HILO, Hawaii (AP) - University of Hawaii leaders are examining the finances of a community college on the Big Island amid allegations that student fees were misused.
Interim President David Lassner of the Board of Regents assigned an internal auditor to look into Hawaii Community College in Hilo, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported Wednesday (https://bit.ly/1jtfzee).
The regents probably won’t discuss the allegations from students until July at the earliest because the board is near the end of a long process to hire a new president for the university system, said Cynthia Quinn, the board’s secretary. Quinn did not give details of the audit.
Hawaii Community College spokesman Thatcher Moats confirmed the audit but said the school doesn’t believe it will reveal wrongdoing.
“To verify that belief, we have referred the matter to the University of Hawaii internal auditor,” Moats said. “The auditor has agreed to look into the allegations and has just started this work.”
Former student council members have raised concerns over the past few months that they were charged for services and facilities that weren’t available for use because of a split with the student organization of University of Hawaii-Hilo.
The students say they were removed from their elected positions after complaining about the funds. They asked the university to hire an outside auditor to examine the college’s finances.
“This is unacceptable,” former student council treasurer Marieta Carino said when told Lassner asked an internal auditor to do the work.
School administrators say students still have most services available to them, though some activities require extra fees.
___
Information from: Hawaii Tribune-Herald, https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/
Please read our comment policy before commenting.