Training
All members of the Boston University community who participate in programs or activities that include Minors should receive training in the following areas:
- University Recommended Guidelines for Interacting with Minors
- Warning signs for child abuse or neglect
- A review of the process for reporting potential harm to Minors, including obligations of mandated reporters
All University students, faculty, staff, and volunteers participating in University Activities involving Minors (including services, programs, and activities occurring on and off Campus, and owners, operators, employees, agents, and volunteers of Third Party Programs) must complete some level of training prior to being permitted to participate in programs that include Minors. The appropriate level of training will vary depending on the type of program and the level of interaction with the Minor(s). Program Operators are responsible for determining which type of training to provide, and for ensuring the appropriate training is delivered. The Minors Protection Coordinator (MPC) should work with their Program Operators to determine the appropriate type of training(s) to provide, and to ensure the appropriate training is delivered.
Available and Required Protection of Minors Trainings
This list of available and required trainings for the BU Community, includes information on who must complete the training, information on content and length, and how to access each training.
United Educators Protection of Minors Training
United Educators Protection of Minors Training
- Who must take this training?
Minors Program participants: All University students, faculty, staff, and volunteers who participate in Minors Program activities and programs
Minors Program Coordinators: The individual within each Boston University school, college, unit, or department sponsoring, operating, or participating in an on- or off-campus program involving minors who is primarily responsible for coordinating that department’s obligations under this Policy, maintaining records, ensuring compliance within their area, including requiring Program Operators to report to them on Policy compliance.
Minors Program Operators: Individuals who operate programs with minors who must report to MPC on Program activity and Policy compliance; they are primarily responsible for coordinating a particular minors program(s) obligations under the Policy.
- What: The Online Protection of Minors training is an interactive online course that provides guidelines for interacting with minors, warning signs for abuse or neglect, and how to report suspected abuse or neglect. The training is hosted by the online vendor EduRisk by United Educators. The training includes two modules, one on Identifying and Reporting Sexual Misconduct, and the other on Boundary Training for Educators.
- Length: Takes ~60 minutes to complete
- Access: Use the United Educators Online Training Instructions (PDF Instructions , Word Instructions) detail how to access the courses.
- Validating Completion: Once online training is complete, please save your completion certificate and send it to your Minors Program Coordinator
- Frequency: The Protection of Minors Procedures state that for minors programs operated by the University or on University property, timing is “Upon hire, first-involvement in activities involving Minors, or a change of engagement in activities involving Minors (for example, if an activity/program involving Minors was formerly non-residential, but becomes residential).” This is the minimum requirement, but many programs require training annually or at some regular interval, regardless of any programmatic changes.
- Frequency Best practice: At least annually, especially since the UE training educates on important topics, such as how to spot signs of abuse and neglect.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Presentation on CORI Background Checks
- Who must take this training?
- Any individuals at the university who are involved with background checks processing
- All Minors Program Coordinators (MPCs)
- Any Program Operators who are processing background checks
- Access: iCORI General Training Presentation
Minors Program Coordinator MPC Training
- Who must take this training?
- Minors Program Coordinators (MPCs): The individual within each Boston University school, college, unit, or department sponsoring, operating, or participating in an on- or off-campus program involving minors who is primarily responsible for coordinating that department’s obligations under this Policy, maintaining records, ensuring compliance within their area, including requiring Program Operators to report to them on Policy compliance.
- Access: This is a live training event held at least twice a year and hosted by Human Resources. MPCs will receive notice of the training from the POM@bu.edu email address.
- Zoom Link and Passcode: The training is taped. The Zoom link and Passcode credentials are available on this webpage (http://www.bu.edu/safety/mpc-training-login-information/) which is only accessible to the internal BU Community. Use your Kerberos login credentials to gain access to the webpage, which then contains a Zoom link and passcode to access the MPC training.
- PDF Copy of Training Materials: MPC Info Session 4.11.23
Policy/Document Review (Non-BU Program or Third Party Minors Programs ONLY)
- Who can use this training option? Policy/document review is ONLY available as a training option for BU personnel who will be interacting with Minors through a program not operated by BU, or through a Third Party program
- Who should take this training: Personnel who will be interacting with Minors through a program not operated by BU, or through a Third Party program can complete the policy/document review and certificate of training.
- Access:
- 1.Review the entire Protection of Minors Policy and Procedures
- 2.Sign the “Protection of Minors Certification of Training” on page 16 of the Policy.
- 3.Submit the certification form to the Program Operator or MPC for the program.
- The responsible MPC or Program Operator or should maintain records and track completion for compliance purposes.
Questions should be directed to Protection of Minors in Human Resources, (617)-353-4460 or pom@bu.edu.
See the BU PoM Procedure for more details about the specific training requirements.
