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Background check information

Link to MU Police Station Background Check Fingerprint Waiver (and link to make an appointment)
  • Yearly background checks are required for art education majors, as you will have field placements, volunteer opportunities, and other experiences with K-12 students each semester. Any time there might be one-on-one with a student or you will be alone with a student, most schools want background checks. 
  • Background checks are required before being allowed to begin the student teaching placement. 
  • Background checks are valid for one year. 
    • Students need both the Ohio BCI & I and FBI background checks. 
  • The easiest place to get them done is the Miami University police station. Appointments are required in advance. They do it electronically, which is the fastest (about a week) and they accept cash, check, bursar account, and money orders. The cost is $60. If you tell them you are having the background check done for a field experience or student teaching, they are automatically sent directly to Jan Benes. They are then sent to the schools or district offices. A copy of the check can be made if you stop in and ask for one.

Information obtained from:
Jan Benes
Miami University
Office of Student Teaching and Field Experiences
202 McGuffey Hall
210 E. Spring Street
Oxford, OH  45056
(513) 529-7245
(513) 529-1763  fax

Background check FAQ's:

If I did it last year, do I need to do it again?
Yes, they are only valid for one year.

If I am observing with someone I know, do I still need one?
Yes.

What if I had a background check done for work?
The best next step would be to get a copy of the report and check in with Jan Benes in the Office of Student Teaching and Field Experiences (202 McGuffey)

Do I need to get the background check done on campus?
No. They can be completed at any police station, but they need to be sent to the address listed on this page.