The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) released a report saying faculty background checks are an unnecessary invasion of privacy.

The report, found in the March/April issue of the AAUP's Academe magazine, said "interest has been stimulated" by the discovery of former Penn State professor Paul Krueger's history.

Krueger killed three fishermen off the coast of Texas in 1966 when he was 17 years old. Although he was given three life sentences, he was paroled in 1979 and went on to work at Penn State in 1999.

Robert Kreiser, AAUP senior program officer, said dealing with young children or confidential data may constitute background checks, but working in higher education does not.

"I think it's a draconian overreaction to a situation," he said. "A single instance at Penn State University should not drive a move toward background checks."

Kreiser said background checks are an invasion of privacy.

"Undertaking such searches is highly invasive of an applicant's privacy and is potentially very damaging," the report said.

Penn State implemented a policy in January for all new faculty hires to undergo a criminal background check. The administration uses HireRight Inc. of Irvine, Calif., to perform the checks, which cost an average of $39 each. The check confirms an applicant's self-disclosure form by scanning county, state and federal court documents.

However, discovery of a criminal background would not necessarily disqualify new faculty hires, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Robert Secor said in February.

Following Penn State's policy implementation, State Rep. Matt Baker, R-Tioga and Bradford, introduced a bill that would require all colleges and universities in Pennsylvania to use background checks.

House Bill 2331, the College and University Criminal History Record Act, calls for all applicants to obtain state police and FBI clearance. Baker said the amended bill would only apply to new faculty hires. He is working with Penn State to finalize the bill.

Last week, Mary Young, the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania vice president for government relations, expressed her organization's concerns.

"Background checks are an emerging requirement, but higher education is different than most marketplaces," she said. "Our presidents want a safe environment ... but we should make sure this investment is worth doing."