Emergency Management

Protection of Minors

We all have a responsibility to protect minors engaged in programs on our campus.

The university requires that units planning programs designed for minors not enrolled at the university report those activities to the University of Illinois Police Department. Watch the video below, review this Protection of Minors resource page, and explore the additional resources and FAQs below to learn more about your reporting requirements.

Interacting with minors:

Required training

All University of Illinois System employees, including those holding 0% (unpaid) appointments, are mandated reporters under the Illinois Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act (ANCRA). Training is required for mandated reporters every three years.

Volunteers, contractors and other designated individuals also need to complete Illinois Abused and Neglected Child Reporting ACT (ANCRA) Training, which can be found here. Please forward your completed training to your university department or unit contact.

Additionally, emergency contacts listed on the Protection of Minors form (short form is exempt) need to be identified and trained as Campus Security Authorities (CSA). Contact dps-clery@illinois.edu to verify if you or anyone is a CSA in your department, unit or college.

Guidelines

These guidelines are intended to provide information about employees’ conduct when working or engaging with minors so that the university may maintain high standards of professional and moral behavior.

  • Treat all minors with respect.
  • Provide a welcoming, inclusive and safe environment for all children, young people, parents and visitors.
  • Respect cultural differences.
  • Take responsibility for ensuring you are accountable and do not place yourself in positions where your actions may be unwelcome or misinterpreted.
  • Conduct all interactions with children in a public environment.
  • Avoid being alone with a child, particularly in an enclosed space.
  • Ask children to use the buddy system or otherwise encourage them to stay together during their visit.
  • Touching should be age-appropriate and in context with the situation. There should be no physical contact while alone with a minor.

These are examples of physical contact which may be appropriate:

  • High-fives, hand slapping and fist bumps
  • Handshakes
  • Pats on the shoulder or upper back
  • Holding hands while walking with small children
  • Verbal praise

Types of physical contact to be avoided include but are not limited to:

  • Inappropriate or lengthy embraces
  • Tickling, horseplay, wrestling or roughhousing
  • Piggyback rides
  • Holding minors on the lap
  • Any form of unwanted affection
  • Remarks that refer to physique or body development

If a university employee suspects that a child is either abused or neglected, it must be reported to the Department of Child and Family Services by calling 1-800-25-ABUSE. You must also inform University Police that the situation has been reported to DCFS.

Reporting events and programs

All university-sponsored events involving minors must go through the Protection of Minors review process.

The submitter of any event will need the NetID of the department head or authorized reviewer. Once the department head or authorized reviewer has reviewed the event, they can submit the event directly to the Division of Public Safety compliance coordinator. For the events sponsored or hosted by a university department, the compliance coordinator will verify that the department has plans to comply with the policy. The Executive Director of Emergency Management or designee will give final approval.

Events that do not have Protection of Minors approval prior to the event taking place will be considered out of compliance.

If you have any difficulty entering an event or want to check on the status of an event, you may contact the compliance coordinator.

Reporting forms

For university units:

For external entities:

More information

Frequently asked questions

Yes. A form needs to be completed for minors who are working as extra help for any time period, or even just volunteering, in a university department.

No. The Campus Administrative Manual lists certain situations that do not apply to the policy, and they are as follows:

  • Regularly scheduled classes or activities designed primarily for enrolled students or individuals accepted for enrollment;
  • Single commercial performances or events open to the general public (such as varsity athletic competitions, or public plays or concerts);
  • Programs placing enrolled students with external entities for the purpose of receiving academic credit and/or completing clinical or student teaching requirements;
  • Research activities that have been approved by the UIUC Institutional Review Board (IRB) with safety protocols in place;
  • University Laboratory School activities;
  • University Primary School activities;
  • The Child Development Lab activities; and
  • University of Illinois Extension program activities.

No. The policy is specifically for events that are “designed” — in other words, primarily organized — to include minors. An employee awards reception does not fit that criteria, and the minors that do attend would just have incidental contact with other university employees.

Yes. This is a type of event that is specifically designed for minors. Because it happens on a daily basis, we ask that one form be completed to cover the school semester. If the event happens on a monthly or less frequent basis, an individual form should be completed for each event.

Yes. The department or unit sponsoring the Registered Student Organization needs to complete a Protection of Minors event form. Please contact the Student Organization Development & Administration (SODA) office for more information.

The information on these forms is only used by the University of Illinois Police Department and the Office of the Chancellor. In the event of an emergency, it is imperative that we be able to reach someone who is on scene with the minors and at the location of the event.

Please contact the University Office of Risk Management (OBFSRiskMgmt@uillinois.edu or 217-333-3113) for any questions regarding liability waivers and forms. The office has templates that can be used by your department that contain the required information.

Virtual events

More virtual events than ever are occurring across campus. Our duty to protect minors participating in those events remains unchanged. Organizers of university-sponsored events must still complete the Protection of Minors form regardless of whether the event is being held virtually or in person. We are asking event organizers to address how they will handle issues that are specific to virtual events (like sexting or “Zoom-bombing,” for example).

Some things you might want to consider:

  • How will you respond in the event that obscene or sexually explicit material is shown during your event, whether it is accidental or the result of an unwanted disruption?
  • What will you do if one of your participants makes explicit or insensitive remarks to a virtual room full of young people?
  • How will you offer resources or help if a young person expresses to you that they are having problems?

When you are filling out the Protection of Minors form, in areas where we ask you for location information, please indicate which platform you are using to hold your virtual event (Zoom or Skype, for example). Otherwise, the process and requirements for protecting minors on our campus remains unchanged.