Frequently Asked Questions

For the protection of minors in Columbia’s care we now require that any adults who interact with persons under the age of 18 be background checked and complete a University-developed training. It is Columbia’s policy; please see the Protection and Treatment of Minors at Columbia. We appreciate that this represents a cost to you in terms of time and money, but the well-being of minors at the University is critically important, and we take our responsibility to them very seriously.

Please see this University web page. Minors who physically come to a Columbia campus are governed by the rules surrounding visitors to the University. (Please see the section on visitors toward the bottom of the page.)

Yes. Please review these laboratory rules and restrictions regarding visiting minors. 

You must register your program/activity at https://apps.ideal-logic.com/columbiaPOM. There is a portion of this questionnaire that asks you to identify the adults who will be interacting with the minor(s). Once you identify these adults, the training will be assigned to them within a day or two.

Information related to accessing compliance reports on Ideal Logic can be found on our POM Registration Job Aid. 

No, there is no quiz at the end the training. 

The training is good for two years, unless we introduce a new course in which case, we may ask you to update your training if you are still working with minor(s).

Assuming your program is still active, you must register your program/activity every season. By this we mean that you must register for the academic year or the summer season. 

All programs involving minors, whether in person or remote, must be registered with Protection of Minors.

We are running a check to review criminal history as well as to confirm that the subject is not on the sexual offenders’ database. Education, employment and credit history are not considered.

Through our registration portal https://apps.ideal-logic.com/columbiaPOM.

Background checks cost approximately $110 per person, but the cost varies depends on the number of states/countries the subject has lived in.

The sponsoring program and/or school.

Unfortunately, the Office of the Protection of Minors does not have the resources to pay for background checks. Please reach out to your Dean of Students to see whether funding is available for your group.

Background checks are good for two years, after which they must be repeated.

Failure to register your program and its staff/volunteers: may result in restrictions on non-registered individuals participating or prohibiting the program from running entirely. 

Failure to complete the training or undergo the required background check: individuals who fail to complete the training or undergo a background check may be prevented from participating in the program.

Failure to report suspected abuse or neglect is a violation of the Protection of Minors policy may result in disciplinary action. 

Mandated Reporters: Failure to report suspected abuse or maltreatment by a designated mandated reporter may result in  criminal or civil penalties.