March 30, 2008/ Chronicle of Higher Education


State Takes Control of Finances at Cheyney U. of Pennsylvania
State officials have taken financial control at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, after the university’s controller was fired and its finance director took time off following his wife’s death.


The university, part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, is now running all financial matters past James Dillon, vice chancellor for administration and finance of the state system, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.


The university’s controller, Sheila Eames, was fired for undisclosed reasons about two weeks ago. That was about the same time that the finance director, Charles Colbert, lost his wife and needed to take time off, a university spokesman told the newspaper.


Mr. Dillon has taken several steps to centralize spending control. He has canceled all purchasing cards held by university employees, stopped issuing checks to employees to buy goods and services, and has sent all checks to the state system’s headquarters in Harrisburg to be processed


These are not the first money-related woes for Cheyney University, nor is it the first time Mr. Dillon has been brought in for oversight. In 2006 the university overspent its budget, and Mr. Dillon was assigned to monitor the situation.


The university has also been plagued by a recent series of scandals, including violations of National Collegiate Athletic Association rules by the football program, which resulted in a three-year probation, and reports in 2007 that a prostitute was working in university dormitories.


Cheyney’s president, Michelle Howard-Vital, did not respond to news-media requests for comment.


Eric R. Almonte, executive associate to the president, told the newspaper that the university had requested help from the state system because the business office was understaffed because of the departures of Ms. Eames and Mr. Colbert. The latter is expected to return in a few weeks. —Josh Fischman

Posted on Sunday March 30, 2008 | Permalink |


Comments
I live near Cheyney University, and I must say that the article from the Inquirer is misleading. There was no prostitute “working” at the university. The woman involved wandered on campus, and the campus acted fast and locked down the university. In addition, Ms. Eames was not the controller, she was the assistant controller. Though the university has had some financial problems, it now has a new president, one, I think, who will do a wonderful job. The university is trying to get a new model in place and has really improved the campus in just a few months.

I would like to advise that the Chronicle be careful of the Inquirer because the writing seems to have a hidden agenda. The Inquirer’s phrasing is misleading and gives a very negative impression of the oldest HBCU in the United States. As a member of the community, I am proud to have Cheyney in my community, and I am looking forward to the many improvements that are slated for the university. The university will improve greatly, I think, with the new administration and the new dedicated faculty.

— Mike Mar 31, 11:18 AM #

March 31, 2008
Open letter to Mr. William K. Marimow, Editor
The Philadelphia Inquirer

Dear Mr. Marimow:
On March 29, your newspaper printed an article about Cheyney University. The headline of the article stated
that the state had “clamped down” and taken over the University’s finances. The article further stated there
was “continuing turmoil” at the University. Even though various explanations were given to the reporter
confirming that the University had requested assistance from the PASSHE system while it builds a more
robust financial management system, the reporter slanted the story and provided only half‐truths to
sensationalize the story. The misleading headline and inaccurate story also appeared in the March 31 blog of
the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Further, the reporter was informed that the small finance staff at the University was impacted by the absence
of the vice president for finance and the departure of its controller. Nonetheless, the reporter wrote the
article with negative nuances and innuendoes and ignored information that clarified the situation. In
addition, the reporter exhumed stories from the past and attempted to connect them to the present.
Frankly, there is no correlation between some of these events and the present state of affairs at the
University.

I assumed the presidency of Cheyney University on July 31, 2007. The majority of the University community
is determined to follow best practices and to develop centers of excellence that are responsive to the needs
of the Commonwealth and the region. As we move through this process, from time to time there will be
changes in staff, policies, and procedures. These changes are necessary to adapt to best practices, and there
will be some who will be uncomfortable with these changes.

Nonetheless, the University is moving forward with our goal of being responsive to the needs of the region.
This encompasses an ambitious plan that includes: boosting enrollment both at the Delaware/ Chester
County location and the Urban Campus on Seventh and Market Street; developing academic, research and
service centers of excellence that support the need for intellectual capital in high‐demand occupations; and
building state of the art residence halls that focus on learning communities.

What exactly is the Philadelphia Inquirer asserting with regards to Cheyney University? Our University, like
the other 80 plus other universities in the region, shares the challenges of university life and the awesome
responsibility of helping to develop conscientious and contributing citizens for the Commonwealth and the
nation. Cheyney University, furthermore, attempts to increase the college going rate among students who
might not have been well‐prepared in secondary education. Cheyney University adds an immeasurable value
to lives of these students.

On March 18, Cheyney University invited representatives of several media outlets to learn more about the
institution at our Media Day Breakfast. Since there were no representatives present from the Philadelphia
Inquirer at this event, it might suggest that learning more about the University was not a priority for your
newspaper.

Cheyney University has been developing leaders for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the nation for
over 170 years. A review of some of its alumni reveals the enormous role this small liberal arts institution has
played in providing access, opportunity and excellence in preparing leaders for the 19th, 20th, and 21st
centuries. The graduates of Cheyney University (and its precursors) include Chairman Robert Bogle (editor in
Chief, Philadelphia Tribune), the late Ed Bradley (CBS, 60 Minutes), State Representative Thaddeus Kirkland;
Dr. Bernadette Carter (interim provost and math educator); Dr. Loretta Evans (information technology
entrepreneur); Dr. Sulayman Clark (Harvard graduate, writer, and educator); Jim Vance (NBC); Robert
Traynham (CN8), and numerous others.

A balanced view of the University would show that over 250 of our 1400 students are on academic
scholarships, several of our current seniors, and soon to be graduates have been accepted in prestigious
medical, law and prominent graduate, and professional schools. Others will go to work and contribute to the
Commonwealth. A more balanced view of Cheyney University would show that this weekend six of our
students were very competitive in the Honda Classic—a national, academic tournament for HBCUs.

Moreover, one of our students placed third in the NOBCCHE Material Science and Biology poster competition
behind a student from Yale University. Additionally, both male and female basketball coaches were voted as
the PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) coaches of the year. Faculty and staff are writing and
presenting academic papers, obtaining grants, and serving as mentors to a talented group of students. Our
students seek to give back by participating in community engagement projects in the region.

Cheyney University will continue to develop centers of excellence that will be responsive to the needs of the
region in fine and media arts, entrepreneurial studies, health sciences and applied research, aquaculture and
agribusiness, and other needed areas for a competitive workforce.

It is regretful that the Philadelphia Inquirer, to date, seems to report misleading and erroneous information
about Cheyney University. I welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss a balanced view of this
University. Some of us view this University as a national treasure that has contributed significantly to this
Commonwealth!

Sincerely,
Michelle Howard-Vital, Ph.D.
President