Did you know that UNC-Chapel Hill conducts an average of 8,300 background checks a year? You may be surprised by that number until you consider that background checks are required for Faculty, permanent and temporary employees, UNC independent contractors, unpaid volunteers, interns, and visiting scholars, just to name a few.
So, what goes on behind the background check curtain? There are several types of background checks with components that vary based on the type of appointment and what the role requires. Currently, campus background check initiators that submit background check requests must know all the different packages and components when they’re submitting requests for background checks.
So, what goes on behind the background check curtain? There are several types of background checks with components that vary based on the type of appointment and what the role requires. Currently, campus background check initiators that submit background check requests must know all the different packages and components when they’re submitting requests for background checks.
Things are changing on May 10, 2021. As part of the Provost’s Operational Excellence initiative to improve the Hiring and Onboarding experience, the Background Check unit is implementing a new process for requesting and managing background checks. The guiding principles for the initiative include addressing concerns about turnaround time, navigation, transparency, and administrative burden.
Positive Impacts for All Involved
So, what’s changing for anyone involved in the background check process? For candidates and appointees, it means a streamlined, easy to navigate process, but that’s just the start. If you’re part of the end-to-end background check process, you’ll notice big improvements.
Improvements for Candidates and Appointees
- Streamlined user experience
- Improved communication
- Improved support
- Increased continuity in the onboarding experience
Improvements for Background Check Initiators
- Simplified process
- Cost savings by eliminating unnecessary checks and ensuring the correct type of background check is requested
- Decreased administrative burden by consolidating the process into one system of record
- Improved and streamlined security
Improvements for Background Check Unit
- Increased visibility into the background check process
- Improved validation mechanisms to avoid unnecessary background checks and ensure the correct type of background checks is requested
- Decreased administrative burden by reducing manual data entry and PID creation
- Increased data accuracy
- Improved reporting capabilities
Changes for Background Check Initiators
- If you’re a background check initiator, you’ll:
- initiate background check requests for candidates, appointees and affiliates through a new Background Check ePAR rather than submitting background checks through the CastleBranch system.
- monitor the status and review the summary page on the Background Check ePAR when the background check is completed.
HR Business Analysts will be providing support for the new Background Check ePAR, including monitoring, and resolving errors.
Stay tuned for more information and visit the Background Check FAQ page on CCinfo.unc.edu.