Misconduct Disclosure (MDR) Process: Updates and Next Steps

August 15, 2025
Karla Sanchez

Dear Campus Partners,

We’d like to provide a comprehensive update on the Misconduct Disclosure & Release (MDR) process, which has been in effect since January 2025, and to share recent UCOP guidance as well as upcoming process improvements.

Who is Required to Complete MDR?

Currently all new hires and rehires regardless of length of break in service are required to complete the Misconduct Disclosure through our third-party vendor, Truescreen, during onboarding. Currently, if an employee is on SWB and they are reappointed or add a concurrent appointment without any break in service, they will not require an MDR. This includes:

  • All Employee titles

  • Most Contingent Workers (please see the full list)

  • Ladder Rank Faculty (processed separately by APO early in the hiring process)

*BRS is currently evaluating how to implement the 6 month exemption for regularly returning employees, please see New UCOP Guidance below.

Please note: Employees must not begin work until MDR clearance is received, along with completion of the hiring DocuSign packet, Tracker I-9, and full background check (if applicable).

Cost Breakdown

  • Standalone MDR check: $25

  • MDR with other background check (Biometrics4all fingerprinting or TrueScreen name-based screenings): Additional $10

    • Example: Fingerprinting ($155) + MDR ($10) = $165 total

New UCOP Guidance

UCOP has updated (July 2025)  policyPPSM-21, Section E.1.b to allow MDR exemptions for certain rehires.

An employee is exempt from MDR if all of the following are true:

  • They are being rehired within 6 months of their last day worked at UC Berkeley

  • They have not worked for another employer since leaving UC Berkeley

  • MDR was previously completed during their most recent employment at UC Berkeley

Notes:

  • Regions are working on a process to capture and evaluate these exemptions, with the goal of reducing unnecessary MDRs by Spring 2026 hiring, pending the availability of resources to support rehire analysis and help lower MDR-related costs for departments.

  • Fall hiring will continue under the current MDR process for all new hires and rehires, unless there are clear extenuating circumstances to apply the six-month exemption.

  • Confirmed exclusions: extensions, return from short work breaks, and concurrent appointments.

  • Transfers from other UCs remain subject to MDR requirements.

MDR Process Summary (Current) 

  • After the regional onboarding team sends the hiring DocuSign packet, a second DocuSign is sent within 24 hours containing Misconduct Disclosure (MDR) instructions and access to the Truescreen portal.

  • Please note: Completing the DocuSign does not complete the MDR process. Employees must log in to the Truescreen portal and submit their application in order for UC Berkeley to receive results.

  • The average turnaround time is 24 hours after the Truescreen application is submitted. However, delays are common when employees do not complete the application promptly.

People & Culture Cleanup Effort

To address hires that occurred between the MDR policy effective date (January 1, 2025) and the regional onboarding implementation dates:

  • January 21 (Employees)

  • February 18 (Contingent Workers)

P&C initiated a one-time cleanup to send MDRs retroactively.

Current Cleanup Report - Impacted Employees

Important Clarifications

  • Some concurrent hires and job changes were mistakenly included in the original MDR cleanup list. These employees are currently being reevaluated with the new UCOP guidance that was issued.

    • These individuals are marked as yellow-highlighted rows in the report.

    • No follow-up is needed at this time, and People & Culture will not proceed with outreach for these employees 

  • Academic appointments that are excluded from MDR altogether per guidance from the Academic Personnel Office have already been removed from the list. This includes:

    • Concurrent academic appointments (e.g., GSRs, Postdocs, Lecturers taking on supplement records) (Updated 12/17/2025: This does not include MLA Appointments or Inter-Location Transfers) 

    • Supplementary admin appointments (e.g., Department Chairs, Director roles)

    • These positions are examples of what is considered out of scope for MDR and will not be processed under this requirement. For the full list, please see the APO Exclusion Reference List

  • Non-highlighted rows in the report represent employees who are still pending MDR clearance. Please follow up with these employees in your department as appropriate.

  • If you have any questions regarding the P&C clean up effort or MDR questions in general, please contact misconduct-cbc@berkeley.edu

  • We’ve shared campus concerns with P&C regarding the phishing-like appearance of Truescreen emails and the completion deadlines, which fell during the end-of-semester period when many employees were managing finals and other academic responsibilities. We will be asking for them to communicate a new deadline for the remaining group in the coming weeks to close out this list. Any email from misconduct-cbc@berkeley.edu is a valid request and should be completed.

If there are any further cleanup efforts, BRS has asked to receive the impacted employee list first before P&C initiates outreach. We'll notify you if this affects your department.

Looking Ahead

IOC Removal

  • ServiceHub: A valid chartstring will now be required for all hiring cases. See the "New Required Information for Misconduct Disclosure and Background Checks" email for more details.

  • Smartsheet: Effective August 25, the position number funding in the hire row will communicated to the MDR billing team and be used for MDR checks unless otherwise indicated in the "MD/CBC Chartstring" column. If MDR is not required for a hire, no charge will be applied.

Streamlined MDR Process

  • People & Culture and BRS are hoping to remove the secondary MDR DocuSign with a direct Truescreen portal invitation or a consolidated DocuSign. This will:

    • Reduce steps for employees

    • Minimize administrative burden for departments

    • Improve completion rates by simplifying the process

We appreciate your continued partnership and patience as we implement and refine this process. For questions or feedback, please contact us at share_ops@berkeley.edu

Thank you,

BEST & SHARE Onboarding Leadership

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