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The controversial decision of one school to include DNA testing as part of its employment background check procedures has been reversed.

The University of Akron recently announced that in addition to criminal background checks, it would require all new employees to submit a DNA sample. While many colleges require employees to undergo background checks, adding DNA to the mix would be a first.

Some faculty and community members quickly took exception to the new rule, and one adjunct faculty member quit because of it. There also was concern that the school never consulted with the American Association of University Professors before passing the new rule.

"(Akron wants) a safe environment for all of its students and employees," Laura Martinez Massie, University of Akron spokeswoman, previously said. "DNA testing was included in the policy because there have been national discussions that indicate that in the future, reliance on fingerprinting will diminish and DNA for criminal identification will be the more prominent technology. (Akron wants) the flexibility to adopt the new technology if we found it necessary."

However, CBS News has reported that the university's Faculty Senate is now willing to remove references to DNA testing from its background check policy. Part of the reason is that the new rule would have violated the upcoming Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act.

As opposed to the previous rule - which stated that a "DNA sample for purpose of a federal criminal background check" may be collected from any prospective faculty, staff or contractor - the university's rule now states, "The candidate may be required by the law enforcement agency to provide additional information which is needed by the law enforcement agency for purposes of conducting the criminal background check."

Labels: Employment background check procedures