Ethics Issues Raised in University of Montana Space Programs

A legislative audit report released this week concludes that several former University of Montana employees may have violated state ethics codes in their employment and involvement with UM’s now controversial space privitization programs. The investigation also concluded that the University of Montana failed to adequately oversee the formation, federal funding and operations of the programs.

Full Story: http://www.newwest.net/index.php/city/article/9269/C8/L8

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Auditors say UM needs to tighten controls

By MATT GOURAS of the Associated Press

The University of Montana lacks adequate oversight of its research programs, a legislative audit into the university’s federally funded space research center concludes.

The Legislative auditors also said their review showed problems with federal earmarks – money put into funding bills by individual lawmakers – and concluded that UM should improve how it reviews potential conflicts of interest at the university.

The Legislative Audit Division’s 27-page report on the Inland Northwest Space Alliance and the Northern Rockies Consortium for Space Privatization at the University of Montana will be sent to lawmakers next week.

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/articles/2006/06/16/bnews/br22.txt

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INSA audit released

By BETSY COHEN of the Missoulian

After a four-month investigation of the University of Montana’s NASA-funded space programs, the state Legislative Audit Division has released its final report, scolding UM for its lack of oversight.

Although originally developed as a “space-privatization” program in 2003, auditors found the joint efforts of UM’s Northern Rockies Center for Space Privatization and the spinoff company it started, the Inland Northwest Space Alliance, do not appear to have significantly furthered the commercialization of space-related technologies in the region.

Despite UM’s lack of success, the audit states there is evidence that the Northern Rockies Center “delivered in line with the educational and outreach expectations of NASA.”

Auditors took issue, though, with how UM conducted its oversight and monitored the grant-funded research activities, and called for tighter controls. In some cases, auditors pointed out the need for UM to revise or write new policies for the oversight of grant-funded research.

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/articles/2006/06/16/news/local/news02.txt