Criminal Background Check Requirement

Note: If you are seeking to get a background check for your Education courses or for admission to the program, the Department of Teacher Education will cover the cost of your fingerprinting (up to $20). 

Before a teacher candidate can work with children in extended practicums and clinical practice, a criminal background check must be completed. The Utah State Board of Education policy requires that teacher candidates be cleared on fingerprints from the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. These agencies will search regional and national files for criminal convictions. In some cases, sealed records may be accessed to determine the teacher candidate's fitness for teaching.

There are two parts to the background check process. Students must complete both the online portion (USIMS) and their fingerprinting for their background check to clear correctly.

Please Note: Background checks completed for substitute teachers, paraprofessionals, daycares, or preschools will not be considered valid as their fingerprints are processed differently. Please be aware that you have to be at least 18 years old in order to request a background check. 

Please follow these directions to obtain your background check clearance:

• Access USIMS
• Create an account
• Request a background check and complete the ethics review
  • Make sure you select Southern Utah University as your Utah Teacher Education Program.
  • You will find your CACTUS ID# (Educator ID) in your USIMS checklist. You will need your CACTUS ID# for your fingerprinting appointment.

• Make an appointment for fingerprinting at the following locations:
  
  • SUU Public Safety Office, 36 N. 300 W., (435) 586-7793-You must call to make an appointment.
  • YUP Fingerprinting, you can make an appointment online. Make sure you choose the "Teachers" appointment type.
  • Iron County Sheriff's Office, 2132 North Main Street, (435) 867-7550. You must call to make an appointment.
• Download and print the fingerprinting form or pick one up from the front desk in ED 338. Caitlin Ravanelli (ED 339A) or Shirley Wilson (ED 338B) can help you with this if needed. You will need to take this form with you to your fingerprinting appointment.
  • Have your fingerprints scanned electronically (MAKE SURE they are LIVESCAN fingerprints, not cards)
  • Those who do not need to pay the fingerprinting fee include AmeriCorps, America Reads Tutors, Upward Bound, and Working with Minors.
  • If you get your fingerprinting done at YUP Fingerprinting or the Iron County Sheriff's office, you will need to submit a receipt for reimbursement (up to $20). You can take a picture of the receipt and email it to Caitlin Ravanelli (caitlinravanelli@suu.edu) to receive reimbursement. You will include your T# in this email.
• Please bring a passport or driver's license, and CACTUS ID to the appointment (Student IDs will not be accepted).
• Have it billed to B1017
• Once your background check is cleared, send a screenshot of your USIMS checklist, your CACTUS ID #, and your T# to Caitlin Ravanelli (caitlinravanelli@suu.edu). 
• Once you've cleared, you can request an ID badge. Red SUU ID badges will not be administered until you have cleared your background check.

• You will need to get your fingerprints taken at one of the places listed. SUU will reimburse you for the associated cost (up to $20) if you send your receipt to Caitlin Ravanelli (caitlinravanelli@suu.edu) to receive reimbursement. You will include your T# in this email. 
• Have your fingerprints scanned electronically (MAKE SURE they are LIVESCAN fingerprints, not cards)
• Once your background check is cleared, send a screenshot of your USIMS checklist, your CACTUS ID #, and your T# to Caitlin Ravanelli (caitlinravanelli@suu.edu). 
• Once you've cleared, you can request an ID badge. Red SUU ID badges will not be administered until you have cleared your background check.

You will only have a 60-day window to complete the live scan fingerprinting once the authorization letter has been generated. After that time you will be required to begin the process all over again.

Cleared fingerprints are currently valid indefinitely unless a violation occurs on your record. Should anything flag in your background check, you are required to notify the Teacher Education Department Chair of the status. They, as well as Caitlin Ravanelli, will be able to give you further instructions.

If you have any questions please contact Caitlin Ravanelli (caitlinravanelli@suu.edu).