The UW-Madison Faculty Senate approved a resolution Monday that could require new and current university employees moving to positions of trust to submit to criminal background checks starting July 1, 2007.
According to the resolution proposed by Larry Kahan, UW-Madison biomolecular chemistry professor, the Wisconsin Caregiver law requires people responsible for the care of children and vulnerable adults to be investigated. Employees whose principle duties are to handle money must also have a background check.
As a result, student cashiers at Memorial Union, housefellows and teaching assistants will all be affected. Limited Term Employees, student hourly employees and employees-in-training will be exempt, however.
Each UW-Madison school or institution will have at least one extensively trained background check coordinator under the new policy.
Kahan said employees who acquire new job responsibilities also might be affected if they are transferring to positions of trust.
The policy, currently required by the state Legislature, is taking similar forms at all schools within the UW system.
Several UW-Madison faculty members expressed concern with the resolution, according to Kahan, because they ""don't like the government snooping into their background.""
Faculty Senate members amended the resolution during the meeting to say ""under protest,"" they ""reluctantly"" approve of it.
Kahan said numerous people think the resolution ""seems like a very inefficient way of spending money to protect safety.""
He added background checks would be completed in every jurisdiction a person has lived or worked in, which adds to the cost.
Stephen Lund, UW-Madison director of academic personnel, said he understands the concern echoed by his colleagues that the cost and the message the resolution sends could outweigh the benefits.
However, Kahan said the resolution is the UW System Board of Regents' response to legislative pressure, and will be imposed regardless of the Faculty Senate's reaction.
He added recent cases of felons working in the UW System could have prompted this requirement, even if there is no evidence the resolution will prevent similar cases in the future.
Kahan maintained that for employees who are convicted criminals, the crime has to be substantially related to the person's job responsibility to not get hired.
Lund said if Chancellor John Wiley approves the resolution May 15, it will be forwarded to UW System administration to make sure it is consistent with the Board of Regents' policy. If so, it will take effect on July 1.
