Criminal probe of CCSN is launched

Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2000 | 11:31 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The state attorney general's office has been called in to investigate possible criminal wrongdoing at the Community College of Southern Nevada, state officials confirmed today.

Jane Nichols, interim chancellor of the University and Community College System of Nevada, said she has asked for the probe of what she called "unsubstantiated allegations" at the college in Clark County.

"We have no evidence (the allegations are true), but we felt the nature of the allegations deserved to be investigated."

Nichols said these were allegations outside the audit of the school, which found CCSN overspent its budget on projects, ignored university policies and kept shoddy records on the host fund.

The investigation does not have anything to do with charges that class enrollments were padded and grades were doctored for some students, Nichols said, calling those minor issues.

"We consider those to be our internal administrative and faculty issues and we will address that," she said.

Nichols would not disclose what is being looked into, because "that would compromise the investigation." Other school sources said the investigation might partially involve smaller construction projects on the CCSN campuses.

Nichols has told members of the Board of Regents individually that the attorney general's office is on the job.

"We take this quite seriously. And it's not an issue we can discuss at the board meeting because of the confidentiality, and the allegations are absolutely speculative at this point," Nichols said.

Regent Tom Kirkpatrick of Las Vegas, who was highly critical of some of the practices at CCSN at the last meeting of the regents in Elko, said he's not happy there are allegations. "But we need to know for sure what is going on and then to correct it."

"We've given the chancellor the opportunity to handle it, and she's doing a good job," Kirkpatrick said.

"She has found some things that are minor and some things that may, and I emphasize may, be criminal," Kirkpatrick said, adding that it would not be appropriate for him to comment further.

Regent Steve Sisolak of Las Vegas said, "I'm glad there is going to be a thorough investigation, and I'm confident the attorney general will get to the bottom of this.

"There are countless rumors and innuendoes, and everybody has had a chance to bring their concerns forward. It's now up to the attorney general to do the investigative work and see what's fact and fiction," said Sisolak, who added he had "total confidence" in the attorney general's office and its investigative staff.

Bringing in the attorney general, Sisolak said, means the issues at CCSN "have risen to a new level."

One area being investigated involves construction contracts at CCSN, according to university sources. The inquiry apparently will look at the contracting practices, especially on small jobs in the neighborhood of $25,000.

Sisolak confirmed that part of the investigation involved construction issues but said he did not have any facts.

The audit found that CCSN did not notify or get approval from the regents for seven projects, three of which cost more than $25,000. Expenditures were consistently charged to incorrect amounts. And some of the projects went over the allowed budget.

The problems arose during the administration of President Richard Moore, who resigned to become president of the proposed state college in Henderson.

There has been a top-level reorganization at the school to guard against these problems in the future.

The audit also criticized the practice of loaning computers and printers to nonprofit organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the American Association of Retired Persons and the Latin Chamber of Commerce.