University of Montana space programs spending to be investigated.

Embattled former University of Montana vice-president Lloyd Chesnut is back under scrutiny, and this time a current UM program is sharing a spot under the magnifying glass.

Montana’s Legislative Audit Committee will investigate UM’s Northern Rockies Center for Space Privatization, announced Scott Seacat, the Montana legislative auditor, in a letter to Board of Regents Commissioner Sheila Stearns on Monday.

UM established the center in 2003, but failed to secure the necessary Board of Regents approval. Chesnut, formerly a vice president at UM, was a principal figure in founding the center. Chesnut left UM in 2003 to take a position at the University of North Texas. He resigned from that position last August after being escorted from his office for alleged financial impropriety.

INSA: http://www.inwspace.org/

Contributed by Zachary Franz/Montana Kaimin

Full Story: http://www.kaimin.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1218&Itemid=55

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Regents to scrutinize research spending at UM, doctor training at MSU

Training more doctors at Montana State University and looking into questionable use of federal grant money at the University of Montana will be two of the major topics this week when the state Board of Regents meets in Dillon.

MSU President Geoff Gamble said Tuesday that he isn’t aware of any questions being raised about MSU’s research activities.

"We have very tight controls," Gamble said.

Sparks are likely to fly when regents serving on the budget and audit committee discuss an independent audit of the Northern Rockies Center for Space Privatization at UM. It was supposed to use $3 million in noncompetitive NASA grants to apply space technology to commercial use, the Missoulian reported.

By GAIL SCHONTZLER Chronicle Staff Writer

Full Story: http://bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2006/03/01/breakingnews/30gamble.txt

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Montana University Regents concerned about use of NASA funding. Wants to know what UM’s Northern Rockies Center for Space Privatization has to show for the $3 million it received from noncompetitive NASA grants http://www.matr.net/article-18360.html

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UM space center to be included in state audit

By BETSY COHEN of the Missoulian

The Board of Regents has agreed to make use of a timely legislative auditing process already under way to help shed light on a University of Montana space research center the has been operating since 2003 without the regents’ authorization.

The audit will jump start the regents’ investigation of UM’s Northern Rockies Center for Space Privatization and determine what the center has to show for the $3 million it received from noncompetitive NASA grants intended to promote the commercialization of spaceflight technologies.

“This will give us a quicker independent baseline in which to build our own review,” said Regents Chairman John Mercer after regents committee meetings on Wednesday in Dillon. The full board convenes Thursday for a regularly scheduled two-day meeting.

Full Story: http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2006/03/02/news/local/news05.txt

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Regents hold off on investigation

Contributed by Daniel Person/Montana Kaimin

The Board of Regents decided Wednesday it will not immediately investigate how the University of Montana used nearly $2 million in grant money, instead allowing the state to complete a broader look at research programs that is already underway.

The Board of Regents decided Wednesday it will not immediately investigate how the University of Montana used nearly $2 million in grant money, instead allowing the state to complete a broader look at research programs that is already underway.

However, the audit is not a replacement for an investigation, Regent John Mercer said, but rather a guide for what aspects of the programs they should look into.

“We think this gives us a big jump start,” Mercer said.

Full Story: http://www.kaimin.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1234&Itemid=55