New University of Wisconsin Audit is Possible

Jul. 26–The University of Wisconsin System was put on notice Monday that its policies for paid leaves and backup appointments could face broad scrutiny by the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau.

If so, that would bring to three the number of high-level probes or reviews under way since lawmakers learned in June of the seven-month paid leave of UW-Madison administrator Paul Barrows.

Already, Madison attorney and Law School professor Susan Steingass is investigating the matter for UW-Madison and the System, while the UW Board of Regents — the System’s governing board — plans a review during its regular meeting in September.

But the possible state audit adds a new wrinkle. It would be the first detailed, external review of the situation, which expanded beyond Barrows earlier this month when it was reported that top campus officials throughout the System also have received lengthy paid leaves after resigning.

On Monday, in a letter to System President Kevin Reilly, the two lawmakers in charge of the Legislature’s audit committee expressed “grave concern” over the policies and asked for — by Sept. 2 — the names, titles and total number of people with current back-up positions as well as those who have received paid leave after resigning since July 1, 2002.

The committee then will make a decision about whether to ask the bureau to do the audit, said committee co-chairs Sen. Carol Roessler, R- Oshkosh, and Rep. Suzanne Jeskewitz, R-Menomonee Falls.

Two other lawmakers, Rep. Rob Kreibich, R-Eau Claire, and Rep. Samantha Kerkman, R-Burlington, asked the committee to request a state audit on July 19, after Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager declined their request to investigate, saying she did not have statutory authority to do so.

System spokesman Doug Bradley said Riley received the letter and would work with campuses to provide the data.

Some of it already is being collected, Bradley said, to prepare for the September meeting, during which policies involving leave, competitive pay and backup jobs will be discussed.

State Auditor Jan Mueller on Monday said her office stands ready to act if asked.

“If the committee requests that we conduct the audit, we will conduct it,” she said. “It’s certainly fair to say we’ve been monitoring the situation.”

Barrows, the former vice chancellor of student affairs at UW-Madison, was earning nearly $200,000 a year during his leave, which was prompted in part by his demotion for dating a graduate student. Barrows also looked for outside jobs during the leave — with the knowledge and encouragement of UW-Madison Chancellor John Wiley — and covered his time away with banked sick days and vacation time.

Barrows returned in June for a different job at UW-Madison at $150,000 a year but never started it. Instead, Wiley put him back on paid leave after allegations surfaced that Barrows had sexually harassed women on campus when he was working as vice chancellor.

Barrows now is barred from campus pending the investigation but is earning $72,881 in a backup staff job required in a 1999 retention deal with a former chancellor. Barrows and UW-Madison officials disagree on key elements of the leave, such as why he took it and when he wanted to return.

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