The provincial government is assigning an administrator to oversee Conestoga College after an audit revealed a “luxury” trip to Italy that included “egregious” spending on alcohol and “premium” transportation.
The audit indicated “evidence of serious financial and governance mismanagement.”
Linda Franklin will take on the role of administrator for the college, according to a press release from May 7. She has been the CEO of two organizations during her 30 years in the field and has served on public sector boards. She recently retired as the President and CEO of Colleges Ontario.
The government reported that some decisions included a 55 percent salary increase for former Conestoga president, John Tibbits, bringing his pay to over $636,000. He retired in January after leading for more than four decades, and his termination payment was found to be over 83 times his monthly salary, according to the audit.
A trip costing $23,000 was taken by three senior leaders at the college, along with “similar trips” where business airfare, “luxury” accommodations, and “premium transportation” were covered by the school.
“In addition, repeated ineligible hospitality expenses were approved without proper oversight, including a $1,300 dining expense for internal staff where 50 percent of the pre-tax total was alcohol,” noted the release.
The college’s Board of Governors has also been dismissed effective immediately, as stated by the government.
Franklin is expected to collaborate with interim president Norma Mc Donald Ewing and other leadership staff to help refocus the institution on student success while restoring “financial prudence.”
This “irresponsible decision making” has led to one of Ontario’s largest layoffs in colleges history and has caused chaos for students.
In March alone, nearly 400 full-time staff were let go in another round of layoffs due to declining international student enrollment.
During that month Leopold Koff, president of OPSEU Local 237-the union representing faculty at the college-mentioned that 181 faculty members and 197 support staff have either left entirely or have been forced into part-time roles out of “desperation.”
Koff pointed out that financial issues might stem from mismanagement since Conestoga College operates across 12 campuses throughout Ontario.
“Our government’s record-setting funding for colleges must be used to drive student success; anything less is completely unacceptable,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “Under this administrator’s oversight, I expect responsible fiscal decision-making will return to Conestoga College so it can get back on track in producing graduates needed in Ontario.”
An internal memo from Conestoga College obtained by 570 News Radio confirmed that day-to-day operations will continue as usual with no interruptions to programs or services offered.
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