RI college tuition waiver problems

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - A new state audit says the University of Rhode Island and RI's other two state colleges improperly waived tuition for students in more than three dozen cases during the 2011-2012 school year.

The Providence Journal reports the audit called for by Gov. Lincoln Chafee also says there were problems with hundreds of more waivers including spotty or nonexistent paperwork.

The state Bureau of Audits found that 39 tuition waivers were improperly granted because of weaknesses in internal controls.

Most tuition waivers at URI went to university employees or their immediate family members as an employment benefit. A majority of waivers at the Community College of Rhode Island went to unemployed state residents.

The audit didn't say whether tuition waivers went to anyone who was ineligible or if there was fraud.