Department of Human Resources

Pre-Employment Background Check Policy

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Title: Pre-Employment Background Check Policy
Policy Owner: Department of Human Resources
Applies to: Faculty, Staff, Others
Campus Applicability: Storrs and Regional Campuses
Approval Date: February 27, 2024
Effective Date: February 29, 2024
For More Information, Contact Department of Human Resources
Contact Information: 860-486-3034 ; hr-cbc@uconn.edu
Official Website: https://hr.uconn.edu/cbc/

BACKGROUND

The University of Connecticut prides itself on hiring qualified employees who are prepared to work in the best interests of the University and its students.  Pre-employment background checks serve as an important element of the University’s ongoing efforts to ensure a safe and secure campus and workplace.

PURPOSE

To ensure a safe and secure campus and workplace

APPLIES TO

This policy applies to the following:

  • All full-time and part-time final candidates for employment in regular payroll positions, whether newly hired, rehired, or a transfer from another state agency.
  • All individuals selected for temporary appointments as Adjunct Faculty, Special Payroll Lecturers, Instructional Specialists, Academic Specialists, Academic Technicians, Clinical Supervisors, Graduate Instructional Specialists, and Graduate Special payroll Lecturers that are newly hired or rehired after a break in University service of a year or more and are not currently on the regular payroll.
  • Other special payroll titles that have direct teaching or advising responsibilities, or are deemed to be in a position of trust, e.g., working with minors.
  • Graduate students who are working in a teaching capacity as a Special Payroll Lecturer, Instructional Specialist, or other special payroll appointment that has direct teaching or advising responsibilities.

Prospective special payroll appointees or volunteers may be subject to a background check if (1) required by law; (2) required by a third party as a condition for the position, or (3) when considered a position of trust.

POLICY STATEMENT

It will be a condition of employment at the University of Connecticut to submit to a background check.  Offers of employment will be conditional pending the result of a background check, which may include the following:

  • Social Security Number Verification / Past Address Trace
  • Consent Based Social Security Verification (CBSV) (as applicable)
  • County/Statewide Criminal (as applicable)
  • National Criminal/Multi-Jurisdictional Criminal
  • Federal Criminal
  • Statewide Sex Offender
  • Nationwide Sex Offender
  • International Criminal (as applicable)
  • Education Verifications
  • Credit Checks (only required in very limited circumstances)

ENFORCEMENT

Pre-Employment background checks will be centrally administered by the Department of Human Resources.

Pre-employment background checks and the use of information obtained will be in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Violations of this policy may result in appropriate disciplinary measures in accordance with University By-Laws, General Rules of Conduct for All University Employees, applicable collective bargaining agreements, and the University of Connecticut Student Code.

PROCEDURES/FORMS

Procedures on the pre-employment background check process are available at: http://hr.uconn.edu/cbc/

POLICY HISTORY

Policy created: January 8, 2014

Revisions: February 27, 2024 (Approved by the Senior Policy Council and the President)

Relocation and Moving Policy

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Title: Relocation and Moving Policy
Policy Owner: Office of the Provost / Department of Human Resources
Applies to: Designated Full-time Faculty, Athletics, Librarians, Management Exempt, and Management Exempt positions with faculty titles
Campus Applicability:  All Campuses except UConn Health
Effective Date: February 25, 2021
For More Information, Contact Office of the Provost or Human Resources
Contact Information: Provost@uconn.edu / HR@uconn.edu
Official Website: http://www.policy.uconn.edu

REASON FOR POLICY

The University recognizes the competitive nature of the hiring process and therefore grants the flexibility to reimburse or pay for actual relocation expenses for designated full-time faculty, athletics, management-exempt administrators.

POLICY STATEMENT

The relocation policy and procedures establishes the nature of expenses that can be direct billed or reimbursed from the University, limits on these expenses, and a timeframe of when these expenses can occur.

