ACUHO-I News Blog

Conducting background checks on prospective students is an occasional topic of conversation on ACUHO-I’s forums and listserv. Most institutions don’t do it, usually for a variety of reasons–logistics, expense and doubts about efficacy–but a few do. And many are often curious about the process and usefulness of the results. So when I saw this story on Inside HigherEd on conducting background checks on potential students, I thought of y’all.

Inside HigherEd’s article is based on a panel discussion that took place at the National Association of College and University Attorneys annual meeting. In addition to the  complications mentioned above,the possibility of creating an unwelcome atmosphere for students–either those with criminal histories who intend to stay on the straight-and-narrow, or law-abiding students who simply feel uncomfortable with the privacy issues involved.

On the panel was Barmak Nassirian, associate executive director of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. Nassirian discussed an AACRAO survey on backgrounding: While 66% of respondents reported collecting some information on arrests, convictions and crimes, only about 6% of those conduct background checks. A representative of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington said that school only requests background checks from a minority of students whose applications “raise red flags.” The students pay the $20 fee.

Some on the panel wondered if future behavior can be determined by background checks. People change rapidly in their teens and twenties, and young adults are known for making stupid mistakes. Most will never repeat those mistakes again. Also, some information on criminal background is self-reported, which limits its reliability.

Does your institution conduct background checks? Has it been considered? What’s the reasoning for doing so–or not?

This week, Inside HigherEd features articles on the growth in Chinese applicants; students from virtual high schools and an analysis of which student aid programs really work.

EVALUATING ONLINE APPLICANTS: With the growth of virtual high schools, new issue surfaces for admissions officers.

‘THE CHINESE ARE COMING’: Colleges in U.S. see dramatic increases in undergraduate applications from world’s most populous nation — and face ethical issues raised by the way students are recruited and coached.

FORWARD INTO THE CLOUD: With more students auto-forwarding e-mail to private accounts, even colleges  that have not outsourced their e-mail find it difficult to keep correspondence on their own servers.

WHAT WORKS FOR THE NEEDY:Analysis of which financial aid programs most help low-income students says that simplicity often trumps targeting and finds promise in aid tied to academic performance and support services.

GROUP CHEMISTRY: U. of Maryland Baltimore County uses classroom technology and shifts student roles to boost grades, attendance, and retention in chemistry courses.

Now is the time of year when things can melt away. Ice. Fudgesicles. Freshmen.

Institutions expect a certain amount of “summer melt” will occur, and slightly fewer freshmen will show up in the fall than those who have accepted admission to the institution. Likewise, some students who are assigned a residence hall room don’t appear at move-in.

To a certain point, a little melt is okay; institutions and housing departments plan around it. But colleges and universities are fearful that the fall 2009 term could end up looking like a Sno-Cone in August. So some are taking steps to keep as many of these freshmen as possible by keeping them engaged and connected to the school throughout the summer: Quizzes, social networking, check-in calls and t-shirts are among their strategies.

A selection of college housing and student affairs headlines from InsideHigherEd.com. Look for these on a weekly basis in the ACUHO-I news blog.

ECONOMIC REALITIES AND ADMISSIONS: Surveys by NACAC finds high schools reporting more students being influenced by cost, and colleges seeing signs of those choices:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/06/09/nacac

NOT-SO-SECRET AGENT MEN (AND WOMEN): When it comes to international students, the still-controversial practice of paying commissions to recruiters gains greater acceptance, and visibility:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/06/10/agents

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION: Why do some public colleges always seem to fare better on state appropriations than others? Research helps, but so does a campus in a Democratic state, and in proximity to the statehouse:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/06/10/approps

THE BEST UNIVERSITY?: Peer evaluations filled out by Clemson’s top officials partially back contention that they didn’t conspire to game U.S. News rankings. But president ranked the university’s undergraduate program higher than Harvard and Berkeley:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/06/09/clemson

A selection of college housing and student affairs headlines from InsideHigherEd.com. Look for these on a weekly basis in the ACUHO-I news blog.

NEXT BUDGET VICTIM? JOY: Faculty find economic downturn does more than just kill programs and jobs; it chips away at quality of life and fills campus with anxiety:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/05/14/morale

COLLEGE FOR THE UNEMPLOYED: President Obama pushes changes to help ex-workers keep insurance benefits even as they seek more education or training, and promises new look at role of community colleges:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/05/11/unemployed

‘SHOW ME THE MONEY’: As colleges sort out which admitted applicants are pledging to enroll, it’s clear that there is no one trend on “yield” — but many. Most revolve around dollars:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/05/11/enroll

ATHLETIC REVIVAL: After a two decade absence from intercollegiate competition, Roosevelt U. decides to restore sports programs despite tough economic times. Officials believe the benefits outweigh the risks:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/05/15/roosevelt

EARLY ADMISSION FROM THE WAITING LIST: In a break from tradition, some private colleges offered some additional spots before a final count was in on how many accepted applicants were coming:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/05/04/waitlist

CLASSROOM FAILURE, POSTSEASON BAN: For first time, NCAA bars sports teams from championship play because of poor academic performance. Association’s leaders admit that poorer institutions are more likely to face such penalties:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/05/07/ncaa

FLESHING OUT THE FEDERAL BUDGET: Obama administration details 2010 spending plan unveiled in February, which would increase and lock in Pell Grant funding and double spending on basic science over a decade:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/05/08/budget