The University of Sydney is investigating more than 20 staff for financial misconduct.
Fairfax Media understands the university is auditing expenditure estimated at tens of thousands of dollars for entertainment including birthday cakes, coffees, alcohol and stationery.
![University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor, Michael Spence](http://web.archive.org./web/20180208035729im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/h/0/v/7/a/9/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.p4yzk9.png/1518051013340.jpg)
The staff being questioned work in student administration and recruitment, which generates more than $1 billion a year in revenue for the university.
A spokeswoman for the university told Fairfax Media that 21 staff members were being questioned in relation to allegations of financial misconduct.
"The University takes any allegation of financial misconduct seriously," the spokeswoman said.
"At this stage, no formal findings of misconduct have been made against any of the staff members being questioned and the process is ongoing."
Fairfax Media understands that staff were contacted last month and told they were under investigation.
One staff member who spoke on the condition of anonymity said staff had been upset at the "suggestion they had been stealing from their employer".
"Staff were told on a Friday they would be getting formal correspondence on the Monday, but were not told what the charges were," the staff member said.
"It was a phone call that was read from a script."
Staff made written submissions and some were interviewed.
"It was thought that 16 birthday cakes was too many," the staff member said. "These were minor misdemeanours at worst. It was about whether taking a student out for a coffee was technically a meeting or entertainment."
The university spokeswoman said the university’s enterprise agreement required that when an allegation is made that employees "are given an opportunity to respond to the allegation before a finding is made".
The turmoil in the student administration department follows the departure of its Executive Director of Global Student Recruitment and Mobility, Michelle Carlin in September last year. It is not alleged that she is linked to the investigation of her former staff.
“I’m absolutely confident that this high achieving team have nothing to worry about," Ms Carlin said.
"I’m not sure what the reason behind this is, but it is disturbing to see good people placed under this sort of stress when they have just been trying to do the best by the university and their results more than reflect this.”
Ms Carlin's boss Tyrone Carlin, who is not related to her, stepped down from his position as deputy vice-chancellor (registrar) late last year to return to teaching and research. It is not alleged his departure is linked in any way to the investigation of staff.
University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor Michael Spence sent an email to staff in October saying he had accepted Professor Carlin's resignation.
"Tyrone has decided to step down from his DVC role at the end of this year in order to return to his substantive professorial position within the Business School," Professor Spence said.
"While it is sad to see him leave his current role, I am very pleased that he will be able to return to his teaching and research, and as such remain a valuable member of the University community."
Professor Spence credited Professor Carlin for transforming student administration.
"His oversight of the implementation of a whole of institution student administration team completed the ambitious and demanding agenda of moving student administrative functions from faculties and schools towards an integrated, whole of institution delivery approach," Professor Spence said.
Fairfax Media sought comment from Professor Carlin, but he did not respond.
In an unrelated matter, another deputy vice-chancellor, Professor Shane Houston, left his position last year. He has taken legal action over his dismissal as the University of Sydney's first deputy vice-chancellor for Aboriginal services.
Do you know more? Contact Anna Patty on apatty@fairfaxmedia.com.au
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