Investigation at CCSN should be completed next month

Monday, Aug. 14, 2000 | 11:09 a.m.

RENO -- An investigation into allegations of improper hiring and promotion, misspending, phantom registrations and false grades in some classes at the Community College of Southern Nevada should be completed next month, interim Chancellor Jane Nichols says.

Nichols turned over results of the first phase of her investigation Friday to the university system's Board of Regents. It addressed the loan of more than 25 computers to nonprofit organizations such as the Salvation Army, the Latin Chamber of Commerce, NAACP, AARP, Cambridge Center and Family Link Center.

In addition, the school loaned furniture to Foothill High School, which neighbors the community college's Henderson campus, and the NAACP.

Besides her own inquiry, Nichols has called in the state Attorney General's Office to investigate possible criminal violations. She stressed that the investigations are the result of unproven allegations and said she plans to meet with faculty members at CCSN when they return to school.

She refused to say which allegations had been referred to the Attorney General's Office.

Nichols said she would bring the findings of her administrative investigation to the September meeting of the board. That probe is looking into hiring, promotions and salary practices; contracts and the completion of work for which the contract is written; misspending of money; enrollment counts; and false registration or grades in particular classes.

"This list should not be construed at this point to indicate there is any proof of wrongdoing, only that the allegations center in these areas," said Nichols.

On the investigation into loans of computer and furniture to other groups, the regents could not decide whether such loans to community groups should be banned.

"Some day the taxpayer will get sick and tired of these loans," Regent Steve Sisolak said, arguing for a prohibition. "This is absolutely unacceptable."

Regent Tom Kirkpatrick of Las Vegas said the system is obligated "to spend money properly."

"When we waste money and go back and ask for more, we're in a world of hurt," he said. News of the loans was unfortunate, because the regents last year imposed a $4 fee on students to pay for computers.

A student representative complained that students worked on computers older than the ones that were loaned out.

Regent Jill Derby of Gardnerville suggested a more moderate approach. She agreed there was "sloppy" accounting of the items that were loaned, but noted that sometimes the loans benefit the school.

Richard Moore, the president of the proposed state college in Henderson and former president of CCSN, defended the practices. One mission of the system, he said is to entice more students to attend colleges or universities.

He said computers were loaned to such places as the NAACP and the Latin Chamber of Commerce to provide information on courses at the community college and to help in registration.

But Sisolak challenged that explanation. He said he learned these computers were used for office operations, not to check on classes.

Moore also said he loaned furniture to Foothill High School, which is adjacent to the community college in Henderson, after it failed to receive a shipment of chairs and desks. The furniture stayed in the high school for at least 10 months.

Nichols' investigation showed three computers, one printer and one router were sent to the NAACP; two computers and one printer to the AARP; five computers each to Cambridge Center and Family Link Center; four computers and one printer to the Latin Chamber of Commerce; and six computers, one server and two disk drives to the Salvation Army during Moore's administration.

CCSN is getting many of the computers returned. In addition, three went to the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, but they were sent under a federal grant for a jobs program.

Her inquiry also found that the University of Nevada, Reno loaned a piano to an individual. UNR President Joe Crowley said the woman helps the school's music department produce concerts and brings in money for the university.