Audit shows accounting problems in ISU program

The State Auditor has issued a special report that finds over 141-thousand dollars in grant money was not properly accounted for in a program at Iowa State University. I-S-U requested the investigation of the program that was designed to develop sharing agreements with universities in the Ukraine and Turkey. Auditor Dave Vaudt says he isn’t sure if the money was intentionally misused — or if it was just a matter of poor accounting. He says some of it was record keeping, but he says it’s hard to tell if there was any intentional misuse, but he says it’s clear that no-one was overseeing the disbursements. Former I-S-U professor Jerry Willis was in charge of the program and Vaudt’s audit shows Willis paid for travel, lodging and meal costs and conferences that were not allowed under the grant agreement. Vaudt says his report will go to state and federal officials. He says the report has been sent to Iowa’s Attorney General and the U-S Inspector General since federal funds were involved. Vaudt says the A-G and Inspector General will decide if criminal charges are filed. He says his office provides the information and they determine is any other action is warranted. Vaudt says I-S-U is consultig with the State Department to determine if some of the grant money could be reclassified to be included in the grant agreement.