have performed background checks on program/activity staff which would, at a minimum, satisfy HRAP requirements.
All program/activity staff, including volunteers, who will have contact with minors must undergo training on the Minors on Campus policy and the Code of Conduct. This training is offered by the Office of Compliance, Ethics, and Risk Management on a regular and as-needed basis. Please contact the office to schedule a training if needed.
NOTE: due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office of Compliance has made the required training available online at https://augustauniversity.box.com/s/22wykxi6xuu7r4yowfnjw9pzsfbc95x2.
All program/activity staff must also complete the Mandated Reporting training offered by the Georgia Office of the Child Advocate. The training is available online at https://oca.georgia.gov/training/mandated-reporting. Program/Activity Administrators are responsible for ensuring all program/activity staff complete this training and that the certificates of completion are kept as required by the document retention policies.
In addition, the Program/Activity Administrators are responsible for developing program-specific trainings as appropriate. This may include additional staff and participant codes of conduct, disability and other accommodations, safety and security protocols, first aid guidelines and medication management, and others as deemed applicable.
NOTE: due to the COVID-19 pandemic, training for program administrators can be found at https://augustauniversity.box.com/s/utkmsh9v9waoj976ukhg11rkz5qqukwj.
