Applying for a security clearance is a critical step for many positions in government and private sectors that deal with sensitive information. However, applicants often worry whether past infractions might affect their chances of obtaining this clearance. Those questions may include wondering about infractions that are seemingly minor, such as a university or college infraction.
throwaway1234 writes on the ClearanceJobsBlog forum:
It’s looking like I’ll be put up for a TS soon as my first job out of college requires one, and I’m worried about getting my clearance. One of my main concerns revolves around an incident from almost 2 years ago now. What happened was that I was at an event for a university club being held at a nightclub and was dancing w/ a friend of mines. I generally don’t drink very much at all but was heavily intoxicated that one night and misread some social cues and grinded on my friend. This resulted in them raising a formal complaint thru the club leadership concerning the incident which was classed as an “adverse social interaction”. I felt extremely bad about this and took full responsibility for my actions and was allowed to remain a member of the club and carry out my normal duties. In the aftermath of the incident I also voluntarily attended therapy and put myself through online sensitivity training as I want to ensure something like this never happens again. Do I have to list this on my SF-86? As I mentioned it was kept entirely within the club admin and didn’t proceed any higher, so I’m not convinced it would show up on any background investigation unless they talked to the right people, which is admittedly likely. This makes me think it might be best to disclose via the comments section of the form so I can get ahead of any surprise discoveries.
While in university, students might engage in behavior that can later raise red flags during a security clearance investigation. Common infractions include:
- Academic Dishonesty: Cheating or plagiarism might suggest a lack of integrity.
- Substance Abuse: Underage drinking or drug use can raise concerns about judgment and reliability.
- Disciplinary Actions: Incidents resulting in university disciplinary actions, such as suspension or expulsion, may be scrutinized.
- Criminal Activities: Any criminal charges or convictions, even minor ones, can be problematic.
How Infractions Are Evaluated
When evaluating an applicant, investigators consider several factors related to past infractions:
- Recency: More recent infractions are of greater concern than those that occurred several years ago.
- Frequency: A pattern of behavior is viewed more negatively than a single isolated incident.
- Severity: Serious infractions are more concerning than minor ones.
- Rehabilitation: Evidence of personal growth or corrective actions taken since the infraction can mitigate concerns.
- Honesty: Being truthful and upfront about past infractions can help demonstrate integrity.
relevance University Infractions
It doesn’t appear that this university infraction falls within the scope of an activity that would be reportable. In a personnel subject interview, an applicant would have the opportunity to clarify details if another reference mentioned the incident, but in general, avoiding reporting issues that aren’t within the scope of the investigation is the best practice; any adverse information that is reported then has to be investigated, regardless of whether it’s adjudicatively relevant.
While university infractions can potentially affect your security clearance application, they do not automatically disqualify you and most don’t need to be listed on the SF-86. By understanding how these infractions are evaluated and taking proactive steps to address any concerns you do have to list on the application, you can improve your chances of obtaining the clearance you need for your career.
