-. Katherine Conway-Turner, 
President
.3 BUFFALO STATE Cleveland Hall 517
The State University of New York 1300 leWOOd Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14222-1095
Tel: (716) 878?4101
Fax: (716) 878?6527

  

May 12,2016

Catherine Leahy Scott

NYS Inspector General
Empire State Plaza

Agency Building 2, 16th Floor
Albany, New York 12223

Re: NYS IG #1513-032-2014

Dear Inspector General Scott:

I am writing in response to your March 31, 2016 letter regarding Buffalo State
College?s International Graduate Programs for Educators Included in your letter
are two recommendations that you have asked us to advise you on our actions and
decisions. 

The first recommendation is that Buffalo State immediately cease administration
of IGPE through the SUNY Research Foundation if it has not already done so. As of this
date, all new revenues for IGPE are being deposited in accounts established as part of the
State Income Fund Reimbursable (IFR) Program. In addition, new expenditures will
be processed through the IFR accounts. A period of transition is required to clear all the
outstanding financial commitments from the Research Foundation, and we expect that
IGPE will be fully accounted for through the State by the end of this fiscal year [June 30,
2016}

The second recommendation is that Buffalo State perform a comprehensive review
of all existing programs to ensure that the SUNY Research Foundation is not improperly
administering any other programs that require the payment of tuition by students or
involve credit bearing courses. Our review of activity in the Research Foundation is on-
going, and our plans are to have any programs that may be questionable moved to the
State by the start of our new ?scal year [July 1, 2016).

Please be assured that Buffalo State has taken the issues identified in the reviews
done by both SUNY and the Research Foundation very seriously, and has been proactive
in taking steps to improve the operations of and to ensure that IGPE operates in a
manner that is fully compliant with NYS and SUNY requirements.

 

NYS IG #1513-032-2014
May 12, 2016
Page 2

If] can provide additional information on our response please let me know.

Sincerely,

   
 
    

  

Ka erine Conway?Turner,
Pr sident

cc: Melanie L. Perreault, Provost and VP for Academic Affairs
Michael F. LeVine, VP for Finance and Management

 

STATE OF NEW YORK
OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
OFFICE OF THE WELFARE INSPECTOR GENERAL
OFFICE OF THE COMPENSATION FRAUD INSPECTOR GENERAL

EMPIRE STATE PLAZA
AGENCY BLDG. 2, 16?" FLOOR
ALBANY, NEW YORK 12223

61 BROADWAY, SUITE 2100 (513) 474-1010 65 COURT STREET, FLOOR
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10006 BUFFALO. NEW YORK 14202
(212) 635-3150 (715) 047-7118

CATHERINE LEAHY SCOTT
INSPECTOR GENERAL

March 31,2016

Katherine S. Conway?Turner, 
President

SUNY Buffalo State

Cleveland Hall 517

1300 Elmwood Avenue

Buffalo, NY 14222

Re: NYS IG #1513?032?2014
Dear President Conway-Turner:

The State University of New York (SUNY) previously forwarded a complaint to
my of?ce regarding potential fraud and misconduct within SUNY Buffalo State?s
International Graduate Programs for Educators (IGPE), a program that was managed by
the SUNY Research Foundation. Prior to advising my of?ce of this matter, SUNY and
the SUNY Research Foundation conducted ajoint investigation of the allegations and
prepared a report regarding their ?ndings. A copy of this report was also provided to
Buffalo State.

Thisjoint investigation found fraud and misconduct by IGPE personnel. The
investigation also found that Buffalo State improperly used SUNY Research Foundation
to manage the IGPE. The report stated, ?Buffalo State College used the Research
Foundation to run/administer tuition based student programs unrelated to normal
Research Foundation activities or responsibilities and in violation of State Education Law
and SUNY policies.? According to State Education Law, SUNY Income Fund
Reimbursable Guidelines, and SUNY Policy for Third Party Payment of Program Costs,
?revenues derived from tuition-related activities and third party contacts must be
deposited into a State account.?

It is my understanding that representatives of the SUNY Research Foundation
presented these ?nding to the Erie County District Attorney, who declined criminal
prosecution of the IGPE personnel identi?ed in the report based upon their review of the
matter.

Foremost, I recommend that Buffalo State immediately cease administration of
IGPE through the SUNY Research Foundation if it has not already done so. I also
recommend that Buffalo State perform a comprehensive review of all existing programs
to ensure that the SUNY Research Foundation is not improperly administering any other
programs that require the payment of tuition by students or involve credit bearing
courses.

I request that within 45 days of this letter, you advise me of any actions or
decisions taken in response to my recommendations.

If you require further assistance or additional information, please do not hesitate to
contact Deputy Inspector General Jeffrey Hagen at 716-847-7102. 

Sincerely,

Catherine Leahy Scott
Inspector General