State Lawmakers To Review UA Fundraising Report

State legislators are scheduled to hear testimony from a number of current and former University of Arkansas employees regarding a multi-million dollar deficit in the school’s fundraising division.

In December, a state audit provided to the Joint Auditing Committee found poor oversight and a failure to follow proper policies regarding a $4 million deficit; however, no criminal charges were brought forward after a prosecutor’s review. State lawmakers quickly accepted the audit report and did not allow testimony from a number of witnesses who made the trek from Fayetteville to speak on the report’s findings.

On Tuesday (Jan. 7), the Joint Performance Review Committee will listen to fired UA employees Brad Choate, Joy Sharp and John Diamond. Also, UA Chancellor David Gearhart will testify.

Joint Performance Review Committee co-chairman Rep. Terry Rice (R-Waldron) says he wants a lengthier, more open hearing than the one last month.

Karen Tricot Steward with our content partner, KUAR-FM 89 News, reports:

Rice, who co-chairs the committee now hearing the matter, says he wants to see a fair and open meeting this time.

“I think for the good of the institution of the University of Arkansas and the legislature, we need to have an open meeting with questions and people being able to answer,” said Rice.

Some members of the audit committee defended not hearing testimony from the former employees by saying it’s not the job of the audit committee to unveil wrongdoing, noting that was placed in the hands of Washington County Prosecutor and the committee was only there to accept the state audit report that found the shortfall.

But Representative Rice doesn’t buy that.

“Very few times have I been where we couldn’t have discussion before something’s reviewed. It’s not that we would change anything that the prosecutor found or didn’t find, but it would have been the opportunity to have questions,” said Rice.

You can access the full report here.