University of Akron Reconsiders Controversial Hiring Policy

If you get hired by the University of Akron, you may not have to provide fingerprints or a DNA sample anymore. The school is reconsidering its controversial criminal background check policy, the Chronicle of Higher Ed reports.

The general counsel at the university, Ted Mallo, will propose new language in the policy at a Board of Trustees meeting on November 20, the report says. Mallo wants to change the policy to say that information from law enforcement about new hires may be provided for the criminal background checks, and he wants to strike the DNA sampling from the policy altogether.

"It is simply not necessary that the university rule make any reference to any specific identification method, or whether a method might include or not include Social Security numbers, fingerprints, DNA, or any other identification method or process that a law-enforcement agency may require in order to provide a responsive criminal-background check," Laura M. Massie, a university spokeswoman, writes to the Chronicle.

According to the Chronicle, the policy was introduced in October and has been a hot topic in the college community since then. Faculty, among others, called the legality of the policy into question, the report says, and Mallo wanted to avoid any "real or perceived conflict" with the law.

"I don't think this is the kind of publicity that the university benefits from," William D. Rich, an associate professor of law at Akron, tells the Chronicle. "One of the various unfortunate aspects of this is that it draws attention from the many positive things that are happening here. It steps on our message."

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