Rhode Island news | projo.com | The Providence Journal

« Update: Woonsocket girl's killer gets life without parole | Today | 2 Democrats, 1 Republican file to run against Reed »

June 25, 2008

Report: Ex-URI education dean under investigation in Ky.

Robert Felner, former dean of the University of Rhode Island’s School of Education, is under investigation by federal officials looking into the possible misappropriation of $500,000 in federal grants, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal.

Felner, who left URI five years ago to become dean of the University of Louisville College of Education and Human Development, was to have become chancellor at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside July 1. But yesterday, the Kentucky paper reports, Felner notified officials there he would resign his appointment, because of the ongoing investigation.

“Dr. Felner is concerned that this is going to create a problem, even if it’s just a perception problem at the University of Wisconsin,” Felner’s lawyer, Scott C. Cox, told the Courier-Journal. Cox also said his client had not mishandled any funds.

The U.S. Postal Service and U.S. Secret Service are investigating the case jointly with the U.S. Attorney’s office, Cox said.

“As part of that investigation, the agencies seized documents and a computer from Felner’s university office Friday,” reported the Courier-Journal. “Felner also answered questions from investigators while they were on campus…”

While in Rhode Island, Felner created the SALT surveys used to assess Rhode Island public schools and was considered a national education figure.

A spokeswoman for the University of Rhode Island said the university is now reviewing the records related to Felner’s grant expenditures while he was an employee here at the university.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Jennifer D. Jordan

Felner came to URI in 1996 and left in 2003, although he continued to serve on URI’s National Center on Public Education and Social Policy until 2006. In addition, the state Department of Education has for several years hired Felner and the center to develop state report cards, information and data for the department’s Web site and conduct an annual review of the federal Reading First program.

Currently, URI’s National Center on Public Education and Social Policy is in charge of a three year, $2.1 million grant to conduct this work. Education Department spokesman Elliot Krieger said the department is satisfied “we have gotten what we paid for,” and that all payments are in order, but said the department will review all billing associated with the grant.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:23 PM | Permalink

June 25, 2008

Report: Ex-URI education dean under investigation in Ky.

Comments

Post a comment