North Carolina Central University has installed software that will monitor staff and faculty computer use, but there are concerns that it could interfere with research.

The move follows a report from State Auditor Les Merritt indicating that two N.C. Central employees downloaded movies and pornography. Those two employees were fired, as was a worker at North Carolina State University who faced similar allegations.

The Herald-Sun of Durham reported Thursday that Martha McCaughey, president of the N.C. American Association of University Professors, says professors sometimes engage in research that looks suspicious. McCaughey says universities that use software to monitor computer usage should say what software they use, and who will monitor usage.

N.C. Central spokeswoman Miji Bell said the university will continue to take a proactive approach in getting the resources needed to monitor university networks.