By Associated Press
Tuscaloosa, AL – School officials said the head of Shelton State Community College's finance office was placed on paid leave Monday pending a probe of financial operations by the office.
The action against Karen VanLuvender followed a state examiner's critical audit and news disclosures of questionable financial arrangements at the Tuscaloosa campus.
Leigh Hays, a spokeswoman for Shelton State, said the decision was made by Interim President Joanne Jordan with the approval of two-year system Chancellor Bradley Byrne.
VanLuvender joined the school in December 1990. She had been dean of business services since September 1999.
The state audit released Friday said the private Shelton State Community College Foundation appeared to have used public funds to build the college president's $560,000 residence. The audit said the foundation was selling the home and would reimburse the college any state funds spent on it.
The audit covered the fiscal year October 1st, 2005, to September 30th, 2006. It was critical of Shelton State in its financial dealings with the private Shelton State Community College Foundation and the Alabama Fire College Foundation.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)