To: HR Officers and Secondary Contacts, Business Managers
From: Linc Butler, Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources
As you are aware, the University requires background checks for candidates/appointees to mitigate risk and ensure campus safety while it works to identify opportunities for process improvement.
As referenced in the February 13 Carolina HR Council meeting, since July 2012, the University has expanded background check requirements to include unpaid volunteers, interns and visiting scholars, as well as Centers for Disease Control Select Agents, UNC independent contractors and individuals who have contact with minors. In addition, in recent years, several campus functions moved to the Background Check unit in an effort to reduce errors and improve compliance with regulatory requirements.
The background check program operates on a non-profit basis and is entirely supported by an interdepartmental fee, which covers program costs, including background check staff, technology support, program oversight, and office supplies. In addition to this fee, the Office of Human Resources (OHR) recharges departments for external background check vendor fees. OHR acts as a “pass through” for the vendor fees, so that departments do not have to process and reconcile vendor invoices individually. Since the economic downturn, the Department of Public Safety and, more recently, OHR have subsidized a portion of the vendor fees ($10 for non-employee and $12 for employee background checks) for campus departments to offset rising background check costs.
As approved by the Interdepartmental Fee Committee in late February, effective July 1, 2017, OHR will increase the interdepartmental fee by $12 per background check. In addition, OHR will no longer subsidize a portion of the vendor fees.
This fee increase will cover increased operating costs of the background check unit resulting from a significantly higher number of background checks conducted, as well as work that has transitioned from campus departments to the background check unit including PID creation, degree verification, government analysis of adverse results and reporting requirements.
A copy of the July 1, 2017, background check pricing schedule is available. Please contact Dan Atkins at 919-962-2903 or daniel_atkins@unc.edu if you have questions.