In a uncommon movement, the Oregon Authorities Ethics Fee (OGEC) dismissed the case of former College of Oregon Faculty of Journalism and Communication Dean Juan-Carlos Molleda.
Molleda abruptly resigned from his place this summer time, after a report by the college’s scholar newspaper unveiled his disproportionately excessive journey spending. On June 9, the Each day Emerald reported Molleda had spent $46,000 in 2023-24, typically flying top quality to worldwide locations. In that very same tutorial 12 months, UO Dean of College students Marcus Langford spent simply over $11,000 and former UO Faculty of Regulation Dean Marcilynn Burke spent $3,700, based on the newspaper’s report.
Molleda formally left his position as dean on July 31, getting into a college place and taking a sabbatical till spring 2026. UO appointed Regina Lawrence, affiliate dean of UO SOJC Portland, as interim dean.
OGEC opened the case into Molleda throughout an government session on Aug. 8.
In the course of the assembly, OGEC Govt Director Susan Myers stated Molleda and his legal professional Bob Steringer supplied details about UO’s journey insurance policies in the course of the preliminary assessment. Per these insurance policies, UO staff might journey enterprise class on worldwide flights which might be 8 hours or longer. UO coverage additionally permits staff to increase their journey whereas paying any distinction in return flights prices.
Dean Juan-Carlos Molleda presides over the Faculty of Journalism and Communication commencement ceremony on the College of Oregon June 17, 2024.
“Had we had all this info on the time that we had been deciding whether or not to open a preliminary assessment, the fee’s motion might have been totally different,” Myers stated.
Each Myers and OGEC Chair David Fiskum famous the weird movement, which states “the knowledge offered doesn’t point out a violation of Oregon authorities ethics legal guidelines or warrant additional assessment, and the movement to conduct a preliminary assessment be rescinded.”
The movement handed with seven votes in favor and one abstention.
“I simply need to thank the fee and the employees for the cautious consideration of this matter,” Molleda stated in the course of the assembly.
Statesman Journal reporter Dianne Lugo contributed to this text.
Miranda Cyr experiences on schooling for The Register-Guard. You possibly can contact her at mcyr@registerguard.com or discover her on X @mirandabcyr.
This text initially appeared on Register-Guard: UO Journalism dean free from ethics violation case