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Evan Dobelle, Former Westfield State President, Will Settle With State

The former president of Westfield State University has agreed to settle a lawsuit brought against him by the state of Massachusetts.

Evan Dobelle will pay the state $185,000 to settle the suit, according to the Springfield Republican newspaper. Last summer, the attorney general’s office alleged that Dobelle misspent nearly $100,000 of Westfield State’s money, much of it used for travel expenses, including a family vacation to Cuba, and several trips to a private men’s social club in Califo rnia.

Dobelle was forced out of Westfield State in the fall of 2013. In a statement, the university’s new president says Dobelle has also agreed to drop a lawsuit he filed against the school. The university’s statement says the settlement will “conclude an unfortunate chapter in our history,” once it’s approved.

In New Report, Inspector General Rips Westfield State’s Ex-Prez Dobelle

Former Westfield State University President Evan Dobelle’s personal spending on university credit cards goes well beyond what Dobelle has acknowledged. That’s according to a report released Thursday by the Massachusetts Inspector General.

Dobelle resigned from Westfield State last November, after he was placed on administrative leave. But the Inspector General began looking at Dobelle’s spending months before.

In his report, the IG says Dobelle self-identified and eventually reimbursed $85,000 in personal charges he put on university-related credit cards. But the IG says the number should have been tens of thousand of dollars higher.

One example: the report says Dobelle misled Westfield State’s staff and board about the reasons for his frequent travel to San Francisco — university-funded trips that coincided with social events, including the wedding of a friend’s son.

Dobelle’s lawyer says in a statement that “millions of dollars have been spent to oust Dr. Dobelle and to justify that decision.” Dobelle has sued the school and state officials, saying they tarnished his reputation and violated his contract.

Higher Ed Commissioner Defends Governor’s Record On Education Funding, Pushes For More

This week the word from UMass is that Governor Deval Patrick’s proposed budget is not enough to freeze tuition and fees for another year. Massachusetts’ Higher Education Commissioner Richard Freeland was in Amherst for a budget hearing.

We spoke with him about why, with a governor who has talked so much about education, funding isn’t a sure thing. And we asked whether the state will help out about legal costs at Westfield State University. Former president Evan Dobelle has two lawsuits against the school.

 

 

Dobelle Sues Westfield State, Board Members, Higher Ed Commissioner

Westfield State University President Evan Dobelle has followed through on his threat to sue over his conflict with school and state officials. Dobelle is suing the university, three board members, Massachusetts’ higher education commissioner and others.

Westfield State’s board put Dobelle on paid leave last week and ordered a new investigation into allegations of inappropriate spending.

In a federal lawsuit, Dobelle says various defendants engaged in breach of contract, defamation and civil conspiracy. It says Jack Flynn, Westfield State’s board chair, “attack(ed)…Dobelle” while engaging in “cowboy tactics.”

Dobelle accuses Massachusetts Higher Education Commissioner Richard Freeland of “extortion intended to force the board to fire…Dobelle” when the state suspended some funding for the university.

And the suit says Dobelle’s reputation, contract and due process rights were casualties in what it calls “Freeland and Flynn’s guerilla war for control of the university.”

He is seeking compensatory and punitive damages.

A spokesperson for the state’s office of higher education, Katy Abel, says it has not been served with the lawsuit. But she says the complaint appears to be “yet another distraction from the issue of whether state funds were used inappropriately.”

A spokesperson for Westfield State University, Molly Watson, wrote in an email, “No comment at present.”

 Dobelle’s lawsuit

 

Dobelle’s contract, lawsuit exhibit A

Massachusetts Releasing Funding to Westfield State – Well, Some Of It

Some funding that Massachusetts officials suspended for Westfield State University has been released. Almost $200,000 in state grants was held up over concerns about misspending by university president Evan Dobelle. He is now on paid leave.

Dobelle was taken off the job last week by Westfield State’s board, pending the outcome of an investigation into his use of university credit cards. The interim president at the school, elizabeth preston, met Wednesday with higher education commissioner Richard Freeland.

Freeland earlier this month froze some money for Westfield State, citing serious concerns about how Dobelle was spending state money.

In a statement, the university says Freeland has agreed to release the grants totaling nearly $200,000.

A spokesperson for the state higher education department says this was a “good faith gesture…to send a message to members of the Westfield community that we’re with them.”

Still unsettled, though: $2 million in funding for a planned science center at the school. That money remains suspended – for now. 

Interim President Takes Over at Westfield State

An interim president has taken over at Westfield State University after trustees put President Evan Dobelle on paid administrative leave.

A statement from the university says day-to-day operations at the school will be led by Elizabeth Preston, the vice president for academic affairs.

“We share a deep and abiding commitment to the mission of the University and to our students. That passion for the institution has resulted in heated debate over the past few weeks but is also a source of strength for us as we wrestle with the challenges we now face,” Preston wrote Thursday in an email to faculty and staff, according to a university spokesperson.

Preston will serve at least until late November, when an outside investigation into Dobelle’s spending is scheduled to be complete.

“The board retained the professional services of the law firm of Fish & Richardson to conduct an investigation into the issues raised by the inspector general, including certain spending, employment and leadership concerns at the university, as well as the foundation,” Jack Flynn, the board’s chair, announced early Thursday morning.

Dobelle’s attorney, Ross Garber, says his client is considering legal action against the university. Garber says he hopes that over the next few weeks the school’s board and the public will get a fuller story of what’s happened at Westfield State.

New England Public Radio’s Jill Kaufman and Sam Hudzik contributed to this report.