MU fires three after College of Engineering audit

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The University of Missouri fired three employees after an audit of the College of Engineering that was launched after allegations of financial mismanagement, MU said in a news release Thursday.

The investigation started after the university received information in January about Brandon Guffey, the college's former director of financial services. Guffey was fired.

The university has yet to detail the allegations against Guffey, who was paid about $124,000 per year and had worked at MU since 2006.

In the release Thursday, MU said that its audit found more than $30,700 was stolen from the university from electronic equipment theft or unauthorized purchases. Another $132,000 of alleged theft is under investigation by law enforcement, the university said. The investigation began after an employee shared suspicions about mismanagement.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed it started an investigation into a theft of funds by being contacted by MU police in January. The investigation is ongoing, a patrol spokesman said.

“We are grateful to those who spoke up and informed the university about their concerns as it led to us uncovering this financial mismanagement,” Michelle Piranio, chief audit and compliance officer for MU, said in the release. “Other employees did tell us that they were scared to speak up for fear of retaliation."

The university stressed that reports of misconduct can be filed through the UM System Integrity and Accountability Hotline.

The university said it will implement annual training, conduct regular financial audits of schools and colleges and identify workers who will have periodic background and credit checks.