POLICY

  1. In the offer of employment, the University may include an offer to reimburse and/or provide direct payment for allowable moving expenses required for relocation up to the amount specified in the table set forth in paragraph 15 herein.
  2. All reimbursement or direct payments for relocation expenses are includable in the employee’s taxable wages.
  3. Designated faculty includes tenured and tenure-track faculty, management-exempt employees with a base faculty appointment, in-residence faculty, clinical faculty, extension faculty, and  librarians.
  4. Direct billing cannot be used for moves that occur during November or December.
  5. The hiring process includes three phases: interview, offer and acceptance, and move. The final phase, the move, begins the date of the final one-way trip of the selected candidate and their  family to their new residence. The move phase ends upon the day of arrival. Only expenses incurred in connection with the move phase are covered by this policy. Common relocation expenses include (where relevant, this covers the employee and one immediate family member, defined as spouse or child):
    • Transportation of household goods
    • Airfare, in accordance with the University Travel Policy
    • Car rental (through the day of arrival), or mileage at the standard IRS medical/moving mileage rate, in accordance with the University Travel Policy
    • Lodging (only during the one-way trip of the move phase, ending on the day of arrival), in accordance with the University Travel Policy
    • Meals during travel (excluding alcohol), in accordance with the University Travel Policy
    • Shipping of car
    • Storage of household goods after arrival; not to exceed 30 consecutive days after date goods are moved from the former residence
  6. Employees will be reimbursed for the shortest, most direct route available. Travel incurred for side trips or vacations en route, etc. may proportionally reduce the amount of moving  expenses an employee is eligible to receive.
  7. The following types of non-business expenses, included but not limited to, will not be paid or reimbursed as part of relocation expenses:
    • Entertainment
    • Side trips, sightseeing
    • Violations (parking tickets, moving violations, )
    • Return trips to former residence
    • Expenses related to former residence
    • General repairs or maintenance of vehicle resulting from self-move
    • Temporary accommodation in the new location beyond the day of arrival
  8. Individuals should refer to the Reimbursement of Recruitment Expenses Policy for guidance regarding appropriate payment or reimbursement of expenses related to the “interview” and  “offer and acceptance” phases. Relocation payments are not intended to cover any travel expenses incurred during these two earlier phases.
  9. The cost associated with the relocation of a laboratory, professional library, scholarly collection and/or equipment (scientific, musical, etc.) are excluded from this policy as they are not   considered household goods or personal effects. If relevant for business purposes, costs associated with moving such materials should be negotiated separately.
  10. This policy applies to new employees whose move exceeds 50 miles and who are moving to within 35 miles of the primary campus at which they will be working. Exceptions to this rule may   be made by a Dean, the Director of Athletics, or by the appropriate EVP if a) they think that a move is reasonable given the commuting distance that the new employee would be facing, or b)   the new residence of the employee will be close enough to the primary campus at which they will be working so that they will reasonably be able to relocate there and perform their duties.
  11. Relocation expenses will only be covered by this policy if they occur within 12 months of the new start date of an employee.
  12. If employment with the University ends in a voluntary separation prior to working at least thirty-nine (39) weeks on a full-time basis in the first twelve months after starting employment,   the employee must reimburse the University the full amount of relocation expenses paid by the University.
  13. Exceptions to extend applicability beyond these employees require a business justification and must be explicitly approved by the Director of Athletics, EVP, or President as appropriate.
  14. The President will recommend an amount for reimbursement and/or direct payment for the Executive Vice Presidents/Provost to the Board. The Chairman of the Board will recommend an   amount for reimbursement and/or direct payment for the President to the Board.
  15. The formula for determining the amount to be reimbursed is based on the distance of the move. This figure represents the maximum reimbursement allowed. The allowance for a move   constitutes the maximum commitment for reimbursement of University and/or Foundation funds, rather than an entitlement of the employee. The figure is also the maximum amount the   University will pay when the direct bill option is selected. The formula is calculated according to the distance of the move, as follows:
Mileage Reimbursement of expenses up to:
≤ 1,000 miles $2,000
≤ 1,500 miles $2,500
≤ 2,000 miles $3,000
≤ 2,500 miles $3,500
≤ 3,000 miles $4,000
  1. It may be the case that the competitive hiring practices of a specific field require exceptions to this policy. Exceptions that involve costs of up to 200% of the standard formula may be approved by the Dean, Director of Athletics, or EVP as appropriate. Exceptions above 200% of the standard formula or involving other requirements of the policy will require documentation of the business justification for the requested exception and these require approval by the EVP or President as appropriate.

PROCEDURES

Relocation and Moving Procedures are located here. Upon acceptance, the University’s contracted relocation services provider, Signature Relocation, will contact the employee directly to assist the employee with their relocation.

ENFORCEMENT

Violations of this policy or associated procedures may result in appropriate disciplinary measures in accordance with University By-Laws, General Rules of Conduct for All University Employees, applicable collective bargaining agreements, the University of Connecticut Student Code, or other applicable University Policies.

