SEMO's faculty discusses issue of background checks

A professor at Pennsylvania State University was discovered earlier this year to be a convicted murderer after teaching four years at the institution.

A psychology professor at the University of Montana was arrested in June 2003 on 143 charges of child sex abuse.

And in Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University officials received word from the federal government a few weeks ago that a man hired as a professor for the fall 2003 semester is not a legal U.S. resident, and therefore illegally employed.

It is the last incident that brought home the need for faculty background checks to university officials in Cape Girardeau, but across the U.S., numerous universities are also considering the importance of investigating potential employees' pasts.

At a meeting Wednesday, members of Southeast's Faculty Senate received a copy of a proposed background investigation consent form, which would be applied to all future faculty hires.

Concerned members

Faculty members expressed several concerns over the new policy, including the fact that the university can't afford to do international background checks and that the current consent form doesn't give someone who has been convicted of a felony a chance at being hired.

"I've never understood why we're doing this, or who instigated the idea," said senate member David Naugler. "And if we're going to do it, then we should do it on current employees too."

The one-page background consent form will be distributed to any potential faculty members who have been granted a job interview at the university.

Money is the main reason the university is limiting the checks to new faculty members for now.

"We simply can't afford to do international checks," said university provost Jane Stephens.

Within the U.S. borders, the background checks are estimated at between $12 to $40, depending on which state the check is done in.

The form authorizes the university to conduct a criminal background investigation, attests that the candidate is a legal resident of the U.S. and has not been convicted of a felony. It also asks for the potential employee's date of birth, Social Security number and the last three states of residences.

If the form isn't returned, the candidate will no longer be considered for the position. The form and a corresponding policy statement have not yet gone before the university's board of regents for final approval.

cclark@semissourian.com

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