Background Check and Boundary Maintenance

In October 2005, the Board of Directors for Luther Seminary adopted a policy concerning background checks and participation in boundary workshops for all enrolled students. In February 2015, the Board approved an updated policy that went into effect for all students entering Fall 2015 and beyond. Detailed steps to comply with this policy are outlined below. In addition, frequently asked questions are posted on the website at:

https://inside.luthersem.edu/students/advising/nondegree-requirements/

Materials may be emailed to studentaffairs@luthersem.edu or sent in paper form to:

Student Affairs
Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108

All paperwork will be kept electronically.

Background Check

The background check will include a social security trace, a seven-year period covering a criminal history database search, a county and federal record criminal check, and a national sex offender database search. Payment of the fee for the background check will be the responsibility of the student.

The results of such a background check will be received by the Dean of Students, who will maintain the records in secure files to ensure confidentiality concerning information received through such background checks. When the results of the background check show an alert, the file will be reviewed by a committee that consists of the Dean of Students, the Director of Contextual Learning, and the Director of Student Affairs. Written documentation that a student’s file has been reviewed will remain on file in the office of the Dean of Students for the duration of the student’s enrollment. At the time of graduation or withdrawal from studies, a student’s file will be kept in a secure location.

A student will be notified of any information of concern to the review committee, that has been discovered in the review process and will be allowed to present a written response to the review committee which may include a clarification of the report and/or an explanation of the circumstances surrounding the noted incident. In such circumstances, a student may request a face-to-face meeting with the review committee. Such requests are to be submitted to the Dean of Students in writing. If the review process reveals information of concern that is not sufficiently explained to the committee, Luther Seminary reserves the right to take appropriate action, including but not limited to, requiring the student to withdraw from enrollment.

Enrolled students are required to update the information in their background check file to reflect any criminal charges and convictions, non-routine motor vehicle citations (e.g. D.W.I., reckless driving, etc.), and/or any allegations of inappropriate conduct in the workplace, which occur after the date of completion of the original background check. Failure to do so will be cause for disciplinary action.

Boundaries Workshop

The second requirement of this effort to prepare healthy church and community leaders includes participation in a boundaries workshop by every student in a degree or certificate program at Luther. Boundaries workshops will be offered at least once a year with leadership provided by trained faculty and/or staff members and/or external trainers. As with the background check, documentation of a student’s successful participation in a boundaries workshop will be required and kept on file.

For Master of Divinity students, no internship placement will be possible without documentation of successful participation in such a workshop. Master of Arts students will need to have completed the workshop prior to the semester in which they intend to complete their academic program. Master of Theology and Doctor of Philosophy students need to complete such a workshop prior to graduation.

A request to substitute an alternate experience as a fulfillment of the workshop requirement may be submitted in writing to the Dean of Students in a timely manner respecting the above-noted deadlines.

More information on the policy can be found at: https://inside.luthersem.edu/students/advising/nondegree-requirements/