Another Lesson in Public Greed (Editorial)

Remember Bobby Petrino? Remember Lu Hardin? We do too.

One of the things we recall most vividly about these unrelated higher education scandals was just how handsomely both men were compensated by the state of Arkansas and how it wasn’t enough for either. One placed his female friend on the payroll; the other got grabby with his bonus.

And now comes Anthony Chelte, former dean of the UALR College of Business. As ArkansasBusiness.com first reported last week, an internal audit determined Chelte was responsible for more than $15,300 of duplicate and unauthorized travel expenses and recommended that the school seek $11,480 in reimbursement. Another report said that more than $16,300 in "apparent unreported leave time" taken by the peripatetic dean was questionable.

In January, UALR Chancellor Joel Anderson removed Chelte as dean. He later resigned. UALR has referred the case to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

On the Web are photos Chelte posted, photos labeled France, Hawaii and New Orleans. He waxes lyrical in the caption for one: "Mauna kea. 9000 ft above sea level. We are so fortunate to live life to the fullest."

In 2011, the state of Arkansas – you and me – paid Chelte a salary of $188,850. The average per capita income in Arkansas in 2011 was $34,014. The average college debt for an Arkansas student, according to the nonprofit Project on Student Debt, was $21,408 in 2010, the latest state-specific figures we found.

Greed is unattractive. Some extremists even think it’s sinful. When college costs and college debt are exploding, the greed of employees in higher education is particularly unappealing. It wears a body out, this rampant sense of entitlement. And it does nothing to help the average Arkansan live life to the fullest.