Statement of Thomas Rosenthal, Rector, Virginia Commonwealth University, Board of Visitors:

"Last month, I received an anonymous complaint alleging that the university awarded an undergraduate degree without the student meeting what is known as the residency rule – a requirement that 25 percent of the credit hours required for a bachelor’s degree must be earned at VCU. The complaint also alleged this was a result of undue influence, including that of the president of the University.

"At the direction of the Board an investigation was immediately launched. The investigation was conducted by the VCU Department of Assurance Services and has been overseen by the Academic and Health Affairs Policy Committee of the Board of Visitors.

"We are able to report these findings today:

        The investigation found no evidence of undue influence by the president of the university.

        The investigation found the degree conferred did not meet the requirement of earning a minimum of 30 credits at VCU. 

"The investigation found no evidence that the student, former Richmond Police Chief Rodney Monroe, had any role in requesting an exception to this residency rule, or even was aware that the rule existed, or that an exception was granted. Chief Monroe has fully cooperated with the investigation and has voluntarily waived his right to confidentiality for the purpose of this statement. All options in the matter of this degree were considered and because the investigation found no evidence of academic misconduct by the student, both the Board and the administration agree that the degree should stand.

"The investigation reviewed all degrees granted since 2003, and this is the only instance, other than posthumously awarded degrees, in which a student did not have 30 credit hours at VCU. The overall degree granting policies and processes met high standards.

"We have concluded that none of this could have happened without individuals in positions of trust making serious errors in judgment in the degree granting process. Further, we were disappointed in the lack of cooperation we received in the investigation. Consequently, the Board has directed the university administration to suggest appropriate personnel actions in accordance with university and state policies.

The preceding was compiled from a VCU news release.