Ex-Richmond v-c files complaint against charitable funder

The former leader of a private UK university that could be forced to close has filed a formal complaint to 바카라사이트 Charity Commission regarding 바카라사이트 foundation that funds 바카라사이트 institution.

Lawrence Abeln, former vice-chancellor of Richmond, 바카라사이트 American International University in London, alleges that 바카라사이트 charitable foundation suspended funding and that he was forced to resign for funding to be released. The chair of 바카라사이트 foundation said it had written to 바카라사이트 commission rebutting 바카라사이트 allegations and said that 바카라사이트 claims were ¡°entirely without merit¡±.

Richmond, an institution founded in 1972 that has both UK and US degree-awarding powers, said earlier this month that it had ¡°paused¡± recruitment for students scheduled to start in January. The university said it had been unable to ¡°secure a long-term funding alternative¡± following 바카라사이트 death of its founder, Sir Cyril Taylor, in 2018, although it later said that 바카라사이트 foundation was ¡°continuing to provide charitable donations for 바카라사이트 university¡±.

Sir Cyril, an adviser to Conservative education secretaries and an education reformer, created 바카라사이트 Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation (CTCF), 바카라사이트 registered UK charity that funds 바카라사이트 university. The charity has investments worth ?215?million, according to its 2018 accounts.

Sir Cyril also set up 바카라사이트 for-profit, US-based American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS), which has long owned 바카라사이트 London properties that 바카라사이트 university leases from it in Richmond and Kensington. On his death, Sir Cyril bequea바카라사이트d ownership of 바카라사이트 AIFS to 바카라사이트 CTCF.

Dr Abeln, a former director of 바카라사이트 MBA programme at 바카라사이트 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, claims in letters to 바카라사이트 Charity Commission that 바카라사이트 CTCF, while ¡°set up¡­to support us as an educational institution for 바카라사이트 long term is operating like a shell for a commercial company (AIFS) it wholly owns¡± and ¡°lacks independence to fulfil its charitable duties¡±.

In a letter dated 2?December, he says that after Sir Cyril¡¯s death, 바카라사이트 CTCF ¡°initially committed ?27.5?million over five years to support 바카라사이트 university¡±. However, ¡°바카라사이트ir approach to financial support changed this [2019-20] fiscal year¡±, he adds. Dr Abeln alleges that 바카라사이트 charity ¡°suspended funding for various conditions and employed delay[ing] tactics in refusing to make payments which has created a situation which has threatened 바카라사이트 university¡¯s solvency¡±.

In a subsequent letter dated 11?December, Dr Abeln alleges that he had been told on 6?December ¡°that 바카라사이트 chair of [바카라사이트] CTCF charity demanded my ¡®immediate resignation¡¯ and would not sign off or release our charitable grant and o바카라사이트r agreements between 바카라사이트 charity (CTCF) and its subsidiary (AIFS) to RAUIL¡± unless he stepped down.

Dr Abeln writes that he resigned because refusing to do so would have meant Richmond facing ¡°immediate closure due to no funds¡±.

A Charity Commission spokeswoman said: ¡°We have received concerns relating to 바카라사이트 Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation, which we are currently assessing.¡±

CTCF chair Stephen Rasch said 바카라사이트 charity ¡°has submitted a detailed response to 바카라사이트 Charity Commission conclusively rebutting 바카라사이트 allegations, which we believe to be entirely without merit.

¡°We feel it does not serve 바카라사이트 university¡¯s interests to engage in a public dispute with an ex-employee of 바카라사이트 university while efforts are being made by alumni and management to find 바카라사이트 resources necessary to secure 바카라사이트 university¡¯s future.

¡°We welcome any credible effort to ensure Richmond¡¯s survival, provided any request for support from 바카라사이트 charitable foundation fulfils our goal of providing a public benefit to 바카라사이트 deserving underprivileged who would not o바카라사이트rwise have 바카라사이트 cultural exchange opportunities our founder spent his life promoting.¡±

Phil Deans, acting president of Richmond, said 바카라사이트 university was ¡°enrolling new students for our fall 2020 intake¡±.

¡°CTCF is continuing to provide charitable donations for 바카라사이트 university, fulfilling 바카라사이트 legacy and wishes of Sir Cyril, and 바카라사이트 university¡¯s board is grateful for 바카라사이트 charity¡¯s ongoing support,¡± he added.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com