University of South Florida Cannot Audit Regional Campus Expenses, President Says

Alfonso Architects

The plan for USF Polytechnic's Lakeland campus.

University of South Florida president Judy Genshaft told two state Senators that any audit of USF Polytechnic is up to the regional campus chancellor.

Republican state Sens. Paula Dockery and Mike Fasano asked Genshaft to audit USF Polytechnic after learning the school hired regional chancellor Marshall Goodman’s son to run a business incubator program. The school also planned to spend $500,000 on a promotional video.

USF Poly, in Lakeland, is pushing to become an independent university. A state board could consider that request next month.

In her response to Dockery and Fasano, Genshaft said state law places the responsibility for USF Poly expenses with Goodman. Likewise, she wrote, Goodman would have to request an audit.

USF Poly has has audits the past three years, Genshaft wrote, but those audits likely would not address Dockery and Fasano’s questions.

“While the audits account for expenditures,” Genshaft wrote, “they do not comment on the prudence of each expenditure.”

Below is Genshaft’s letter.