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Kevin Hegarty
Kevin Hegarty is vice president of the University of Texas, Austin. Hegarty took office in October 2001.[1]
Vice Presidency
According to the official Texas website, Hegarty describes his positions as follows:
"In my role as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, I hold responsibility for the financial integrity of the University, serve as financial controller with responsibility to certify revenue and expenditures, and have responsibility for optimal management of the University's cash balances and reserves. I also have responsibility for managing the financial operations and procurement."[2]
Regent records request
- See also: Wallace Hall impeachment trial
After he was appointed in 2011, University of Texas Regent Wallace Hall began looking into what he believed to be clout scandals within the University of Texas system. Hall investigated the university's forgivable-loans program, admissions policies and preferential treatment to politically-connected individuals.[3] Hall, as an individual citizen, filed FOIA requests with the University system after his inquiries via his role as a Regent were rebuffed.[4] Hall filed requests of more than 800,000 pages, which some Texas administrators called an unnecessary burden. Hall has been accused of overstepping his authority in making demands on the University of Texas, Austin staff. Specifically, the allegations surround possible mishandling of private student information and providing inadequate information on his application to be a regent.[5][6][7]
On August 5, 2013, Hegarty announced that the records requests from Hall would be canceled immediately.[8] In August 2013, Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa recommended a "targeted compliance review" of how officials at the University of Texas, Austin were handling public record requests. In August 2013, the University of Texas System Board of Regents approved two measures to reform problems that Hall had discovered in his investigations. The regents voted to enact a new policy regarding the relationship between universities and foundations. Additionally, the regents approved an audit into how officials respond to public information requests.[9] The University of Texas is required to seek approval from Attorney General of Texas Greg Abbott regarding whether information could be kept confidential from a records request. The process often takes months to complete. In 2008, University of Texas Austin referred one request to Abbott's office. In 2013, it referred 84 different requests, according to the Dallas Morning News. Hegarty said that the university reviews requests prior to seeking an opinion from the attorney general.[10]
In February 2015, an independent report by Kroll Associates, commissioned by the Regents Board, confirmed a "pattern of special treatment for well-connected applicants to UT." While the report did not show evidence of any quid pro quo, it did show that "extra acceptances were extended every year to accommodate special cases" and that the "President’s Office ordered applicants admitted over the objection of the Admissions Office." It added that "efforts were made to minimize paper trails and written lists" during the process." The Wall Street Journal wrote that the report should "should put an end" to the concerns over Hall's clout investigations.[11]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Business Week, "Kevin Hegarty," accessed November 8, 2013
- ↑ UT Texas, "Office of the Vice President," accessed November 8, 2013
- ↑ American Spectator, "Transparency for Thee," October 25, 2013
- ↑ Daily Texas Online, "Facing impeachment, Regent Wallace Hall defends actions in debate with Sen. Kirk Watson," September 28, 2013
- ↑ Daily Texas Online, "Former UT System vice chancellor alleges Regent Wallace Hall’s ‘clear intent to get rid of Bill Powers’," October 24, 2013
- ↑ Dallas Morning News, "UT regent sought 800,000 documents, official says in impeachment hearing," October 22, 2013
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "Pitts: Enough Evidence to Impeach UT Regent Hall," October 22, 2013
- ↑ Texas Tribune, "August 6, 2013,"
- ↑ Watchdog.org, "University of Texas regents show support for Wallace Hall," August 22, 2013
- ↑ Dallas Morning News, "Fight over UT's Powers buried university in records requests," January 5, 2014
- ↑ Wall Street Journal, "Texas Admissions Rumble," February 12, 2015
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