* Time for a change…
An audit of Chicago State University by the state’s auditor general released on Wednesday found that the embattled university improperly reported more than $51 million in federal awards.
According to the report by the state’s Auditor General Frank Mautino, the university did not properly prepare expenditure reports, as federal law requires, for federal awards amounting to $51,731,277 for two loan programs from the Department of Education.
Two awards from the Department of Health and Human Services related to a program for providing education and training to eligible individuals for health-care related professions were also improperly classified, the report said.
The university is required to identify in its accounts all federal awards received and expended, and the federal programs under which they are received, the report said.
The university responded that it agreed with the recommendation but said that it had properly reported the loan amounts within the “footnotes” of their report.
There’s more, so go read the whole thing. The official summary report digest is here.
* Related…
* Chicago State University Postpones Decision on Administration Changes
- Ravenswood Right Winger - Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 10:27 am:
Frank Mautino is still on the job???
In all seriousness, the board needs to appoint the best person to clean up this mess. If not Paul Vallas, who?
- Too Little, Too Late - Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 10:30 am:
Wayne’s World! Party Time on the Public Dime!
Why isn’t former CSU President Wayne Watson on trial?
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 10:37 am:
Auditor Mautino uncovers serious administrative problems regarding $51 million dollars in Federal Awards.
Like the Plumber whose toilet at home is broken.
And we wonder why Illinois residents have the least faith in state government in America.
But hey, Speaker Madigan likes him so all is well
- so... - Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 10:44 am:
But we can’t appoint a proven administrator to help run the place because he’s white.
- A guy - Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 10:45 am:
Mautino’s issues should be set aside assessing here. It seems to me his personal involvement in the discovery and audit of this is likely very, very limited. His name is on the stationery. The work product appears to have come from a very capable agency.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 10:47 am:
Never fear! Emil Jones is here!
- Robert the Bruce - Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 10:54 am:
You’re probably right, a guy, but anything with his name on it right now clouds the good honest work of staff.
- NIU Grad - Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 11:20 am:
To the Chicago/local leaders who have been vocally opposing a Vallas appointment: Why did you stay silent as the CSU administration bled the place dry and perpetuated a fraud to its students?
- thechampaignlife - Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 11:27 am:
Meh. It does not say they misspent the money, just misreported it. Paperwork mistakes happen, especially when funding is severely cut.
- Rocky Rosi - Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 11:49 am:
Some institutions just can’t get it right. Is it so hard to find people that can do the job correctly?
- nikobey - Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 11:55 am:
Irrespective of whether the funds in question were misspent or their expenditure misreported,this situation is symptomatic of the chronic problems that have plagued CSU. This university needs new and responsible leadership, beginning with its Board of Trustees,if it is to fulfill its unique and important role in the Illinois public higher education system.
- Robert the Bruce - Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 12:22 pm:
==Is it so hard to find people that can do the job correctly?==
No. But it can be quite hard to find people who were recommended by politicians who can also do the job correctly.
- 51st ward - Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 1:14 pm:
This has been going on for years there. Previous audits showed tax payer money used for cruises and booze. This institution isn’t a university it a boondoggle Emil Jones patronage scam.
- Realist - Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 3:58 pm:
Can we all just agree that CSU is one of the worst and most corrupt universities in America? I believe they have about a 3% graduation rate. Have we become so afraid of the race card being thrown at us that we just turn a blind eye?
- 51st ward - Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 5:21 pm:
Realist. First, “think of the children”
2nd. Think of the patronage jobs and votes.
- DuPage Saint - Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 7:26 pm:
Roland Burris needs a job. He still has space on his tomb.
- So Sad - Thursday, Mar 30, 17 @ 8:19 pm:
It has been reliably reported by CSU Faculty Voice that the university has enrolled one hundred new freshmen students for the upcoming Fall semester.
At what point does this university become too big of a liability to salvage? Why on earth does it still have competitive athletic teams traveling across the USA?