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"Some college administrators seem so distracted with fund raising, academic infighting, and community initiatives that they set up their emergency communications departments very poorly. Training is poor to nonexistent, secretaries are pressed into service with tremendous responsibilities for running 'notification systems' 24/7 and on weekends because no one else knows how to do it and the administration won’t pay for additional staff. Procedures are seat-of-the-pants and dependent on HIPPO (highest paid person’s opinion), except when something like Virginia Tech happens and there is some sort of scramble to do something different." --Donna
Most Colleges Avoid Risk Management, Report Says
Jill Biden Shines a Global Spotlight on American Community Colleges
Speaking at a Unesco conference in Paris, the vice president’s wife stressed the importance of two-year institutions to the nation’s educational goals.
Connecticut Public Colleges Lose 200 Professors to Early Retirement
Administrators are scrambling to plug holes in their course schedules for fall, with most expecting to do so by hiring more adjuncts or increasing class sizes.
U. of Georgia Paid 2 Fraternities $2.4-Million to Relocate, Contracts Show
The two were among five with houses on property where the university plans to build new academic facilities.
New Allegations in Admissions Controversy at U. of Illinois Suggest Ex-Provost Played a Role
Linda P.B. Katehi, the incoming chancellor of the University of California at Davis, has insisted she knew nothing of the admission of politically connected applicants at Illinois.
Sonoma State U. Foundation May Lose $350,000 on Loan to Former Board Member
The foundation will be forced to issue fewer scholarships in the 2010-11 academic year because of a diminished endowment, a university official said.
College Suspends Student for Working in Gay Pornography | 58
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July 1, 2008
2 Former Tufts Administrators Are Accused of Embezzling Nearly $1-Million
An indictment returned today by a Massachusetts grand jury accuses two former Tufts University administrators of separately stealing from student-activity funds, wrongfully obtaining a total of nearly $1-million, and spending the money on such items as luxury and designer goods, resort vacations, and tickets to concerts by Madonna and Celine Dion.
A news release from the Middlesex district attorney identifies the accused employees as Josephine Nealley, who was director of the university’s Office of Student Activities from 1996 to 2007, and Raymond Rodriguez, who was the office’s budget and fiscal coordinator from 2001 to 2007. Neither Ms. Nealley nor Mr. Rodriguez has yet appeared in court to respond to the charges.
The district attorney’s release quotes Patricia Campbell, executive vice president of Tufts, as saying that the university has “improved student-activities systems to prevent future incidents” and has “taken steps to assure that no student-activities programs are adversely affected.” —Charles Huckabee
Posted on Tuesday July 1, 2008 | Permalink |Comments
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Madonna and Celine Dion? Paaleeeze!! I can see the Stones or Dylan, but there is simply no excuse for this.
— No Taste Jul 2, 08:00 AM #
Hah! That’s exactly what struck me. It’s one thing to embezzle a million dollars but, please, show some taste!
— Taste arbiter Jul 2, 11:31 AM #
So their supervisors don’t get their pee-pee’s slapped? They all were asleep at the switch? Sounds like the place needs a whole new crew…and the auditors should get their cpa licenses revoked by the state.But everyone will continue working those 4 day work weeks, pick up those direct deposit paychecks, and go to meetings and work on whatever…and whatever has to be more important than running the place.
— glang Jul 2, 11:40 AM #
Leave Madonna alone!
— Brian Dweeb Jul 2, 12:28 PM #
The mistake here is having $1 million in a student activities fund to begin with.
— dobbs liebermann Jul 2, 12:48 PM #
Exactly, #5. What sane director would approve of such a budget if he were not on the take? Makes you wonder whether there was more going on.
— Sparticus Jul 2, 01:10 PM #
Drucilla: Isn’t there someone smoking somewhere at your place of employment that you need to go rat on?
Sheesh……….grow up!
— maxsdadeo Jul 2, 03:45 PM #
Another crime committed was taking away from the amount of appearance fees the Tufts Beelzebubs might have earned by performing at more student functions. Those guys are amazing!
— J. Barton Jul 2, 05:40 PM #
glang (poster # 3) hit the nail on the head: Where exactly was Nealley ‘s supervisor during this period? (Rodriguez worked for Nealley, so we know there was no oversight in that office). There is something deeply dysfunctional about the student affairs operation at Tufts. Higher level heads need to role.
— verdano Jul 2, 06:15 PM #
Dang it, I joined the comments here late, but to answer comments #1 and #2, perhaps the reason that the two suspects didn’t purchase tickets to the Stones or Dylan because neither suspect is a senior citizen. Not that I support blowing money on Celine or Madonna, though.
— J. Ward Jul 2, 07:56 PM #
Whenever money is embezzled from colleges and universities, the first institutional spokesperson ALWAYS says: “We have taken steps and instituted processes and procedures so that this can never happen again”. ATTENTION – All institutions other than Tufts; Do it now so that there is not a first time.
— Bill Jul 2, 08:12 PM #
Not to be an apologist for anyone, but management of student activities funds in educational institutions, including public school systems, is notoriously weak when it comes to exercising internal controls. Ask any CPA: auditing firms, through their annual letters to management, are persistently calling for stronger policies and procedures to protect these funds. Apparently the honor system is a quaint, outdated notion. Ask your District’s superintendent how much he/she knows about the strength of his/her internal controls.
— Mike Jul 3, 07:55 AM #