GRAMBLING, La. – Grambling State University’s (GSU) new president has hired the former president of Virginia’s largest historically Black university to review “every dime” of GSU’s budget.
Dr. Frank Pogue said Dr. Marie McDemmond and two members of her staff also will check the qualifications of Grambling’s accounting staff.
Last week, a state audit found that, during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, the university bought stock with money supposed to be used for buildings and grounds and lost $1 million on the deal.
The purchase was made six months before Pogue arrived on campus as interim president.
McDemmond was president of Norfolk State University for eight years and is credited with strengthening its finances.
For his part, Pogue on Thursday pledged to restore confidence in GSU’s finances. “I am going to try very hard to establish a culture of accountability,” Pogue said. “We’re going to restore the integrity that we simply must have when dealing with state funds.”
