CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - The State Auditor’s Office recently flagged as suspicious charges on a state travel card that included Chicago Bears football tickets, alcohol and other purchases that typically aren’t allowed.
These purchases were allowed because the travel card belonged to West Virginia State University President Brian Hemphill. Colleges are among agencies that are exempt from state travel and purchasing policies. Members of the legislative and judicial branches of government also are exempt, the Charleston Gazette (https://bit.ly/1n1s7ue) reported Sunday.
The Travel Management Office took no action after the Auditor’s Office sent the account to it for review.
“If there’s something that needs to be done, then (the Travel Management Office) could pull a card away from a person,” Justin Southern, spokesman for State Auditor Glen Gainer, told the newspaper. “But I believe that presidents of universities, they have different responsibilities when it comes to entertaining and how they handle things.”
Southern said the WVSU Foundation had reimbursed thousands of dollars of the charges. Hemphill also reimbursed some charges.
To his knowledge, Hemphill said no policy was violated. He said he plans to research all available mechanisms to manage expenses related to his duties and will make any appropriate changes to the system.
“Since joining the State family, I have been a strong advocate of excellence, accountability and student-centeredness across all facets of the university. My integrity and reputation, and that of the university, are of the (utmost) importance to me,” Hemphill told the newspaper in a statement. “I strive each and every day to ensure my work, both as a professional and a person, reflects these attributes.”
Tom Susman, chairman of the WVSU Board of Governors, said he does not believe Hemphill did anything wrong. He said the board gave Hemphill the travel card so he could cultivate donors.
West Virginia State has received $4 million in donations and pledges since Hemphill became president about a year and a half ago. In prior years, the university received an average of$600,000 annually, Susman said.
“The board gave him this card. We told him to go do donor cultivation. He’s out trying to raise money to help lower tuition, to help build buildings. He’s doing all these things we’re asking him to do,” he said. “So if anyone screwed up, he didn’t screw up - the board screwed up.”
The Higher Education Policy Commission’s procedural rules on travel exclude alcoholic beverages and entertainment expenses. Travel accounts should be used “only for official business” and for “actual costs.”
Commission spokeswoman Jessica Tice said that higher education is “unique” and “mulitfacted,” which “requires a level of flexibility that allows the (commission) and institutions to be nimble and respond to the needs of students and others we serve.”
___
Information from: The Charleston Gazette, https://www.wvgazette.com
Please read our comment policy before commenting.