University of Central Florida President Resigns Over Probe Into ‘Misused’ $38 Million

WFB: A probe into the “misuse” of $38 million in operating funds to build a campus administrative hall claimed its third casualty Tuesday with the resignation of University of Central Florida President Dale Whittaker.

The irony is, Whittaker’s transgression may be more bad timing than bad intent in a misappropriation that has spurred some lawmakers to call for a review of how all 12 universities have spent $606 million on 37 unfinished projects and are asking for $733 million more in capital improvement funds in next year’s budget request.

One of those legislators, House Public Integrity and Ethics Committee Chairman Rep. Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach, acknowledged in a statement that Whittaker’s offer to step down from his post, which pays $506,000 annually, is more about leadership than guilt.

“I believe President Whittaker was placed in his position at an inopportune time and much of what occurred was already underway,” Leek said.

Whittaker, a former UCF provost, became president in July – a month before the revelations surfaced – following President John Hitt’s retirement. However, both he and Hitt had signed reports submitted by former UCF Chief Financial Officer William Merck, who resigned in August.

“My reason for doing this is so the relationship between UCF and the Legislature can be renewed,” Whittaker said in a letter, noting he set forth three goals in August – to support all investigations, implement reforms to “ensure no such incident happens again” and restore “the public’s trust in UCF.”

“However,” he wrote, “to fully implement my goal of restoring confidence in UCF by state government leaders, it has been made clear to me that one additional step is needed.”

That, Whitaker added, is his resignation.  more here