Programs for Minors
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga strives to ensure that a safe and productive environment exists for our entire campus community. The University offers a variety of programs each year that are created primarily for minors. This provides UTC the opportunity to highlight our campus and its programs. It also provides young people in our community the opportunity to become familiar with our campus and learn from our campus faculty, staff, and students.
UTC’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) relies on every department to ensure compliance requirements are addressed when preparing to host events involving minors. Established in 2014, the University of Tennessee System Safety Policy SA0575 (linked below) outlines the requirements that must be met for all university-sponsored events and for those events sponsored by an outside entity that take place on our campus. The information below is a guide to assist you in maintaining compliance with your camp or program.
If you have questions about whether your programs falls under this policy, please call Faith Garner at 423-425-5741 or email [email protected] or [email protected].
Action Steps for Covered Programs
- Step #1 - Gather List of All Covered Adults
Identify all individuals who are considered Covered Adults, including the Program Director or Event Organizer, along with their email addresses and UTC IDs. (If you are using individuals outside of UTC, an email address is sufficient.)
- Step #2 - Complete Online Registration
The Event Organizer or Program Director should complete the online Programs for Minors registration form linked on this page, including the name of the program, the dates of the program, and the list of covered adults. You may attach a spreadsheet with covered adult information if that is easier for you.
- Step #3 - Verify Background Checks and Covered Adult Training
Public Safety compliance personnel will verify that each covered adult has completed required training and has a cleared background check.
Each covered adult listed in the registration process must have a background check (BG) completed and on file. Background checks are valid for four years, and they must be valid for the entire registration period. If a covered adult needs a new or updated background check, DPS staff will send an email to them, which will have a link and instructions (from Truescreen BG check vendor) to the Covered Adult to complete and submit.
*Please inform your covered adults that they will receive a consent form via email from Truescreen ([email protected]) that must be completed to run the background check.
Each covered adult must have taken Child Protection Training. This training is valid for two years and must be valid for the entire registration period. Training may be taken via K@TE, UTC Learn (Canvas), or via an in-person training administered by DPS staff or the covered program director.
- Step #4 - Distribute the Standards of Conduct for Covered Adults
Each covered adult should be given a Standards of Conduct for Covered Adults handout (Form E) by the program director. Proof of this distribution must be retained by the covered program, and the program director should be able to produce this documentation at the request of an auditor.
- Step #5 - Obtain Medical Treatment Authorization Form from Camp Attendees
Covered programs that involve strenuous physical activity must have the parent/legal guardian of each camp participant complete the Medical Treatment Authorization Form (formerly Forms B, B1, B2, D). Authorization forms must be retained by the covered program, and the program director should be able to produce this documentation at the request of an auditor.
- Step #6 - Camp Approval
Once all policy requirements are met, the program director will receive an email verifying that the camp has met those requirements and is approved to operate.