A state task force says some applicants to University of North Carolina campuses may need a criminal background check before becoming a student.
Officials say the 16 state universities are generally safe with crime rates at about one sixth the statewide rate. But even with those low numbers, task force officials say a background check in many cases, could reduce crime.
The panel also recommended creating campus safety committees, conducting campus threat assessments, training campus staff to spot potential threats and standardizing background questions on forms.
The proposal now goes to the president of the university system for her consideration.
