Connecticut State Interim Chancellor Steps Down

Connecticut State Colleges and Universities interim chancellor John Maduko resigned Friday, a day after he was placed on administrative leave for allegedly violating an unspecified policy, CT Insider reported.

“After thoughtful reflection, I have made the decision to step down from my role,” he wrote to Marty Guay, chair of the system’s governing board. “This decision reflects what is right for my family and for me at this time.”

In a press release announcing Maduko’s resignation, Guay wrote, “As this is a personnel matter, the board will not provide additional comment.”

Maduko stepped into the role last July, replacing former CSCU chancellor Terrence Cheng, whose contract was not renewed following an audit that revealed profligate spending on meals charged to his institutional credit card.

State Comptroller Sean Scanlon, who initiated the audit into Cheng, called for the board’s investigation into Maduko’s conduct to continue and be released to the public. “I’m obviously concerned to see another Chancellor leaving in these kind of circumstances,” he said. “It’s important for people to know exactly what happened, given the public nature of this job and the importance of this system to our state … The students and the faculty there have a right to know what has happened.”

Maduko’s resignation is “a shock because this just seems to be a continuation of a scandal that’s been ongoing,” state Senator Jeff Gordon told WFSB. “It just sends a terrible message that, number one, there seems to be no oversight. Number two, they’re leaderless. Even when they have leaders, they still seem to be leaderless. So the legislature should know about this in more detail.”

Connecticut governor Ned Lamont told CT Insider he “urged the Board to continue conducting their investigation and to assess whether changes to institutional processes are necessary to strengthen governance, reporting, or oversight.”

Karen Buffkin, general counsel of CSCU, will serve as acting chancellor until a new interim is appointed.