Minors on Campus Policy

Purpose

To provide guidelines for appropriate protection and supervision of minors participating in The New School (TNS)-sponsored programs, in programs operated by outside entities held in University facilities, and/or programs housed in University facilities.

Scope

This policy does not apply to general public events where parents/guardians are invited and expected to provide appropriate protection and supervision of minors.

All TNS employees, Authorized Adults and/or Required Reporters are subject to the terms of this policy.

Definitions

1. Authorized Adult – An individual, age 18 and older, paid or unpaid, who is authorized to interact with, supervise, chaperone, or otherwise oversee minors in program activities, or recreational and/or residential facilities. Authorized Adults are considered to be Required Reporters as defined by pending New York state law.
   
2. The Central Register (aka “Hotline”) – An organizational unit of the New York State’s Office of Children and Family Services which operates a statewide toll-free system for receiving reports of suspected child abuse refers such reports for investigation and maintains the reports in the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment.
   
3. Direct Contact – Position which exercises direct supervision, guidance, or control of minors.
   
4. Minor – A person under the age of eighteen (18) who is not enrolled in a credit-bearing program at the University.
   
5. One-On-One Contact –Interaction between any Authorized Adult and a minor without at least one other Authorized Adult, Parent or Legal Guardian present.
   
6. Programs – Programs and activities offered by any academic or administrative unit of the University, or by non-University groups using University facilities.
   
7. Required Reporters – Persons who, in the course of their employment, occupation, or practice of their profession come into contact with children and have reasonable cause to suspect, on the basis of their medical, professional or other training and experience, that a child coming before them in their professional or official capacity is a victim of child abuse.
   
8. Sponsoring Unit – The academic or administrative unit of the University that offers a program or gives approval for use of University facilities.
   
9. University Facilities – Facilities owned by, or under the control of, the University.

Policy

See the below sections for related policy details:

1. Duty to Report Child Assault, Abuse and Neglect
2. Policy for Programs Involving Minors Operated by any Unit of The New School
3. Policy for Programs Involving Minors Operated by Outside Parties in The New School Facilities

Related Topics

• Background Investigations
• Protecting Youth Training
• Employment of Minors