Findings of a review into purchasing practices by Lansing Community College is expected Dec. 9.
A million dollar emergency expenditure authorized by the school's governing body has raised a collective eyebrow, spurring an investigation of its own policies and practices last summer.
A campus initiative to revamp the college's technology prompted a $1.25 million purchase in May. The board purchased computer hardware and software from computer manufacturer Hewlett-Packard for the initiative, which is known as the Oasis Project.
A key part of the operational review is to examine the college's emergency purchasing clause, which LCC Chairperson Brian Jeffries utilized in the expenditure.
Trustee Kathy Pelleran claims that the expenditure occurred through a "loophole" in board regulations. "In some of our minds, we would have called a special meeting to discuss the purchase," she said. "This trustee asked to close the loophole to benefit the college and any one of those major decisions.
"I didn't think purchasing computers and software was an emergency."
Jeffries said that the emergency purchase was warranted.
"It was competitively bid," Jeffries said, "and the decision had to be made within a day. Under that policy I exercised it and made that purchase."
Jeffries added that the operational review to monitor purchasing practices is one of several reviews in the past year at LCC. Jeffries called it an "overhaul of all policies, not just purchasing."
Jeffries expects findings to be revealed to the board and LCC President Paula Cunningham at the board meeting next month.
The emergency purchase was registered on May 8, 2002- five days before a scheduled board meeting - according to the board's Vice Chairperson Dave Patterson. He said the purchase was justified, yet it raises ethical questions.
"I don't think it was manipulated for someone's personal gain," Patterson said. "It was on a deadline. That sometimes sets up a situation that probably isn't that healthy."
In light of last spring's emergency purchase woes, Patterson said the consequent review is having positive affects on the board.
"I'm proud of the members of this board that stood up and said it's our duty. It's our responsibility to make sure this is done with a high standard of ethics," Patterson said.
In addition to the board's self-audit of purchasing policies, Cunningham is performing her own review of the college's practices. Cunningham was not available Tuesday for comment.
Trustee Todd Heywood said the review process is a necessary growing pain for the board.
"Part of this process is a healthy growth process," Heywood said. "Part of it is politics. Once we're committed to the process, we have an obligation to let it unfold and complete itself."