RELATED POLICIES

Reimbursement of Recruitment Expenses, Policy on

POLICY HISTORY

Policy Created:  07/01/2003 (Reimbursement of Recruitment and Moving Expenses Policy approved by Board of Trustees)

Revisions:

08/07/2013 (Reimbursement of Moving Expenses Policy and Procedures approved by Board of Trustees)

11/21/2014 (Procedural revisions to Reimbursement of Moving Expenses Policy and Procedures)

02/24/2021 (Relocation and Moving Policy approved by Board of Trustees)

Reimbursement of Recruitment Expenses Policy and Procedures

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Title: Reimbursement of Recruitment Expenses Policy and Procedures
Policy Owner: Committee formed by the Office of the Provost
Applies to: Faculty
Campus Applicability:  All Programs at all Campuses except UConn Health
Effective Date: August 7, 2013
For More Information, Contact Workforce Solutions/ Office of the Provost
Contact Information: (860) 486-3034
Official Website: http://hr.uconn.edu/

Reason for Policy

The University recognizes the competitive nature of the recruitment and hiring process, and, therefore, grants departments the flexibility to pay for or reimburse recruitment expenses for faculty or management-exempt administrator positions.

The hiring process consists of three phases: the interview phase, the offer and acceptance phase, and the move phase. The interview and offer and acceptance phases constitute the recruitment process.  For expenses incurred in connection with the move phase, please see the Reimbursement of Moving Expenses Policy. Depending on the phase, payments vary and are subject to different tax rules.

This policy allows for reimbursement and/or direct pay of one trip per recruitment phase.  Reimbursements for additional visits must be authorized by the President and/or Provost.

The Interview Phase Policy Statement

The interview phase commences upon the first interview and ends upon extension of a written offer to the candidate.  The date the request to hire is submitted is considered the extension of a written offer.

Any department seeking to recruit for a position of sufficient importance may, with the approval of the Dean, Director or Department Head, pay full or partial travel expenses of candidates who must travel to interview for the position. All costs of the interview are the responsibility of the department.

Following approval by the Dean, Director or Department Head, the department may proceed with arrangements for interviews. All candidates should be advised of allowable expenses prior to the interview.  Payments or reimbursements for companions during the interview phase are not permitted.

The University’s Travel and Entertainment Policies and Procedures apply to candidate searches. Costs for airline tickets may be charged to the University contracted travel agency. Please refer to the University’s Travel and Entertainment Policies and Procedures for additional information regarding approved class of travel.

Procedure

Prior to the candidate’s visit to the University, or as soon as feasible, the sponsoring department should set up the candidate as a vendor using the Vendor Create process in the Kuali Financial System (KFS).  After the vendor has been created and the trip has been completed, a Disbursement Voucher needs to be initiated by the department.  Payment will disbursed by the Accounts Payable Department after appropriate routing and approval through KFS.  Claims for reimbursement must be itemized and original receipts supporting all claims must be included. The following information should also be included in the Disbursement Voucher:

  1. Vendor Number
  2. Date of interview
  3. Title of position
  4. Search number
  5. Itemization of expenses
  6. KFS Account Number and Object Code to be charged
  7. All supporting receipts must be scanned and attached to the Disbursement Voucher in KFS

The Offer and Acceptance Phase Policy Statement

The offer and acceptance phase occurs between the date of the extension of a written offer and the move phase, which is defined as the final one-way trip of the selected candidate and their family to the primary duty station.

Once the job offer has been extended, and with the approval of the Dean, Director or Department Head, the following offer and acceptance related expenses may be requested for reimbursement for the employee and one immediate family member defined as a spouse or child:

  1. Transportation (please refer to Part 2 and Part 3 of the Travel and Entertainment Policies and Procedure.
  2. Lodging (please refer to Part 4 the Travel and Entertainment Policies and Procedures for guidelines regarding accommodations)
  3. Meals (please refer to Part 5 of the Travel and Entertainment Policy and Procedure)

Such expenses incurred in connection with the offer and acceptance phase are considered Nonqualified (Taxable) Expenses subject to withholding of applicable income taxes, social security and Medicare taxes.  Reimbursements are included in taxable income and reported on the annual Form W-2. Any expenses incurred through any direct pay vendor, including Nathan Hale Inn or any contracted University booking agencies for air travel, need to be properly classified and reported to the Payroll Department as taxable income by the University department incurring the cost for the expenses or sponsoring the search.

Procedure

Requests for reimbursement of expenses incurred during the offer and acceptance phase should be submitted to the Payroll Department on the Recruitment Expense Reimbursement- RE form.  The Payroll Department will review the request to ensure compliance with this policy.  Reimbursement requests that do not have the required two signatures will not be processed.

All claims for expense reimbursement must be supported by original receipts. Payment will be included in the employee’s paycheck.

