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FIU fined $11.5 million

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FIU fined $11.5 million

This happened a few years ago. I don't think many people know about it. FIU doesn't seem to be under the microscope of the Herald like FAU is with the Sentinal the Post and the Herald. Sure makes the Davenport incident seem like pocket change. If this had happened to FAU, the internet and all the newspapers in Florida would have covered this. There would have been so much negative publicity it would make your head spin.



http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_kmens/is_200502/ai_n13275211


Another article, same story.
AmeriScan: February 15, 2005


Florida International University Fined $11.5 for Overcharging

MIAMI, Florida (ENS) — –> Florida International University (FIU) has agreed to pay $11.5 million to settle allegations that it mischarged costs and overbilled under several contracts and grants with the Department of Energy. The contracts and grants dealt with testing and developing environmental technologies.
As part of the agreement, FIU will also forgo the submission of approximately $1.7 million in additional costs. The improper charging occurred during fiscal years 1995-2003 at FIU’s Hemispheric Center for Environmental Technology (HCET).

"This settlement demonstrates the Justice Department's efforts to ensure that the United States is not overbilled on federal contracts," said Peter Keisler, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Civil Division.

The settlement resulted from an investigation by the Civil Division of the Department of Justice and the Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, of the Department of Energy. The investigation resulted from a series of audits conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Audit Services.

The allegations and settlement has not stopped the flow of federal funds into HCET coffers. The Center announced it is poised to launch a series of initiatives in Latin America that seek to help military forces in the region make efficient and clean use of the environment.

The first two projects include an energy plant in El Salvador, and a wastewater facility in Mexico. The first one is a power plant that does not require traditional fossil fuels. The Mexico initiative will demonstrate how wastewater at a military base can be treated through methods that reduce the need for traditional, energy intensive wastewater treatment plants.

These technology demonstration and validation projects are part of a $2.1 million, two year contract recently awarded to FIU by the U.S. Army.

This is the second phase of an earlier $5 million initiative between FIU and the U.S. Army called the Western Hemisphere Information Exchange Program, which seeks to establish cooperative relations with Western Hemisphere allies to achieve common environmental stewardship and sustainability goals.

These goals include minimizing the environmental impact of military operations, enhancing the quality of life for soldiers and their families, and developing renewable energy alternatives for installations, the university says.





FAU - THE REAL SLEEPING GIANT
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Re: FIU fined $11.5 million

This happened a while back, and it was pretty widely discussed.  At least, us FIU fans and alumns knew about this, and discussed this as well as articles about this situation were written.  Believe me, we have gotten our share of bad press in The Herald and Sun Sentinel as well.  There are some writers at The Herald that seem to look at only the negatives (and with a broader view) than at the many positives FIU has achieved.  I guess you view it depending on where you are.  However, that is water under the bridge right now.  The latest news is that we got is a $10 million donation ($20 million with the State matching program) to our College of Medicine by a local guy, Benjamin Leon Jr., which will establish a Geriatric Research and Education Center, with the additional $10 million "matched" by the State, going to established an Eminent Scholars Chair in Geriatrics.



$20 Million to fund FIU's New College of Medicine


FIU College of Medicine receives major gift to establish the Benjamín León, Jr. Family Center for Geriatric Research and Education
May 28th, 2008
Benjamín León Jr., founder of Leon Medical Centers announced today a $10 million gift to the Florida International University College of Medicine to establish the Benjamín León, Jr. Family Center for Geriatric Research and Education. The gift also establishes the Leon Medical Centers Eminent Scholars Chair in Geriatrics.

This is among the largest gifts ever made by a Cuban-American family to a U.S. university and the largest made to FIU. The gift also is the first to name a center of the nascent College of Medicine. The León gift is eligible for matching dollars under the State of Florida Major Gifts Trust Fund, increasing its total impact to $20 million.

FIU President Modesto A. Maidique explained that the relationship between FIU and the Leon family has been a close one. Last year, Albert R. Maury, president and COO of Leon Medical Centers Health Plans, became a member of the FIU Board of Trustees.

“Benjamín León, Jr. has built a dynamic health care enterprise based on a vision that is completely aligned with our vision for the FIU College of Medicine,” said FIU President Modesto A. Maidique. “Together we will do great things for the growing senior population in our community.”

The Benjamín León, Jr. Family Center for Geriatric Research and Education will focus on health issues that affect the culturally-diverse elderly population in South Florida. As the United States population continues to grow older as a whole, the research conducted in this center will gain increased relevance beyond South Florida.

“For more than 43 years I have been dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of the Medicare population, most of whom are over the age of 65 and have always maintained that our society is best judged by how it cares for its elders. I am wholeheartedly committed to improving the lives of our seniors. This new center will provide greater opportunities to improve healthcare delivery for the aging population,” said Benjamín León, Jr. Founder of Leon Medical Centers and Leon Medical Centers Health Plans.

FIU College of Medicine Dean John Rock said that the launching of this center follows one of the most significant trends in health care today: an aging population.

“My generation – the largest generation in our nation’s history – the Baby Boomers, have started to enter our 60s,” explains Dr. Rock. “This is going to put incredible strain on an already overburdened health care system. It is important for us as a new medical school to look for solutions to emerging challenges such as this.”

The Benjamín León, Jr. Family Center for Geriatric Research and Education will develop a state of the art curriculum in geriatric medicine and will establish clinical research programs addressing the care of the elderly.

Leon Medical Centers also have become an affiliate of the College of Medicine, which means that FIU medical students will do rotations at the León. Super Centers. León joins a growing family of partners selected by the FIU College of Medicine to help deliver innovative medical education. Other clinical partners include Jackson Health Systems, Miami Children’s Hospital, Mount Sinai Medical Center and Mercy Hospital.

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Re: FIU fined $11.5 million

Why is that college of medicine article on here?

FAU - THE REAL SLEEPING GIANT
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Re: FIU fined $11.5 million

Because I chose to include it in my post, and since this just hit the newspapers a couple of days ago (not 3 years ago, like the other article on this thread), I included it in this 'Open Forum" Board.
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Re: FIU fined $11.5 million

FIUFanatic said

The latest news is that we got is a $10 million donation ($20 million with the State matching program) to our College of Medicine by a local guy, Benjamin Leon Jr., which will establish a Geriatric Research and Education Center, with the additional $10 million "matched" by the State, going to established an Eminent Scholars Chair in Geriatrics.

It's excellent news for FIU, definitely.

Having volunteered some time in a geriatric center, I can say it's definitely not the field for me. I do understand the nation's need for doctors in that area, especially in Florida, and hopefully this will help attract physicians to Florida to address the issue.
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Re: FIU fined $11.5 million

Jeez if we could only find some cook as interested in FAU Football as that guy was about FIU Medicine....thats the stadium down payment in one fair swoop.

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