DeKALB | President Doug Baker acknowledged NIU violated procurement practices, employment decisions and contractual arrangements in 2013 and 2014 after an investigation.

The violations were not stated in a Dec. 22 NIU Today article addressing the investigation. However, Baker mentions projects such as the renovation of the Holmes Student Center, extending Lucinda Avenue and Gilbert and Neptune Hall renovations, according to the article. He mentions “limited institutional resources” as a barrier to the residence halls and Holmes Student Center renovation projects.                                                       

“Investigations have substantiated that in 2013 and 2014 there were weaknesses in internal controls, some limited compliance violations and lack of clarity of policies across multiple units,” Baker wrote in the article. “Investigation did not yield evidence of substandard work, but it did identify issues with administering certain employment, consulting and capital works agreements.”

Baker’s resolution to the complaints is to eliminate the affiliate employee classification Sunday, upgrade the Whistleblower Policy to encourage more reporting and to take “corrective actions” pertaining to those hired into contractual positions in 2013 and 2014, according to the article.

The Board of Trustees reaffirmed its Whistleblower Policy in its report Dec. 15 stating the policy protects people who report unlawful conduct in “good faith” from retaliatory action but the protection does not extend to “knowingly false or fabricated reports.”

NIU will also study and modify the consulting, design and other contracting arrangement policies.

The Northern Star submitted a Freedom of Information Act today requesting more information on the results of the investigation.

Spokesperson Joe King declined to comment on the investigation, citing the article as NIU’s response.