Fingerprint Check Policy
A Criminal History Fingerprint Check is required by the School of Education (SOE) of all Saint Xavier University students enrolled in education courses with field experience, effective January 2011. No one will be allowed to complete a course with field experience if the SOE does not have their Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Illinois State Police (ISP) reports on file. The fingerprint check must be completed by the School of Education and reports sent directly to the SOE by the ISP and FBI. A second fingerprint check might be required prior to student teaching, depending on how current the first check is, and as required by law. Authorization for and payment of the costs of the checks must be furnished by the student. (105 ILCS 5/10-21.9(g))
The School of Education is authorized by the Illinois State Police to conduct fingerprint checks according to state and federal regulations of the National Child Protection and Volunteers for Children Act (NCPVCA). These regulations require the SOE to:
- safely secure all Illinois State Police (ISP) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) criminal history reports received;
- use the reports solely for the purpose of assessing a student's criminal history and suitability for field experience, internships, practica, and/or student teaching in an education program, or for state licensure or certification as an educator;
- not disseminate the ISP or FBI reports, except as authorized by law, to the university student completing the fingerprint check;
- inform students about their rights regarding reviewing and challenging the accuracy of the reports, as described at www.isp.state.il.us/crimhistory/viewingchrircds.cfm
The School of Education has contracted with Accurate Biometrics, a Chicago company approved by the Illinois State Police, to conduct fingerprint based criminal background checks on campus each semester and in accordance with the National Child Protection Act of 1993 (NCPA), Public Law 103-209, as amended by the Volunteers for Children Act (VCA), Public law 105-251 (Section 221 and 222 of the Crime Identification Technology Act of 1998).
Fingerprint Check Fee: The fee for the fingerprint check can be found at the Bursar's Office web page. The fingerprint check fee is included in the tuition bill of students enrolled in EDU 200 and EDUGL 470. All other students must pay the fee with a personal check or money order made payable to SXU the first time they enroll in a course with field experience. Fingerprint tests not conducted through SOE are not acceptable because SOE must be the requester on record in order to receive subsequent follow-up reports automatically.
If you have any questions about the fingerprint check, please contact Michelle Keller in the Office of Teacher Education and Certification at keller@sxu.edu
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