Please Note: Reimbursements using UConn Foundation funds, or other private sources, will be remitted to the University and paid to the employee as if they were University funds. Departments are permitted to supplement the cost of recruitment expenses from their own departmental funds.

Approval

The Board of Trustees originally approved the Reimbursement of Recruitment and Moving Expenses Policy on July 1, 2003. The Board of Trustees approved the Reimbursement of Recruitment Expenses Policy and Procedures on August 7, 2013.

Military Leave

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Title: Military Leave
Policy Owner: Department of Human Resources
Applies to: Faculty, Staff
Campus Applicability: All Campuses, including UConn Health
Approval Date: February 27, 2024
Effective Date: February 29, 2024
For More Information, Contact Department of Human Resources
Contact Information: All Campuses: 860-486-3034 or hr@uconn.edu
UConn Health: 860-679-2426 or hr@uchc.edu
Official Website: https://www.hr.uconn.edu/
https://health.uconn.edu/human-resources/contacts

PURPOSE

Congress and the state of Connecticut have put protections in place for employees who choose to pursue non-career service in the military. Additionally, state legislation provides for additional benefits and compensation for state employees called to active military service. The purpose of this policy is to provide direction to University of Connecticut and UConn Health employees on how to avail themselves of those protections and benefits.

POLICY STATEMENT

Federal and state statutes protect individuals performing, or who have performed, uniformed service from employment discrimination on the basis of their uniformed service and provides for their prompt restoration to civilian employment when they return to civilian life. Uniformed service means the Armed Forces; the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard, when engaged in active duty for training, inactive duty training, or full-time National Guard duty; the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service; and any category of persons designated by the U.S. President in time of war or emergency. Armed forces means the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force and any reserve component thereof, including the Connecticut National Guard.

A UConn or UConn Health employee who is a member of the uniformed service will be provided the required protections under Federal and state law while under military orders. However, not all military activities will qualify state employees for additional benefits and compensation.

Employees who are scheduled to go on military leave should provide notice to their supervisors as far in advance as possible, so that alternative arrangements can be made if the military leave with pay is denied.

Military Leave:

 Employees who are members of the U.S. Armed Forces or any of its reserve components and who are ordered to active duty are entitled to military leave from their jobs and may be entitled to additional benefits and compensation.

Employees are entitled to military leave with pay for required drills and training, up to three weeks per calendar year or as denoted in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. See C.G.S. § 27- 33a; see also Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), 38 U.S.C. §§ 4301–4335.

Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes § 5-259d, employees who are called to active duty for any military operation, war or national emergency may be eligible to receive partial pay for the duration of such call-up to active service. Such employees may also be eligible to accrue vacation and sick leave and may be eligible for benefit continuation during the period of time they are serving in the military.

Unless the Collective Bargaining Agreement applicable to the employee specifies otherwise, the annual entitlement period is a calendar year (January 1 through December 31).

ENFORCEMENT

Approval of military leave with pay is subject to a review of the military orders by the applicable Human Resources Office.

Violations of this policy may result in appropriate disciplinary measures in accordance with University By-Laws, General Rules of Conduct, applicable collective bargaining agreements, and the University of Connecticut Student Code.

PROCEDURES/FORMS

University Storrs and Regional Campuses

The form to apply for military leave may be found in Core-CT. Employees are required to upload a copy of the appropriate military orders.

Employees should inform their supervisors of the status of military leave requests and/or approvals.

Please direct questions to the University’s Leave Administrator at 860-486-3034.

UConn Health

Employees must submit a copy of the appropriate military orders to HR to initiate a request for military leave.

Employees should also inform their supervisors of the status of military leave requests and/or approvals.

Please direct questions to UConn Health’s HR Resource Center at 860-679-2426.

REFERENCES

 State of Connecticut, Office of the State Comptroller Memorandum 2013-24 dated September 27, 2013, and State of Connecticut, Office of Labor Relations General Notice 88-6 dated March 24, 1988, provide additional guidance to the University and UConn Health.

POLICY HISTORY

Policy created: January 2, 2004

Revisions: February 27, 2024 (Approved by the Senior Policy Council and the President)

Re-Employed Retirees, Policy on

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Title: Re-Employed Retirees, Policy on
Policy Owner: Office of Human Resources
Applies to: All State of Connecticut Re-Employed Retiree Employees
Campus Applicability: All Campuses, including UConn Health
Approval Date: July 11, 2023
Effective Date: July 11, 2023
For More Information, Contact Office of Human Resources
Contact Information: (860) 486-3034 (Storrs/Regional) / 860-679-2426 (UConn Health)
Official Website: https://hr.uconn.edu/
https://health.uconn.edu/human-resources/

BACKGROUND

The University re-employs retirees who have particular expertise necessary to meet a variety of academic, clinical, research, programmatic and/or administrative needs at a cost savings or benefit to the University and the state of Connecticut. In addition, as a research university and recipient of federal and other grants, the University has significant contractual and compliance obligations to granting agencies. The ability to retain particular expertise in the clinical, academic, and/or research setting, particularly when those retired employees generate revenue or are supported by external funding, is appreciably served by the use of re-employed retirees.

