Clearances Guidelines for Girls of Steel Members & Volunteers
1) Team Members (ages 16 and below)
No certifications are necessary.
2) Team Members (ages 17 and older)
- New Members – Any GoS member who is 17 years of age or older at the time of joining GoS must obtain volunteer background certifications under Act 153 (PA Criminal, PA Child Abuse and FBI). Waivers are no longer applicable for FBI results.
- Existing Members – Any existing GoS member who is 17 years of age or older as of September 1 of each year must obtain volunteer background certifications under Act 153 (PA Criminal, PA Child Abuse and FBI). Waivers are no longer applicable for FBI results.
Contact the lead mentor at Girls of Steel Robotics (girlsofsteelrobotics@gmail.com) to start the process of getting certified.
3) Employees of CMU volunteering with or employed by Girls of Steel
All employees of the university are required to have employee certifications on file with Human Resources to participate in any way with minors through Girls of Steel. First contact Girls of Steel Robotics (girlsofsteelrobotics@gmail.com) to start the process of getting certified.
4) CMU Students (Volunteers)
Contact Girls of Steel Robotics (girlsofsteelrobotics@gmail.com) to start the process of getting certified.
5) Non-CMU affiliated volunteers (over 18)
Contact Girls of Steel Robotics (girlsofsteelrobotics@gmail.com) to start the process of getting certified.
Frequently Asked Questions
I have volunteer certifications. As an employee of the university, can I use them for volunteer work with a CMU-affiliated program with minors?
No. Employees of the university must have employee certifications on file in order to volunteer or work with minors through CMU affiliated programs.
I am a student who is paid by CMU to work with a CMU summer program. Since it is on-campus and I am a full-time matriculated CMU student, do I need background certifications?
Yes. Because you are paid by CMU to work for a program with minors that requires background certifications, you are considered an employee and must have employee certifications.
I am an adult parent- volunteer with Girls of Steel. I applied for certifications, but have not yet received all of my results. Do I get a provisional period so that I can volunteer for an upcoming event without having all background certifications on file with Human Resources?
No. PA residents who are volunteers are not granted a provisional period. You must have all certifications on file before you will be considered compliant.
I am a parent/guardian of a Girls of Steel member. Can I work with my child during Girls of Steel projects as a mentor before receiving background certifications?
If you are interacting with other minors, you will need certifications on file before you begin work. If you are only working with your child, and no other minors, you may not need background certifications. It is important that we understand your role to determine if/when background certifications are necessary.
