The Chief Auditor’s Office at Texas Southern University submitted to the Texas State Auditor’s Office certain findings made by the CAO and internal investigators regarding the ongoing investigation into matters arising from admissions improprieties.

The genesis of the report is based on a whistleblower complaint sent to the TSU Board of Regents in October 2019, which was subsequently turned over to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office by the Board. The letter and subsequent investigations by TSU’s internal auditor, as well as two external investigators, affirmed — among other issues – allegations of pay-for-play, acceptance of students who did not meet admissions standards and the mishandling or misappropriation of state funds. The whistleblower complaint alleged, and the investigation found that numerous employees had full knowledge of the allegations.

Furthermore, the investigation confirmed that, upon being informed about the improprieties within the admissions process (including pay for-play activities), the University’s fraud policy was not adhered to by numerous employees. As state officials, the TSU BOR cannot take a blind eye to fraud in the admissions process and/or the misappropriation of state funds. The student body and community at large expect integrity from the TSU BOR.

To date, several regulatory agencies have either undertaken a formal investigation of their own and/or have been briefed about matters contained in the audit. These agencies are the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Harris County District Attorney’s Office; the Office of the Inspector General, the Department of Education; and the Scholastic Programs Division, Department of Education.

The TSU BOR and other University personnel will continue to cooperate with these external agencies in any ongoing investigations. In the interim, the TSU BOR will allow the facts contained in the auditor’s report to stand and will not have any additional comment until the investigative process is complete.