State legislators poised to order audit of UW foundations

MADISON, Wis. — Legislators are poised to order an audit of University of Wisconsin System schools’ relationships with their private foundations.

The Legislature’s Joint Audit Committee is set to hold a hearing on the scope of the review and vote on ordering state auditors to begin the work on Thursday in the state Capitol.

The move comes after UW System regents in January accused UW-Oshkosh’s former chancellor, Richard Wells, and former vice chancellor of administrative services, Thomas Sonnleitner, of theft.

The regents alleged in a civil lawsuit that the pair concealed millions of dollars in improper financial transfers to the school’s nonprofit foundation. According to the lawsuit, the money went to help the foundation complete a number of development projects. The regents argue money should flow only from the foundation to the university.

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