Gov. Schweitzer criticizes Montana university system over research and development funding accountability

Gov. Brian Schweitzer called the state’s top higher education official on the carpet Tuesday over his ongoing concern that the university system isn’t properly monitoring and accounting for the tens of millions of dollars in research grants its universities receive annually.

Schweitzer summoned Commissioner Sheila Stearns after closely questioning the presidents of Montana State University and the University of Montana a month ago on a related issue.

On Tuesday, Schweitzer told Stearns the university system isn’t following its own accounting policy, adopted in 2007 after a legislative audit in the wake of a much-criticized, federally funded space project at the University of Montana.

By CHARLES S. JOHNSON Missoulian State Bureau

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/articles/2009/02/10/bnews/br64.txt

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Schweitzer airs gripe against MSU

By DANIEL PERSON Chronicle Staff Writer

HELENA – Montana State University caught the ire of Gov. Brian Schweitzer recently when it submitted earmark requests to Montana’s congressional delegation before giving Schweitzer a chance to look the requests over.

Schweitzer aired his gripe with the Bozeman campus during a meeting with Commissioner of Higher Education Sheila Stearns Tuesday, a meeting that was at times terse between the two state officials.

Full Story: http://bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2009/02/11/news/10stearns%20meeting.txt

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Gamble regrets earmark mistake

By GAIL SCHONTZLER Chronicle Staff Writer

Responding to an unhappy Gov. Brian Schweitzer, Montana State University President Geoff Gamble admitted Wednesday that he failed to get a list of MSU research funding requests to the governor before it was sent to Washington, D.C.

“He’s exactly right,” Gamble said of the governor. “He didn’t get the report before it was handed to the federal delegation. That’s regrettable.

“We’ll make sure we get it corrected.”

Full Story: http://bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2009/02/12/news/10msu%20gamble.txt