CARBONDALE, Ill. (AP) - Southern Illinois University’s chancellor is facing two ethics reviews over complaints that he hired his family and used part of his relocation allotment from the school to help cover costs of his daughter’s move.
Carlo Montemagno became chancellor of the Carbondale university in July, the Chicago Tribune reported.
His leadership is now being scrutinized after the school’s newspaper revealed in January that the university had hired his daughter and son-in-law shortly after he assumed his post.
Montemagno said he requested employment for his daughter Melissa Germain and her husband, Jeffrey Germain, during his contract negotiations. University President Randy Dunn said school officials approved the request after reviewing board, ethics and legal protocols.
“We went through a laborious process trying to find a chancellor,” said university trustee Randal Thomas. “We told the president and the general counsel: Don’t lose this guy; get him on board.”
The chancellor also faces criticism after divulging that he used relocation funds for his daughter’s move to southern Illinois.
Montemagno said there was a misunderstanding as to what relocation funds cover. He has reimbursed the university.
Dunn announced the ethics reviews after the hires were publicized. He said state investigators will look into the family hiring complaint.
“If our analysis is wrong and it violates law and policy, then we absolutely want to know so we figure out how to respond to it,” Dunn said.
Montemagno said he is unfazed by the criticism and is determined to keep pushing his plan to rebuild academics at the struggling campus.
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Information from: Chicago Tribune, http://www.chicagotribune.com
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