Building partnerships through collaboration.
Conducting a Background Check
A background check is a great tool to use to verify a candidate's credentials when selected as a finalist. A background check can be requested at the time an offer is made to a new employee.
On this page:
Positions Requiring a Background Check
Background checks are conducted to mitigate risk and support the university’s fiduciary responsibility to protect the security, safety, and health of its community. Background checks are required for positions that:
- Are responsible for the health, safety and security of the university community and its students
- Have access to restricted or private data, or controlled substances
- Have broad access to facilities
- Have financial and business officer responsibilities
- Have roles as senior administrators
HR recruitment specialists will discuss whether not a background check is required for your posting during the posting planning process.
Department Next Steps
Make an offer of employment:
- Prepare an offer letter of employment
- Add the contingent offer language
Find the Required Language For the Offer Letter
Signed offer letter received from the candidate:
- Provide the account number to be billed for the background check in the 'Please Provide Any Background Check Detail' field
- Attach a copy of the letter on the hiring proposal documents tab under 'Signed offer letter for background check'
HR Next Steps
- Submit the background check request
- Update the history section with the status of the background check.
- Approve or deny the UB Jobs hiring proposal with the outcome
A background check may take 3-5 business days to run.
Find Out What Will Be Checked
Background checks conducted by position type.
* The baseline check includes:
- Criminal felony and misdemeanor
- Social Security Number (SSN) trace
- National sex offender registry
- Widescreen national criminal search
| Job Type | Baseline Search * | Degree | Prof Credentials (when required) | Motor Vehicle - LENS and Clearinghouse (when required) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classified Competitive | X | X | ||
| Classified Labor Class | X | X | ||
| Classified Non-Competitive | X | X | ||
| State Cleaners | X | X | ||
| Professional MC | X | X | X | X |
| Professional UUP | X | X | X | X |
| Research Foundation Exempt | X | X | X | X |
| Research Foundation Nonexempt | X | X | X | |
| UB Foundation Exempt | X | X | X | X |
| UB Foundation Nonexempt | X | X | X | |
Volunteers
| X | X | ||
Students
| X | X | ||
TA/GA's
| X | X |
A background check may be required due to:
- Child protection act
- Department of state
- Drug enforcement agency
- Federal law
- Office of the department of education
- State law
- University, school or decanal area determination
Registered Department
Department Next Steps
- Notify and obtain written consent for the background check from the individual
- Submit the Background Check Request Form
HR Next Steps
- Submit the background check request
- Notify the department of the outcome
Find Out What Will Be Checked
* The baseline check includes:
- Criminal felony and misdemeanor
- Social Security Number (SSN) trace
- National sex offender registry
- Widescreen national criminal search
Non-Registered Department
Contact the Recruitment Team in HR to Schedule an appointment to discuss.
Related Policies
Policies
Contact an Expert
UB Jobs Support Staff
Recruitment
Phone: 716-645-5627
Email: UB-Jobs@buffalo.edu
![Photo of Nayema Chowdhury.]()
Nayema Chowdhury
Workforce Recruitment Specialist
Workforce Planning and Recruitment
![anthony greco.]()
Anthony Grieco
Workforce Recruitment Specialist
Workforce Planning and Recruitment
![Shannon Hourigan.]()
Shannon Hourigan
Recruitment Coordinator
Workforce Planning and Recruitment
![lauren merletti.]()
Lauren Merletti
Workforce Recruitment Specialist
Workforce Planning and Recruitment
![mary jo serafini.]()
Mary Jo Serafini
Regional Director, Upstate New York HERC and Recruitment Specialist
Workforce Planning and Recruitment
