UI faculty, staff background checks to increase
To stay in line with University of Idaho President M. Duane Nellis’ goal to keep campus safe, criminal background checks will increase Nov. 1 for potential faculty and staff.
Greg Walters, executive director for human resources, said the current policy only required those with security-sensitive positions to undergo a criminal background check.
“So really the biggest change is having all faculty and staff positions (take background checks),” Walters said.
The changes will include checks for all intended finalists for staff and faculty searches and broadening the definition of “security sensitive.” Walters said there wasn’t a written definition before the change, only a list of positions that were considered security sensitive. He said in the past hiring managers were given a lot of latitude to decide which positions were security sensitive in their department.
The definition will now include access to restricted facilities, resources, finances, data and confidential research or information as determined by the hiring authority, according to a press release.
Hiring authorities will still have the authority to decide when to conduct background checks for temporary employees, student workers, interns and volunteers. Background checks will still be required of anyone who has significant contact with minors, and the Children’s Center and Agricultural and Life Sciences will continue to use their unique requirements.
The cost of background checks, currently $45, is charged to each department.
Fall enrollment numbers released
University of Idaho enrollment is at 12,493, according to fall enrollment numbers released Thursday in accordance with new Idaho State Board of Education reporting guidelines.
The numbers show an increase of 181 students in comparison to last year when enrollment was 12,312.
The fall 2012 incoming freshman class totals 1,633 students, with more than 73 percent being Idaho residents. There was a 7 percent increase in international students with 535. The number of dual-enrollment students has increased by 70 percent to 864.
UI President M. Duane Nellis has set an enrollment goal of 16,000 students by 2020.
Gritman purchases Federal Building
The Moscow Federal Building was sold Sunday to Gritman Medical Center.
Gritman bid $2.38 million in the U.S. General Services Administration’s online real estate auction.
Kara Besst, Gritman CEO, said in a press release that to continue offering and expanding patient service, the center needs room to grow.
“This helps us continue our commitment to the community,” Besst said. “We have been developing a new facility master plan and the Federal Building will play a strategic role in the plan.”
The plan includes additional parking and short-term relocation of non-clinical departments. For the long term, the plan includes permanent development of new hospital or clinic buildings, replacing the Federal Building.
Dave McGraw, Latah County Commissioner, said in a press release that they are pleased to learn a local entity had purchased the Federal building.
“Gritman has a proven track record and is committed and loyal to Latah County,” McGraw said. “We look forward to working with Gritman to retain Latah County offices in the building.”