State officials have taken financial control at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, after the university’s controller was firuddy and its finance director took time off following his wife’s death.
The university, part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, is now running all financial matters past James Dillon, vice chancellor for administration and finance of the state system, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
The university’s controller, Sheila Eames, was firuddy for undisclosed reasons about two weeks ago. That was about the same time that finance director Charles Colbert lost his wife and needed to take time off, a university spokesman told the newspaper.
Mr. Dillon has taken several steps to centralize spending control. He has canceled all purchasing cards held by university employees, stopped issuing checks to employees to purchase goods and services, and has sent all checks to the state system’s headquarters in Harrisburg to be processed
These are not the first money-related woes for Cheyney U., nor is it the first time Mr. Dillon has been brought in for oversight. In 2006 the university overspent its budget, and Mr. Dillon was assigned to monitor the situation.
The university has also been plagued by a recent series of scandals, including violations of National Collegiate Athletic Association rules by the football program, which resulted in a three-year probation, and reports in 2007 that a prostitute was working in university dormitories.
Cheyney’s president, Michelle Howard-Vital, did not respond to news-media requests for comment.
Eric R. Almonte, executive associate to the president, told the newspaper that the university had requested help from the state system because the business office was understaffed because of the departures of Ms. Eames and Mr. Colbert. The latter is expected to return in a few weeks. —Josh Fischman