Between 2012 and 2014, more than $70,000 in funds held by the Jackson State University Foundation was inappropriately spent by members of the school’s administration and foundation officials, according to a report requested by the Mississippi Institutes of Higher Learning and obtained by the Jackson Clarion-Ledger.
According to the Ledger, former JSU vice-president of advancement David Hoard repaid the foundation more than $23,000 for money used on personal expenses, trips and utilities months after being fired.
Other employees, including Jackson State President Carolyn Meyers, have also repaid the foundation for thousands of dollars used outside of the scope of fundraising and donor engagement.
The foundation has since canceled all credit cards associated with its unrestricted fund, and while the Ledger reports that the IHL has not disclosed why it initially requested the the audit of the independent nonprofit organization which supports the university through privately raised funds, university officials say that the repayments and audit findings have led to stronger controls in the organization.
“At this time, I am confident that the JSUDF employs appropriate and aggressive internal controls, processes and procedures to insure that all donations to the JSUDF are spent properly.”
The foundation non longer allows for personal spending or reimbursement of its funds.
