Updated October 22, 2024
Authorized adult: An individual age 18 or older, paid or unpaid, with university authorization and responsibility for Direct Supervision of minors, who has successfully cleared a Criminal Records Check and Sex Offender Registry Check, completed required training, and reviewed the Youth Safety Standards of Behavior form.
Child abuse: Under Oregon law, the following are considered child abuse:
- Any assault or physical injury caused by non-accidental means, including any injury which appears to be at variance with the explanation given for the injury;
- Any mental injury, including observable and substantive impairment of the child’s mental or psychological ability to function caused by cruelty to the child;
- Rape of a child, including sodomy, unlawful sexual penetration and incest;
- Sexual abuse, as described in Oregon Revised Statute chapter 163;
- Sexual exploitation, which includes contributing to the sexual delinquency of a minor, or allowing, permitting, encouraging or hiring a child to engage in prostitution or to patronize a prostitute;
- Negligent treatment or maltreatment, including failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter or medical care to a minor;
- Threatened harm, which means subjecting a minor to a substantial risk of harm to their health or welfare;
- Buying or selling of a person under 18;
- Permitting a person younger than 18 years of age to enter or remain in or upon premises where methamphetamines are being manufactured;
- Unlawful exposure to a controlled substance that subjects a child to a substantial risk of harm to the child’s health or safety.
Criminal records check: The review of any and all criminal records containing any information collected and stored in a state or county repository or the criminal records repository of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Direct engagement: Interactions that meet either of the following criteria:
- Performing duties or functions that include the possibility of care, supervision, guidance or control of minors; or
- Regular or repeated interactions with any minor who is unaccompanied by their parent or guardian. This includes both in-person and virtual interactions.
Direct supervision: The monitoring of minors, as well as their activities and interactions, by sight and sound.
Mandatory reporter: An individual required by law to report suspected child abuse. Under Oregon law, all university employees are considered mandatory reporters and must report incidents of child abuse at all times, not just incidents that may occur during working hours or on university property.
Minor: Any individual under the age of 18.
Person-in-charge: A university employee who is responsible and accountable for compliance and overall administration of a youth program, including programs operated by non-university entities. The person-in-charge is designated by the Sponsoring Unit administrator.
Sex offender registry check: A review of the National Sex Offender Public Website hosted by the U.S. Department of Justice or other sex offender registry.
Sponsoring unit: The university department, college, administrative unit, professional school, Extension Service, research facility, or branch campus that offers a youth program or gives approval for the use of university property, resources or brand for a youth program, and is responsible and accountable for compliance with applicable university policies. The sponsoring unit is represented by a dean, director, department head, or designee who has departmental or unit oversight and with authority to approve or deny programs.
Support personnel: University employees and volunteers who support operations or administrative functions, but who have no Direct Engagement with minors in the context of a youth program.
University-hosted youth program: Any event or activity that meets the following criteria:
- Involves minors who are unaccompanied by their parent or guardian;
- Is operated by a third-party contractor, consultant, vendor, student-run organization or other non-university entity or individual, including a member of the university community who is operating independently and not on behalf of the university; and
- Takes place on university-owned or controlled property.
University-operated youth program: Any event or activity that meets the following criteria:
- Involves minors who are unaccompanied by their parent or guardian;
- Is offered by a university representative or unit; and
- Takes place either on or off university property.
University representatives: Employees and volunteers who interact with minors in their capacity as a representative of the university.
Volunteer: An individual appointed to perform official university duties without compensation or remuneration. The volunteer performs activities at the request of, for the benefit of, and under the supervision of, the university. This includes university employees and students serving in a volunteer capacity in a youth program.
Youth program personnel: University employees and volunteers who will have Direct Engagement with minors in the context of a youth program. This definition does not include third-party staff or individuals who are supervised by non-university operators, nor does it include Support Personnel who do not directly interact with minors.
Youth Program Registry: The online system that is required to be used by university units to register university events and activities involving minors and to track Youth Program Personnel compliance.