UWMC Dean Keith Montgomery said accounts for the 15 students affected have been credited, but the school’s insurance policy does not cover losses under $500,000, so the university itself is out the money.
“I am sure the students feel victimized,” Montgomery said. “I plan to apologize to the students over the weekend. But the actual losses are to the school.”
No official charges have yet been filed against Matt Brklacich, 36, who worked as the school’s residence hall operations manager at Marathon Hall from August 2011 until his employment was terminated in February. Marathon Hall is a dormitory that houses students from UWMC and Northcentral Technical College. Ten of the 15 students affected by the alleged thefts were NTC students, according to a police report.
Lori Weyers, president of NTC, said she learned of the incident Friday.
“We have put this in UWMC’s hands to make it right for our students,” Weyers said.
As a residence hall operations manager, Brklacich was responsible for maintaining financial records of students living at the dorm, which houses up to 162 students. The alleged thefts are believed to have occurred between June 2012 and January, officials said, when online court records show Brklacich paid off seven wage garnishments totaling more than $10,000.
According to a Wausau Police Department report:
Financial irregularities were discovered in January during “routine semester roster checks,” when student payments did not appear in the school’s accounting system. When school officials investigated the discrepancies, students told officials they had paid Brklacich cash for housing fees, meal plans, parking and other services, but those fees were not deposited into the students’ accounts.
School officials discussed the financial irregularities with Brklacich in January and told him that his annual contract would not be renewed. During future meetings with school officials, Brklacich, who promised to “fix the problem,” engaged in a “pattern of deceit” with regard to the financial irregularities at the school. Wausau Police Det. Jeff Strobach wrote in his report that Brklacich denied the thefts and told officials he did not do “anything nefarious” with student accounts.
The $25,556 taken from students ranged from $100 to $2,300 for each student affected, according to an independent audit of the school’s records performed in April. Some students were given fake receipts, while others were charged extra fees for services, according to the report.
UWMC policy allowed Brklacich to accept cash payments if proper receipts were given to students, though cash payments were discouraged, according to the report. Several students reported that Brklacich encouraged them to make cash payments.
“(Brklacich) solicited cash payments, which is contrary to his training and instructions,” Strobach wrote in his report.
Montgomery said the school has taken steps to ensure future accounts will be handled appropriately. Future payments for auxiliary services such as meals and housing fees will be directed solely to the school’s business office, and residence hall assistants will not be allowed to take cash for any services, he said.
Brklacich, whose position was terminated in February, was a part-time employee with an annual salary of $20,998, Montgomery said.
Montgomery said he is not sure when official charges will be filed against Brklacich, but the case has been referred to the district attorney’s office for prosecution, according to the police report.
Brklacich could not be reached for comment Friday.
source- Wausau Daily Herald