Document dump reveals former UCF President Dale Whittaker was aware of misspent funds
A trove of documents released by the Florida House of Public Integrity and Ethics Committee earlier today reveal former UCF President Dale Whittaker was more aware of the university's misspending than previously known.
University officials accepted Whittaker's resignation on Thursday.
In January, once it was discovered that $38 million in operating funds were used to cover construction costs to build Trevor Colbourn Hall, Whittaker announced he would fire four high-ranking university employees. Whittaker has maintained that he had no knowledge of the improper spending.
The documents, however, reveal testimony by current and former UCF employees who say they didn't understand the implications of using $38 million in operating funds to cover construction costs to build Trevor Colbourn Hall. Many of them said they've been thrown under the bus, so to speak, to help protect Whittaker, who was appointed UCF president last year, following longtime UCF President John Hitt's retirement.
Included in the documents is testimony from Lynn Gonzalez, associate vice president for budget and personnel administration. Gonzalez said during the misspending period she participated in weekly "budget chats" with Whittaker, CFO Bill Merck, Tracy Clark and Christy Tant, where they discussed projects that would receive operating funds. She said it was Whittaker, then the university provost, who gave the final OK. Gonzalez also said Whittaker signed off on all expenditures more than $1 million.
Read more: https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2019/02/22/document-dump-reveals-former-ucf-president-dale-whittaker-was-aware-of-misspent-funds
