Background Checks

Stanford seeks to hire the best talent and to promote a safe and secure environment for all members of the university community and its property. To that end, new staff hires must pass a background check prior to starting work at Stanford University. 

All TRUE UNPAID positions are excluded from Background Checks UNLESS they work with minors. Effective January 1, 2018, a new California law requires that a written offer of employment must be provided to the candidate before a background check can be initiated.

Non-Academic Staff Background Checks
  1. Initial Hires - Require a background check unless they fall within the exclusion category (13c) listed in the Stanford University Background Checks Policy
  2. Rehires are excluded from the background check requirement if:
    1. The employee was hired PRIOR TO December 1, 2012, with no breaks in service of more than one year, or
    2. The employee successfully passed a background check AFTER December 1, 2012, and have had no breaks in service of more than one year
  3. All Unpaid positions are excluded from Background Checks UNLESS they work with minors, then a background check is required
Academic Staff Background Checks
  1. Initial Hires - Require a background check unless they fall within the exclusion category listed in the Stanford University Background Checks Policy
  2. Rehires are excluded from the background check requirement if:
    • The employee was hired PRIOR TO the dates below with no breaks in service of one year or more:
      1. November 1, 2013
        1. Academic Staff-Research
        2. Librarians
        3. Instructors
        4. Teaching Specialists
      2. March 1, 2014
        1. Senior Lecturers
        2. Artists-in-Residence
        3. Hoover Research Fellows
      3. June 1, 2014
        1. Lecturers
        2. Adjunct Appointments: Professor, Lecturer
        3. "Acting" Professor appointments for individuals who will not be joining the Stanford faculty
        4. Professors of the Practice
    • The employee successfully passed a background check AFTER the above date for their specified job title, and have had no breaks in service of one year or more.