DA: N.C. A&T officials won't be charged

[AggieWJM]

By Sonja Elmquist
Staff Writer

GREENSBORO - Guilford County District Attorney Doug Henderson will not prosecute officials from N.C. A&T in connection with misused funds discovered in a 2007 audit of the university's finances, Henderson announced Tuesday.

Neither former A&T Chancellor James C. Renick nor Anna Anita Huff, a program manager who was fired in September 2006, violated any laws or enriched themselves with the misused funds, Henderson said. Renick left the university in 2006 to take a position at the American Council on Education in Washington

In September 2007, Henderson asked the State Bureau of Investigation to look into an auditor's report that found hundreds of thousands of dollars in university funds had been used inappropriately.

The investigation focused on two funds: The Future Engineering Faculty Fellowship Program, funded by a grant from the Office of Naval Research and administered by Huff, and Pepsi vending contract money intended for student financial aid and campus debt.

Investigators looked at nearly $400,000 in money from the Pepsi vending contracts that had been transferred into Renick's personal spending account.

Auditors also found that grant money from the Office of Naval Research used in the university's Future Engineering Faculty Fellowship Program had been spent on Huff's husband - a student in the program - and daughter - a student employee of the program.

The funds in both cases were spent for the good of the university and any violations of UNC system policy did not rise to the level of breaking the law, Henderson said.

[Bornthrilla]

Does this mean that Renick's name can go back on the education building now?

[Bornthrilla]

The funds in both cases were spent for the good of the university and any violations of UNC system policy did not rise to the level of breaking the law, Henderson said.

Let the church say Amen!

Aggie 3:16 - Velma wept

[Maxell]

Jan 6, 2009 17:04:42 GMT -5 Bornthrilla said:

Aggie 3:16 - Velma wept

LOL!

[captaggie]

Amen!

Now can we include Dr. Renick on presentations of A&T's chancellors?

[Bornthrilla]

DA won’t file charges against A&T officials
Wednesday, January 7
( updated 5:19 am)
By Sonja Elmquist
Staff Writer


GREENSBORO - Guilford County District Attorney Doug Henderson will not prosecute officials from N.C. A&T in connection with misused funds discovered in a 2007 audit of the university's finances.

Neither former A&T Chancellor James C. Renick nor Anna Anita Huff, a program manager who was fired in September 2006, violated any laws or enriched themselves with the misused funds, Henderson said Tuesday.

Mable Scott, special assistant to the vice chancellor for Development and University Relations, declined to comment on the decision Tuesday but said: "We are very proud of N.C. A&T State University. ... We're ranked third in research within the UNC system with over $40 million in research and (are) a top producer of graduates in engineering, psychology and accounting."

In September 2007, Henderson asked the State Bureau of Investigation to look into an auditor's report that found hundreds of thousands of dollars in university funds had been used inappropriately.

The audit by the N.C. Office of the State Auditor was released in August 2007.

The investigation focused on two funds: the Future Engineering Faculty Fellowship Program, funded by a grant from the Office of Naval Research that Huff managed, and a Pepsi vending contract. Money from that contract was intended for student financial aid and campus debt.

Investigators looked at nearly $400,000 from the Pepsi vending contracts that had been transferred into Renick's discretionary fund.

Although audits found that money from the contracts purchased a $150,000 retirement annuity for a faculty member, travel and artwork, Henderson found the expenditures all benefited the university. Henderson wrote in a news release that Renick didn't understand the restriction on the vending funds. "We find that former Chancellor James C. Renick did not act in bad faith or with criminal intent," according to the news release.

Renick, who left A&T in 2006 to take a position at the American Council on Education in Washington, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Auditors also found that grant money from the Office of Naval Research used in the fellowship program had been spent on a stipend for Huff's husband, a student in the program, and wages and travel expenses for her daughter, a student employee of the program. The Office of Naval Research approved all the spending and found it to be within the grant's guidelines, according to the release.

Huff had no influence over the selection committee that chose her husband to participate in the program, and the committee could not have known they were married, according to the release.

Program equipment the audit found missing has been located, and hiring her daughter "was not on its face illegal," Henderson said, adding, "the university received benefit from her services."

Huff could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Contact Sonja Elmquist at 373-7090 or [e-mail]

[aggiejazz]

Unless A&T reported a crime to the Guildford County Sheriff Department, why is the county DA involved in a state issue over possible misappropriations of state funds?

[DOOMS]

Man that's a very good question.

[captaggie]

What artifact/document initiates an investigation? Is it a matter of public record?

[Aggie One]

As a matter of state law, the state auditor always turns over its findings to the local prosecutor or the Attorney General, depending on the circumstances, if there is a question of malfeasance per state law.

We do it all all the time when a question arises in our internal investigations in state government. This is not new. Its been on the books for decades.

Someone owes Renick an apology and I don't need to tell you who.

[DOOMS]

Was his name taken off the building for that? I thought most people gave him a pass on the "stealing." I know I did. There was a lot of other stuff I ain't gave him a pass on.

[Bigboy]

Renick's name was taken off of the building because there were some members on the BOT and the BOG that just did not like him, so they used petty tricks and falsehoods to smear him in the media and in the minds of students and alums. Even as this crap hit the N&R it was already known that none of it would stick and that he would more than likely be exonerated. Renick is no longer with the ACE in DC, he has moved back to Fla. to be with his family and he has join an educational consulting firm. Don't be suprised to see him become a chancellor or president of another university. The man still loves A&T even after all the BS that went down.

[SixtiesAggie]

Jan 7, 2009 13:15:30 GMT -5 Bigboy said:

Renick's name was taken off of the building because there were some members on the BOT and the BOG that just did not like him, so they used petty tricks and falsehoods to smear him in the media and in the minds of students and alums. Even as this crap hit the N&R it was already known that none of it would stick and that he would more than likely be exonerated. Renick is no longer with the ACE in DC, he has moved back to Fla. to be with his family and he has join an educational consulting firm. Don't be suprised to see him become a chancellor or president of another university. The man still loves A&T even after all the BS that went down.

Agree!!!! Name was taken off because of the report. His problem started with the GA, and then the BOT was boondoggled into carrying out the hatchet job with the hatchetman. All of this to the glee and joy of the news and record.

Hey, we are still here. Strong as ever, except in athletics, but we will overcome that too.

[aggieiam]

Jan 6, 2009 17:04:42 GMT -5 Bornthrilla said:

Aggie 3:16 - Velma wept

OMG...I had to cover my mouth to stop laughing so hard and waking my child up. Thank you!

;D ;D

[aggieiam]

I am hoping that "someone" will man up and provide the apology that he so rightly deserves. However, I won't hold my breath as it may be my last.