Criminal background checks are completed on all employees (including students).  Checks may also be completed for interns and volunteers.  Background checks are conducted by HireRight, a company contracted by the university to provide this service.  Background checks are typically conducted only on the top candidate for each position.

Candidates must authorize the background check before it can be run. Students under the age of 18, at the time of the background check, must provide authorization by a parent or legal guardian.

• On-line authorization: Candidates will receive an email explaining the background check process.  The e-mail will include instructions on how to securely logon to HireRight where candidates enter their own personal information.   Departments should contact HR employment staff (Bouillon 140, 509-963-1202) to start this process.  We only require the selected candidate's name and email address as well as the name of the job and supervisor to begin the process.
• A paper form is also available for those candidates who do not have convenient access to email or Internet.  The paper authorization form may be downloaded and provided to candidates during in-person interviews.  The form (including the Summary of Consumer Rights) is 13 pages.  All pages must be provided to the applicant but only pages 1, 2, and 5 must be returned with the applicant’s signature on pages 2 and 5.  The completed form contains sensitive personal information about the candidate and must be treated confidentially; supervisors and hiring departments should ensure that they are not in possession of the information contained on a completed form. Finalists should be directed to deliver the completed form to HR (Bouillon 140). As an alternative, departments may also provide finalists with an envelope in which they may seal the completed form for later delivery to the HR office.

Questions about the background check process may be directed to your assigned HR Consultant or, if this is a student job, Kathy Johnson, Student Employment Specialist (509-963-2072).

Any offer of employment is conditional until the background check has been completed and reviewed by the HR Employment staff, and when necessary, the appointing authority.