One college decides to forgo background checks due to expense

Businesses, organizations and even schools have incorporated background screenings as part of the traditional application process, helping to weed out questionable individuals. However, one university is choosing to forgo background checks due to the cost of the paperwork, The Equinox reports. The screenings cost Keene State College $25 per screening, and would be a prohibitive expense considering the 7,000 applications it receives annually, Peg Richmond, director of admissions, told the newspaper. The college hasn't completely foregone inquiring about applicants' pasts, though. Applications feature a question concerning whether individuals have ever been convicted of a felony or other crime, the newspaper reports. If the box is ticked, the college will investigate. "If that offense is severe enough or offensive enough that it would endanger the community in any way, they are not allowed admission," Richmond explained. For businesses, though, background screenings continue to be a staple, allowing owners to double-check financial and criminal histories.