GENERAL POLICY

The University may re-employ retirees when operational, administrative, and/or financial benefits dictate or when needed to maintain continuing operations. Except as otherwise provided below, re-employed retirees may not be re-employed for more than three calendar years and shall not work more than 120 days/960 hours during any one calendar year.

The hourly compensation rate for individuals rehired into the same position from which the individual just retired shall generally not exceed 75% of the hourly rate paid to such employee in the last pay period immediately prior to his or her retirement for 120 days of work. The compensation rate for individuals rehired into different jobs from which they retired should be consistent with the assigned duties to be performed but shall generally not exceed 75% of the pre-retirement hourly rate.  Faculty and other employees that are non-time reporters prior to retirement, and therefore do not have a pre-retirement hourly rate, shall be restricted to post-retirement compensation not to exceed 75 percent of their pre-retirement annual salary.   Re-employed retirees are not eligible for annual mass salary adjustments.  Re-employed retirees may receive adjustments to salary if warranted by the duties and responsibilities of the position as long as all other terms of this policy are met.

Unclassified rehired retirees can be hired into any special payroll title; classified re-hired retirees must be hired into the appropriate Job Code as identified by the State of Connecticut to allow for appropriate tracking.

Appointments of re-employed retirees shall be reviewed by the President, Provost, Executive Vice President of Health Affairs (at UConn Health), or their designee and Human Resources to assess the continued operational needs and to ensure conformance with this Policy.  Proposals to re-employ retirees into senior administrative positions require prior review and approval by the President, Provost, Executive Vice President of Health Affairs, or their designee.

Some examples of appropriate uses for re-employed retirees include:

  • Maintain employees with unique, specialized knowledge and skills where qualified replacements cannot be immediately recruited or where it is financially beneficial for the University to maintain their expertise;
  • Provide qualified staff on a temporary or project basis when part or full-time positions are neither operationally sufficient nor financially beneficial;
  • Prevent the loss of potential revenues generated on grants or contracts;
  • Mitigate against a threat to patient or public safety;
  • Meet immediate and essential staffing needs required by accrediting agencies (e.g., the Joint Commission, DPH, or other regulatory bodies);
  • Secure the expertise of uniquely qualified researchers or staff in support of extramural funding or established grant projects;
  • Cover contractually or legally mandated leaves of absence (e.g., FMLA);
  • Provide clinical coverage to prevent the loss of clinical revenues or reduce use of agency staff through ongoing float positions;
  • Maintain continuity of operations through employment of individuals with particular expertise or experience at a cost savings;
  • Utilize employees with unique, specialized knowledge and skills for short-term projects or durational assignments.

EXCEPTIONS

Exceptions to the compensation and/or three calendar year maximum may be made with approval of the President, Provost, or Executive Vice President of Health Affairs at UConn Health, or their designee. Exceptions should be made when appropriately justified and reasonable in light of the goals expressed in the State of Connecticut’s Executive Order 27A related to the re-employment of retired state employees.  The maximum allotted time to work per calendar year for any rehired retiree is the equivalent of 120 days or 960 hours; exceptions may not be made to this provision of the Policy.

Some common exceptions include the following:

Instructional/Academic/Research Positions

Appointments of faculty and other staff who primarily perform research activities as re-employed retirees may be extended for the term of the extramural funding. Faculty who are hired in an academic capacity to mentor or advise students and provide other academic support to a School/College/Department.

Clinical Positions

Per diem, float, and direct patient care positions based on clinical need.

Adjunct Faculty

Employees who retire from state service and then serve as adjunct faculty. Teaching a maximum of 12 load credits per calendar year is equivalent to 120 days per calendar year.

Seasonal Employees

Employees who serve in seasonal roles, not to exceed three months in any calendar year.
The above are examples only and not intended to be exhaustive. Each exception request should be reviewed to determine if it is in the best interests of the University and consistent with the intent of this Policy.

APPROVAL HISTORY

April 21, 2009 Approved by the Board of Trustees:
August 7, 2013 Revised and Approved by the Board of Trustees
July 11, 2023 Revised and Approved by the President and Senior Policy Council