In the Feb. 11 issue of The Student Voice, the front page article on the lawsuit contained a statement on background checks by Dr. Dan Ficek, who is a school psychologist. Ficek said the University reviews employee credentials but doesn't further investigate potential faculty and staff members. Transcripts are important because the University can then verify if in fact the applicant has the degree they claim to have. Once the search and screen committee has identified candidates who have potential for the job the committee asks the candidates for letters of reference. When the committee receives those reference letters they perform reference background checks.
Letters of reference are important in the hiring process.
But, as UW-Madison Director of Counseling Consultation Services Bob McGrath points out reference letters are easy to come by. UW-Whitewater University Health and Counseling Services Associate Director Dr. Richard Schlafer has the same line of thinking as McGrath on the hiring of a psychologist. It doesn't give a good sample of all persons feelings. You aren't able to find people to give a bum reference. McGrath has a solution.