Legislators discuss UConn payments to its foundation

University of Connecticut officials met with state legislators this week to discuss the “common practice” of giving funds to a private foundation that raises funds for the university.

The meeting took place Monday in Storrs with UConn officials, UConn Foundation officials and representatives from the state legislature’s higher education and employment advancement committee present.

State Sen. Mary Ann Handley, D-Manchester, and state Rep. Roberta Willis, D-Salisbury – co-chairmen of the committee – were in attendance.

UConn officials came under fire recently after news broke they had given more than $50 million in funding to the private foundation to raise money for the university.

Former state Rep. Jonathan Pelto from Mansfield first contacted members of the state’s media in September, informing them of the “mysterious” practice.
According to Pelto, UConn officials have been funneling millions in funding to the foundation since at least fiscal year 2000.

Pelto called upon state and university officials to halt the practice, saying it was “truly incredible” and “fiscally irresponsible” to transfer student funds to the foundation.

Willis said the meeting – which took place in Hartford and lasted an hour and a half – was productive, but still left some questions to be asked.

“What’s challenging for us as legislators right now is the university – as with other constituency units – are seeing more cuts and less and less contribution from the state,” she said this morning. “With that in mind, it’s difficult for us to be critical of the situation.”

She said she and Handley – who could not be reached for comment this morning – wanted to meet with UConn officials once they heard of the transferred funds.

“We felt we really needed to ask them some questions,” she said, adding committee members plan to meet with other state agencies to get a “complete handle on what’s going on.”

Willis said the meeting consisted of going line-by-line down the “laundry list” of allegations Pelto made against UConn.

According to Willis, the purpose of the meeting was to clarify the relationship between the university and the foundation.

“The connection between the university and the foundation is complicated by the fact (the foundation is) private,” she said.

Willis said she and Handley discovered the relationship – and lack of total transparency from the foundation – has resulted in a “gray area.”

“You don’t get the entire picture,” she said. “There isn’t complete transparency.”

As a private organization, the foundation does not need to have complete disclosure of how funding coming into the foundation is handled or spent.

“It’s complicated trying to understand what the landscape is,” Willis said, adding the practice was confusing because of the “nature of the beast.”

University spokesman Michael Kirk said the meeting between legislators and UConn officials was cordial and productive.

He said university officials were glad to meet with Willis and Handley to answer any questions they had.

Although Willis said she felt more “comfortable” with the practice of UConn giving funds to the foundation, she said the issue was not resolved yet.

“Before we close the book on this, we have to ask more questions,” she said, adding she and Handley would continue mulling over the practice before February’s legislative session.