An Auditor General report of NAU President Rita Cheng and her husband has found that NAU
“inappropriately paid for $40,277 of the President’s and her spouse’s travel expenses that conflicted with policies and lacked appropriate documentation, which put public monies at potential risk of misuse”
The audit goes on to describe how Cheng and NAU deviated from University and ABOR policies by purchasing
business- and first-class airfare, ...
An Auditor General report of NAU President Rita Cheng and her husband has found that NAU
“inappropriately paid for $40,277 of the President’s and her spouse’s travel expenses that conflicted with policies and lacked appropriate documentation, which put public monies at potential risk of misuse”
The audit goes on to describe how Cheng and NAU deviated from University and ABOR policies by purchasing
- business- and first-class airfare,
- lodging that exceeded allowable rates
- and (other) unallowed expenses
CHENG’S INAPPROPRIATE EXPENSES INCLUDED:
- $30,641 Business & First Class airfare to Russia for Cheng & her husband
- $5,862 business class airfare for her husband to join her in Israel despite a sponsor offering to pay coach for Cheng and her husband.
- $1,751 for 13 hotel stays that exceeded State’s reimbursement rates
- $2,023 in expenses for Cheng and her husband that were specifically not allowed under university and ABOR policy including “visas to Russia, early flight check-in fees, valet parking, room service that was in addition to her daily meal allowance, and a duplicate hotel reimbursement.”
INAPPROPRIATE EXPENSES PAID BACK
NOT BY CHENG BUT BY NON PROFIT
The Northern Arizona University Foundation, NAU FOUNDATION a (501-C-3) has stepped up to pay for Cheng’s inappropriate travel. According to the audit:
- in November 2019 the Northern Arizona University Foundation reimbursed the University $37,785 for the airfare to Russia, the President’s spouse’s airfare to Israel, the Visas to Russia, and early check-in fees”
Foundations such as NAU Foundation have come under scrutiny from Attorney General Mark Brnovich for their lack of oversight. Criticism of this foundation was also widely discussed on the Jeff Oravits Show when former Flagstaff Mayor Jerry Nabours questioned millions of dollars in real estate purchases in Flagstaff with no clear indication as to the intended use or purpose of the pricey acquisitions.
CONSEQUENCES & PRECEDENT OF CHENG’S INAPPROPRIATE TRAVEL EXPENSES?
Does this set precedent for travel of those who serve under President Cheng? In the end Cheng did not have to pay back the inappropriate travel expenses out of her own pocket. The Foundation came to her assistance and quickly footed the bill. The audit noted that,
“when executive management does not follow established policies, including compliance with documentation requirements, they set an unfavorable tone that policies do not need to be followed”.
In 2018 President Cheng’s contract was extended with a base salary of $475,000 per year plus other benefits. President Cheng has repeatedly been invited to come on the Jeff Oravits Show and has declined all past invitations.
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