MEMORANDUM
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DATE:
TO: I97090048 il I
RE: close-out 0-ase
Background
On March, 20, 1997, this oflice received an allegation fiom Dr. program
officer in the Division of who brought a letter '$nd supporting
materials from Dr. retaliation against her
government funds he University o
Dr. m l e g e d :
complained to University authorities about sexual harrassment and denial 6f access to
NSF-funded equipment and 2) that Dr. d a private, for-profit coboration called
the which was addLrtising the
NSF-hnded equipment for personal profit. I
through July 3 1, . ,
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The award was made to the Univers
project was conducted under the direction of
*-ad D 'I
Investipative Results
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I 1) No evidence of financial gain via the use of the NSF-funded
found, and 2) no evidence of personal gain by Dr. a his company,
found.
Investigative Methods and Scope
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Theallegations regardingthe retaliation were referred to the
.... Misconduct ahd
. , Legal
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sections: Dr. The Investigations section focused on the
allegation regar mng possible nanclal improprieties relating to the use of tge NSF-funded
equipment. Investigations also coordinated with Misconduct and Legal tollensure that all
overlapping information and evidence pertaining to possible financial imprdprietieswas
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I explored. !I
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The scoDe of this investigation included document reauests from the ~nivdrsitvof
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representative.
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The following was determined:
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The NSF-fbnded is much delayed in its set-up' and use, and
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no moneys have been charged for its use.
According to the consistent photos were t$en I between
April 18, 1996 through September 8, 1997. However, as of a ~ a n d b7, r ~1998
conversation with Dr. h was difficult to pse, not fully
operational, and considerable amounts of effort and technical expertise was
required to produce a single image. Dr. a s not charged for $s use, nor is he
aware of any other being charged for use. I
the sole conduit for the processing of ny such documentation. NJ Gdicators of
such deposits were present with a review oT a n k statemints from the
period of July 3 1, 1995 through November 19 '1
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3) a s incorporated in October, 1989. The University, according to Internal
Audit ~ i r e c t oar d always know about its existendk, and that it
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, financial records b
I President for Health Affairs on June 2, 199
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Subsequently, a third audit was conducted
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behest of
eht , President o f t
indicating any misappropriation of funds.
I contract be made between m d t+
the future.
4.) NSF OIG's review o a r 2 statements between July 3 1, i995 and
November 1997 indicated that there was only one payment larger ihan $500 made
to Dr. #1221, in the amount of $3,264, was a
his purchase of a ne of
several bought by &ated (hat she had seen
this computer, and that the University had title to this machine.
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5) The NSF-funded was advertised, along with many other
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pieces of equipment, on an internet page dedicated to- resources.'
According to ~r.-his pa e created to show the various resources
available to those desiring to usem n dL J n i V e m I
t
"raisel:] funds for the growth of the Department of
hispage is still on the net, in a revised form, without I
the fee-for-
service content.
2
Sometime after Dr. -covered the existence of the
il site, and made
various allegations to the Unlverslty, the webpage disappeared. en asked to e!iplain this
occurrence, ~ rt . e d that the net page rovider had also thought the pagb was intended as
a private enterprise and thus wanted to charge &r higher rate structure for commercial
venture pages. ~r.-x~lained to the net provider a not-for-profit, and the
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page was re-instated.
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According to Dr. -total revenues over the past 5-8 years is
approximately $80,000. These funds are used to defray the costs of ~ e ~ a r t m e n t a l
expenses, through the purchase of equipment, the provision of stipdnds for
graduate students, the fbnding of student travel to meetings, the fbnding of annual i
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rties, and the purchase of fbmiture. The University doesi!notreimburse
r the~e'ex~enses. II
~onclusions '1
Based on the above information analyzed, and particularly in light of the thiee institutional
audits performed & v e r the past three years, no significant findinhs of fiaud,
or.resourcesb.found,..a.n4 4thejn_\ie_sfigative[~ofli~n
-.waste-or-abuse-of-f~der_a1&_n_4~ of this --
case is closed. -I
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Grant Fraud
Published by the National Science Foundation, Office of Inspector General on 1998-01-31.
Below is a raw (and likely hideous) rendition of the original report. (PDF)