Audit raises new University of Louisville accreditation concerns

New questions have surfaced about the University of Louisville and its separate fundraising arm, the U of L Foundation, that could affect the university's accreditation, according to the outside body that accredits the school.

The questions relate to policies for compensation for school administrators, whether the relationship between the university and the foundation is clearly spelled out and whether U of L is "exercising appropriate control" over financial resources of millions of dollars involving the foundation, according to a Jan. 27 letter to U of L from the Southern Association for Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

If the commission decides the questions could affect U of L's compliance with accreditation standards, the commission could expand its investigation into U of L, which already has been placed on probation by the commission, its president, Belle Wheelan said in the letter.

The new questions follow months of turmoil at U of L that included the departure of former U of L President James Ramsey, a complete shakeup of the school's board and a reorganization of the foundation board. The new issues raised by the commission are based largely on the findings of an audit of the foundation released in December by state Auditor Mike Harmon, who identified multiple problems, including payments to Ramsey and a top aide and a lack of transparency at the foundation.

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