An outside review will cost the University more than $70,000

A cross-departmental investigation into a culture of academic misconduct doesn’t come cheap.

The University has paid a $15,000 retainer to Baker Tilly Virchow Krause LLC, a consulting firm based in Washington, D.C. that was hired to assist former Gov. Jim Martin in the review.

According to the firm’s contract, the entire review will cost between $70,000 and $90,000 ­— plus travel expenses from the firm’s headquarters. The contract states this sum reflects a 20 percent discount from the firm’s normal fee.

Chancellor Holden Thorp called on Martin in August to conduct an independent review of the University’s Department of African and Afro-American Studies. Martin will attempt to have a report ready for the Board of Governors panel on Oct. 11.

In the past two weeks, Martin and the firm’s team have conducted 16 interviews — each lasting about an hour, Martin said.

So far, Martin said he and the consultants at Baker Tilly are on track to meet their deadline. But measuring when he will be done is not a cut-and-dry procedure.

“You don’t know until you finish,” Martin said. “You keep finding things that string out that could take longer, but we think we’re on target.”

Martin said he could not release any details about his findings until the final report has been written, but assured that the search will not be limited to just the Department of African and Afro-American Studies.

According to the schedule laid out in Baker Tilly’s contract, the investigation’s initial stages have mainly included planning and fieldwork.

Martin said this fieldwork has consisted of conducting interviews and designing strategies on his end, and performing data analysis and collecting academic records on the firm’s end.

“We’ve had some interviews with various people — faculty, students, coaches, counselors ­— so we’re trying to get leads to be sure we don’t overlook something that is of concern,” Martin said.

Raina Rose Tagle, a partner at Baker Tilly, is leading the project for the firm, but did not return requests for comment.

Martin said he usually spends two days on campus a week, and consultants from the firm spend about three to four days.

Five staff members were mentioned in the Baker Tilly contract, including Tagle, a senior manager, a manager and two other consultants.

According to the firm’s contract, the Baker Tilly staff will be paid between $180 and $440 per hour for their services depending on their position.

Martin will not be paid, but will be reimbursed for travel expenses as well.

Martin said he and his team want to hear from anyone who has tips about departments or classes they should be investigating.

Members of the review have set up the email account uncreview@bakertilly.com and ask anyone with pertinent information to contact them.

Martin said since some people might be uncomfortable with revealing their identity through an email, he and other investigators are working to establish an anonymous hot line.

Wade Hargrove, chairman of the Board of Trustees, said he and the board hope the review will find any irregularities that have not been disclosed.

“The Board of Trustees is supportive of this review and looks forward to any further findings,” Hargrove said. “This review by Gov. Martin and the independent firm was initiated by the board and the chancellor, so we are delighted that this is underway.”

Hargrove said although the board does not know what to expect, if anything is found to be associated with certain faculty or staff, he’s confident the University will handle it in an appropriate matter.

Martin said he and Baker Tilly are working to dig out the scandal’s origin, no matter how painful it will be.

“If there’s a tumor there, you gotta do a resection, as the doctors would say,” Martin said.

“You’ve got to remove it, and make it clear that’s not going to be tolerated.”

Contact the desk editor at university@dailytarheel.com.