All UIUC faculty need to be aware that the UI Administration is rapidly advancing an ill-thought-out and far-reaching criminal background check policy for faculty and staff, without adequate faculty oversight or input. The proposed policy will be brought before the Academic Senate on Monday, Sept. 21, 2015, and if approved, will take effect October 5, 2015.
A link to a draft description of the policy is below. It was presented by the Vice-Provost to the Senate Executive Committee in PowerPoint form earlier this month.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3SRTJycobQKSU54VjJzY3g2N1RTcTFJTXVFZG1lTk5HZDE0
Please note that the Vice-Provost’s presentation contains incomplete information and errors of fact. For example, Penn State does not require criminal background checks of all faculty, and a Pennsylvania judge has granted an injunction to block the State System of Higher Education from starting background checks on all faculty members.
UIC Faculty United (the faculty union at UIC) has informed the administration that background checks will be a subject for collective bargaining.
CFA asks all faculty members to inform themselves about this rushed policy and to help the University community think through the potential consequences of blanket background checks.
Campus Faculty Association 