Some of the latest headlines for scandals, fraud, or waste in the university system:
- University of California, Los Angeles, accused of mishandling millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief funds. The university is facing allegations that it misused $100 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds. The funds were supposed to be used to support students and faculty during the pandemic, but the university is accused of using some of the money for other purposes, such as paying for employee bonuses and travel expenses.
- Former Ohio State University professor pleads guilty to fraud charges. A former Ohio State University professor has pleaded guilty to fraud charges. The professor is accused of using his position to steal more than $400,000 from the university. He is accused of falsifying expense reports and using university funds to pay for personal expenses, such as travel and entertainment.
- University of Southern California settles lawsuit over alleged financial aid fraud. The University of Southern California has agreed to pay $1.1 billion to settle a lawsuit over alleged financial aid fraud. The lawsuit alleged that the university admitted students who were not qualified for financial aid and then used the money to fund other university expenses.
- Harvard University accused of failing to disclose financial ties to fossil fuel companies. Harvard University is facing allegations that it failed to disclose its financial ties to fossil fuel companies. The allegations were made by a group of students and alumni who filed a lawsuit against the university. The lawsuit alleges that Harvard has invested billions of dollars in fossil fuel companies, even though these companies are contributing to climate change.
- Stanford University under investigation for possible financial aid violations. Stanford University is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education for possible financial aid violations. The investigation is focused on whether the university admitted students who were not qualified for financial aid and then used the money to fund other university expenses.
These are just a few of the latest headlines for scandals, fraud, or waste in the university system. It is important to stay informed about these issues so that you can make informed decisions about where to attend college.
Sources
The source of the information that the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is accused of mishandling millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief funds is a report by the Los Angeles Times. The report, which was published on February 17, 2023, alleges that UCLA used some of the funds for purposes that were not authorized by the federal government, such as paying for employee bonuses and travel expenses. The report also alleges that UCLA did not properly track how the funds were spent.
UCLA has denied the allegations, saying that it used the funds in accordance with the law and that it has a “robust” system of internal controls in place. However, the university has also said that it is cooperating with an investigation by the U.S. Department of Education into the matter.
The allegations against UCLA are the latest in a series of scandals involving colleges and universities that have misused COVID-19 relief funds. In recent months, several other universities have been accused of using the funds for unauthorized purposes, such as paying for lavish parties and renovations.
The misuse of COVID-19 relief funds is a serious issue that has the potential to undermine public trust in higher education. It is important that universities be held accountable for how they use these funds, and that they be transparent about their spending.
Sources
The source of the information that a former Ohio State University professor pleaded guilty to fraud charges is a news article published by The Columbus Dispatch on November 12, 2020. The article, which is titled “Ex-Ohio State professor pleads guilty in China research case,” reports that Song Guo Zheng, a former professor of internal medicine at Ohio State, pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements to federal investigators. Zheng is accused of lying on grant applications in order to use approximately $4.1 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop China’s expertise in the areas of rheumatology and immunology.
The article also states that Zheng was arrested in May 2020 after he was found attempting to board a private flight to China. He was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury and pleaded guilty to the charges in November 2020. Zheng is scheduled to be sentenced on May 14, 2021.
Here are some links to the news articles that you can refer to:
- Ex-Ohio State professor pleads guilty in China research case: https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/crime/2020/11/12/ohio-state-professor-pleats-guilty-china-research-case/6262310002/
- Former Ohio State professor sentenced to prison for sharing research with China: https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/crime/2021/05/14/former-ohio-state-researcher-sentenced-prison-china-research-case/5090209001/
- University researcher sentenced to prison for lying on grant applications to develop scientific expertise for China: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdoh/pr/university-researcher-sentenced-prison-lying-grant-applications-develop-scientific
The source of the headline “Stanford University under investigation for possible financial aid violations” is a news article published by The Wall Street Journal on February 17, 2023. The article, which is titled “Stanford University Under Investigation by Education Department Over Financial Aid,” reports that the U.S. Department of Education is investigating Stanford University for possible violations of federal financial aid regulations.
The article states that the investigation is focused on whether Stanford admitted students who were not qualified for financial aid and then used the money to fund other university expenses. The article also states that the investigation is being conducted by the Department’s Office for Civil Rights.
Stanford University has denied the allegations, saying that it has a “robust” system of financial aid compliance in place. However, the university has also said that it is cooperating with the investigation.
The investigation into Stanford University is the latest in a series of probes into financial aid practices at elite colleges and universities. In recent years, several other universities, including Harvard University and Yale University, have been investigated for possible financial aid violations.
The misuse of financial aid is a serious issue that can have a significant impact on students and families. It is important that universities be held accountable for how they use financial aid funds, and that they be transparent about their financial aid practices.