CCSN gets mixed reviews in report

Friday, Oct. 20, 2000 | 11:14 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- An investigation into the Community College of Southern Nevada found that 53 percent of its new hires in the past three years were made on an emergency basis, university regents learned today.

The examination also found problems in the granting of large bonuses to employees, but Chancellor Jane Nichols said it cleared the community college of numerous allegations. She said, however, that policies must be reviewed by the regents of the University and Community College System to tighten many procedures.

The report was presented today in Carson City. There is still an investigation by the state Attorney General's Office into allegations about kickbacks in construction contracts.

Nichols said the attorney general's probe may take as long as a year.

The chancellor said there were a "barrage of allegations" made in the summer in the news media. It was not usual, she said, for the chancellor's office to conduct the inquiry, but the investigation was aimed at "clearing the air."

The investigation found that policies have not kept up with the times.

"The increasing use of this hiring method seems inappropriate," she said, "especially in light of the high percentage of emergency hires given permanent status by fiscal year 2000," she said.

"Great care must be taken to select search committees in such a way that there is not the perception of a 'rigged' search."

She said she has directed Interim President Robert Silverman to correct the situation.

Regent Steve Sisolak questioned what punishments could be taken. But Nichols said it was difficult to determine if there should be any penalty. "There was no evidence there was not a valid reason," for the hires, Nichols said.

Questions had been raised that some employees received significant salary increases over a short time, raising the issue of favoritism.

The report said there was no breach of the system's policy in giving the increases, but "there was the appearance of uneven salary practices."

Many of those who received the bonuses had increases in their responsibilities, she said, and others "were equity increases in light of market factors."

Some bonuses were given for one-time extra work, and there is no provision that allowed that practice, the chancellor said.

She said the system should adopt a policy that bonuses are not appropriate salary practice.

Regent Tom Kirkpatrick said some of the salary increases were 150 percent over four years, which he called "inordinate." He said it had a detrimental effect on the rest of the faculty.

Sisolak complained this investigation "is picking up the rug and sweeping it under." While there was no violation of policy, Sisolak suggested there was a lack of common sense.

"We are not sweeping it under the rug," Nichols replied.

The regents voted to send the report to the audit committee for further discussion.

Nichols reported the investigation did not turn up any evidence that an employee's family member was registered at the school and received student aid while actually attending an out-of-state school.

There were also widespread allegations about false registrations, to which the report replied, "The allegations of widespread abuse were dismissed for lack of evidence."

Nichols said internal auditors are looking into allegations that computers were charged to federal grants and state accounts at the same time, as well as complaints that students were registered in classes without their knowledge. When the payments were not made, the accounts were turned over to the collection agency.

"Some registrations made The report said auditors confirmed that many of the refunds due students were delayed.