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TSU says $1 million gift a sign of regaining respect
By JEANNIE KEVER HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Jan. 26, 2009, 9:20PM
In what campus President John Rudley described as a sign that Texas Southern University has regained respectability, the school will announce a $1million gift from Houston businessman Kase Lawal today.
Lawal is chairman and CEO of CAMAC International Corporation, an energy services company with offices around the world. He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from TSU.
“We’re building confidence back,†Rudley said.
He said that Lawal, a native of Nigeria who came to the United States for an education and went on to build one of the nation’s largest privately owned businesses, had pledged money to the school several years ago but held back after former President Priscilla Slade was accused of spending school money on herself.
She agreed as part of a plea bargain to repay the school $127,672.18 and spend 10 years on probation.
Rudley took office last February and has recruited a new management team, many of them from the University of Houston, where Rudley was vice chancellor and vice president for administration and finance before taking the job at TSU.
Probation until 2010
He told the Houston Chronicle editorial board Monday he has made progress in restoring financial stability during his first 11 months on the job and expects to resolve most of the issues that caused TSU to be placed on probation within the next few months, when audited financial records are turned over to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
The probation extends into 2010.
Lawal’s donation is another sign of stability, Rudley said. It will be spread over 10 years, with the school receiving $100,000 a year.
Wendy Adair, vice president for university advancement at TSU, said the gift is the largest ever from a TSU graduate.
The money will be used to create an endowment for scholarships to the Jesse H. Jones School of Business at TSU.
Lawal’s earlier pledge wasn’t the only financial fallout from Slade’s tenure. Broadcast star Tavis Smiley promised $1 million in 2004 but stopped payments after donating just $50,000, which he later attributed to concerns about Slade’s management.
Rudley said Monday that he has spoken with Smiley recently and expects the broadcaster to resume payments, although no date has been set.
jeannie.kever@chron.com
By JEANNIE KEVER HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Jan. 26, 2009, 9:20PM
In what campus President John Rudley described as a sign that Texas Southern University has regained respectability, the school will announce a $1million gift from Houston businessman Kase Lawal today.
Lawal is chairman and CEO of CAMAC International Corporation, an energy services company with offices around the world. He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from TSU.
“We’re building confidence back,†Rudley said.
He said that Lawal, a native of Nigeria who came to the United States for an education and went on to build one of the nation’s largest privately owned businesses, had pledged money to the school several years ago but held back after former President Priscilla Slade was accused of spending school money on herself.
She agreed as part of a plea bargain to repay the school $127,672.18 and spend 10 years on probation.
Rudley took office last February and has recruited a new management team, many of them from the University of Houston, where Rudley was vice chancellor and vice president for administration and finance before taking the job at TSU.
Probation until 2010
He told the Houston Chronicle editorial board Monday he has made progress in restoring financial stability during his first 11 months on the job and expects to resolve most of the issues that caused TSU to be placed on probation within the next few months, when audited financial records are turned over to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
The probation extends into 2010.
Lawal’s donation is another sign of stability, Rudley said. It will be spread over 10 years, with the school receiving $100,000 a year.
Wendy Adair, vice president for university advancement at TSU, said the gift is the largest ever from a TSU graduate.
The money will be used to create an endowment for scholarships to the Jesse H. Jones School of Business at TSU.
Lawal’s earlier pledge wasn’t the only financial fallout from Slade’s tenure. Broadcast star Tavis Smiley promised $1 million in 2004 but stopped payments after donating just $50,000, which he later attributed to concerns about Slade’s management.
Rudley said Monday that he has spoken with Smiley recently and expects the broadcaster to resume payments, although no date has been set.
jeannie.kever@chron.com
