the commission detailed numerous ways the college had acted
without integrity and in violation of its policies,
in financial and academic areas — echoing concerns detailed in Tribune investigations throughout the past year. The agency cited the college's
"regular" breaches of its investment policies, which added to
costly losses;
charges for alcohol at the campus'
high-end restaurant; awarding
exclusive contracts to vendors on the college's foundation board; and a lack of ethics training for employees.
The agency also found that the college's internal auditor had given senior administrators
43 separate reports involving unethical behavior, possible criminal conduct and violations of school policy during the past three years. College officials, however, could not document any actions taken as a result of those audits, the four-page letter from the HLC states.
"These incidents have demonstrated a lack of integrity in the College's operations and lack of adherence to established policies and procedures at the College," commission president Barbara Gellman-Danley wrote to Collins.