UPDATE: Ga Tech president submits report on staff ethics failings
Georgia Tech officials said president George "Bud" Peterson delivered a report Wednesday to the state's Board of Regents about how the university will prevent ethical abuses like the ones that ended with him firing an executive vice president and also to the resignation of three highly paid staffers.
Two separate reports released last month by Tech’s internal auditor and an University System of Georgia administrator found the Tech officials:
- exploited relationships with vendors by getting a school vendor to pay for a football suite for them
- expensed after-hours dining and drinking
- played golf with vendors during work hours
- received pay from a company for serving on its board at the same time the company was hired by Georgia Tech for projects.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution filed an open records request with the University System Wednesday morning to receive the report. The University System responded shortly after 6 p.m. Wednesday saying it received the request and would provide an update within three business days. The state’s open records law requires government agencies to respond to a request for records within three business days.
Peterson has instituted some changes since the two reports, such as its ethics and audit officers will report directly to him. Peterson knew the official, Steve Swant, was serving on a board at the same time the company was hired by Georgia Tech for projects, but the president said he was unaware the company, RIB, was being paid for the work.
The report was requested by University System chancellor Steve Wrigley, who, officials said, is scheduled to be visiting campuses Wednesday and Thursday.
About the Author
Eric Stirgus joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2001. He is the newsroom's education editor. Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Eric is active in the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists and the Education Writers Association and enjoys mentoring aspiring journalists.
