Westfield State University’s Board of Trustees meets tomorrow to consider actions to take connected to WSU President Evan Dobelle. Two state agencies are investigating his spending over the past several years related to school business. Before it got to the point where Massachusetts officials threatened to withhold funds from Westfield State University, it had been months of meetings and audits. The Boston Globe‘s Scott Allen has been following this story since the audit of Dobelle’s spending became public.
Westfield State Faculty to Announce Results from Vote on Whether They Back Dobelle
When the Westfield State University board meets Wednesday, trustees will find out if the university’s staff supports President Evan Dobelle. An audit found that Dobelle spent excessively over the course of his presidency on travel using university credit cards.
Members of Westfield’s faculty and librarian union have been voting since last week on whether they have confidence in Dobelle’s ability to run the school. Biology professor Buzz Hoagland, leader of the union, won’t specifically say how he voted. But Hoagland says Dobelle’s reputation has been damaged.
“The vote is to determine whether we have confidence in the president to lead our institution to the future. Because, you know, there have been an enormous number of media reports and comments by the governor as well as Richard Freeland, who’s the commissioner for the board of higher education,” Hoagland says.
Earlier this month, Commissioner Freeland froze almost $200,000 in university funding and recommended withholding another $2 million for a planned science center at the school.
Hoagland says the faculty voting ends Wednesday morning.
New England Public Radio’s Jill Kaufman and Sam Hudzik contributed to this report.
Westfield State Community Ponders Their President’s Performance as Board Prepares to Meet
The board of Westfield State University meets Wednesday to consider the fate of school president Evan Dobelle. Massachusetts officials are pressuring the board to punish Dobelle over lavish spending on travel using university credit cards.
PROFS TO WEIGH IN: Westfield State faculty to announce results from ‘no confidence’ vote
DOBELLE FIGHTS BACK: Defiant response after governor tells Dobelle to get serious
TO THE COURTS: Westfield State prez threatens Lawsuit if board suspends him
BACKSTORY: Boston Globe‘s Scott Allen on how the Dobelle saga got to this point
Earlier this month, the state suspended some grant money for the school. Business major Ryan Moquin doesn’t see the wisdom in that.
“Yeah, that’s unfortunate. I feel like the school needs [the money],” Moquin says. “But…that’s just hurting the students, not really him.”
Moquin says he feels like Dobelle is doing some good things at the school. But other students, like Erica Santana, say they have nothing good to say about Dobelle.
“I think he should get fired. Actually, we’re trying to get some of the students together,” Santana says. “When they have their meeting, we’re going to stand outside and, you know, hopefully they listen to us.”
Westfield’s faculty and librarians also hope to have a say in the matter. Their union’s president says members are voting on whether they have confidence in Dobelle. Those results will be announced at the board meeting Wednesday.
Dobelle has acknowledged he made mistakes. But he says he paid back some of the money and says his travel benefited the university. His spokesperson accuses the state higher ed commissioner of trying to “blackmail” the university’s board by cutting off some funding.
New England Public Radio’s Kari Njiri and Sam Hudzik contributed to this report.
Defiant Response from Dobelle After Governor Tells Westfield State President to Get Serious
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick called Monday for embattled Westfield State University President Evan Dobelle to respond to concerns over his spending that led to a suspension of state funds to the school.
On a visit to Pittsfield High School, Governor Patrick faulted Dobelle’s response to the controversy.
“I think he’s not helping himself by apparently not taking this seriously and by having a spokesman in Boston whose role seems to be to trivialize the board of higher ed and the board of Westfield state,” Patrick says. “And that is not acceptable.”
Dobelle’s private spokesman has accused the state’s higher education commissioner, Richard Freeland, of blackmail, and the university’s board of conducting an illegal investigation into his spending using university credit cards.
State money in limbo
This counter-attack came after commissioner Freeland announced on Friday evening the suspension of nearly two hundred thousand dollars in state aid to the school, coupled with a recommendation that a planned two million dollar capital grant also be withheld.
When asked if Westfield State could recover its funding without firing Dobelle, Patrick says it is “probably too soon to say.”
Westfield State’s board will take up the issue when it meets on October 16th.
Dobelle responds
In a prepared video statement produced by the public relations company representing Dobelle and distributed online by Regan Original Video, Dobelle responded to the Patrick’s remarks.
“I appreciate the governor’s comments. I’ve known him for a long time,” Dobelle said. “He’s been down these kinds of roads before himself with charges and allegations. He’s always been afforded due process and all I’m asking for is the same due process.”
Paperwork filed
The state higher ed office says it received an explanation of Dobelle’s spending Monday afternoon fro his attorney. A statement from the office says Freeland “is disappointed that it took so long to receive the response but will give it a full and fair review.”
New England Public Radio’s Carrie Healy and Sam Hudzik contributed to this report.
Dobelle’s PR video
(Source: Regan Original Video)
Higher Ed Commissioner Suspends Westfield State Funding Over Dobelle Controversy
Massachusetts Higher Education Commissioner Richard Freeland is upping the ante in his standoff with Westfield State University over questionable spending by the school’s president. Freeland’s office announced Friday evening that he is suspending some of the university’s funding.
An audit found that Westfield State’s Evan Dobelle spent excessively over the course of his presidency on travel using university credit cards.
Dobelle has paid back some of the money, but state officials recently pressed Westfield’s board to take action, and pressed Dobelle to explain his spending. Dobelle asked for more time to get his response ready.
On Friday evening, Freeland said no, and then he halted nearly $200,000 in state funding. He will also recommend the state suspend $2 million more for a planned science center on Westfield’s campus.
In a statement, Freeland’s office hints at a way out of this problem for the university. He will work with Westfield’s board to find an “appropriate resolution” that would allow the release of the money.
In a statement, Dobelle’s private spokesperson calls Freeland’s note “bizarre.” The spokesperson says Freeland is trying to “blackmail” the board by threatening to victimize students and faculty.
Top Mass. Education Official Wants Action Against Dobelle
Massachusetts’ top education official is renewing a call for disciplinary action against Westfield State University President Evan Dobelle.
Dobelle’s spending habits and use of a school credit card have been the center of controversy in recent months. Last week in Boston, state officials slammed Dobelle for his actions and criticized the Westfield board of trustees for a lack of oversight. State secretary of education Matthew Malone says the board has the authority to hire and fire school presidents.
“We’re calling on the board right now to take some action. Clearly there was a violation of policy and looking the other way is not good enough for us. So the next steps are we’re waiting for the board to convene and figure out what they are going to do,” Malone says.
Westfield State’s board is scheduled to meet next month. Meanwhile, university spokesperson Molly Watson says she could not confirm or comment on an article in the Springfield Republican. The paper reports that Dobelle could be seeking whistleblower protection to prevent discipline against him by school or state officials. Dobelle has claimed he reported various expenses on his own, blowing the whistle on himself.