Recent events involving athletic programs have brought university hiring policies under national scrutiny. The problem is not unique to athletic programs, and the fallout is significant in any position. The following headlines and news excerpts demonstrate several other incidents of inadequate or entirely overlooked due diligence.
Doctor’s A Blight On (University)
“An esteemed cancer researcher came under attack for padding his résumé and for scientific findings that couldn’t be replicated.
…The fallout…could be …costly to (the university’s) reputation as a pre-eminent research institution and to the search for effective cancer treatments.
(The researcher) is on paid leave while the university investigates his work.
…Among the embellishments were claims that (he) received a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship.
You can’t blame (the university) for the actions of a single researcher … But you can blame (the university) for its failed pre-employment background check.”
The News & Observer, November 1, 2010
Student Discovers…Criminal Past: Embezzler Hired to Teach Accounting Has Contract With (University)
“(An instructor) hired to teach accounting classes next semester pleaded guilty earlier this year to embezzling $129,000 from a museum in Ohio and was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay restitution.
(The university’s President) said he just recently became aware of (the instructor’s) past legal troubles. When asked if he had concerns about an admitted embezzler teaching accounting at the University, (he) responded: ‘I think naturally there would be concerns about that.'”
The Chart, November 19, 2010
(Asst. Coach) Resigns Due To Resume Inaccuracies
“(This university’s) assistant basketball coach…has resigned because of inaccuracies on his resume.
When he was hired…the school issued a news release that said (the coach) had played for Wisconsin-Green Bay from 1991-95. ESPN.com…reported that there was no record of (the coach) playing for Wisconsin-Green Bay.”
Yahoo News, August 11, 2012
…Instructor’s Resume Sparks Students’ Suspicions
“A part-time instructor at (this prestigious graduate school) told students enrolled in his workshops on terrorism and human trafficking about what he described as his own dangerous exploits as a former colonel in the U.S. Army’s Special Forces.
…Such claims, along with incidents in which (the instructor) seemed to borrow material from other people’s books, raised suspicions among some of his graduate students.
…And the school now says their suspicions had merit.
…(The instructor) claimed to hold a doctorate from the University of Oregon, but a check showed that he had only attended classes there. The institute has (also) been unable to confirm the instructor’s claims of military rank and service, officials said.
…The (institute) has issued a public apology that it did not check (the instructor’s) resume more thoroughly.
…’One of the mysteries of the whole incident is how could a guy like this go on for years,’ (a student) said.”
Los Angeles Times, November 23, 2010