Carolyn Collins, former associate vice chancellor and University College dean recently arrested in a theft investigation, claims she legally spent state dollars on meals for students and staff, according to an LSU Police Department report. Collins was arrested and issued a summons on June 19 and is accused of illegally transferring $5,050 in state funds from two University accounts into her personal Tiger Card account.An internal audit report showed Collins allegedly spent $1,075 at The Faculty Club restaurant with the funds, as well as $1,193 at the student union and $336 at the LSU Bookstore, among other transactions, between August 2005 and February 2009. The report also showed several purchases totaling less than $10 each at places like the Atrium Café, the PMAC concessions stand and Subway. Collins could not be reached for comment, but denied her arrest on Monday, saying the report on LSUPD’s Web site was “not true.”Donna Torres, associate vice chancellor for Accounting and Financial Services, informed LSUPD in May about the audit and illegal transfers described in it. The audit showed Collins had been shifting University funds since 2003, but because the statute of limitations for some of the alleged thefts has expired, Collins is only being charged for the $5,050 transferred since 2005. According to the police report, Collins claimed the purchases were for students and staff involved in the University College’s Summer Opportunity Program and Summer Scholars mentoring program — the two accounts she transferred funds from. But in October 2008 she couldn’t provide documentation about the business nature of the purchases on her Tiger Card when asked by Accounting Services. Instead, she sent a $1,200 check to the University with a handwritten note that read, “My check if these expenses are disallowed (partial).” Although the University allows its employees to request funds be transferred from an LSU account to individual Tiger Card accounts, the audit showed Collins did not have the proper authorization. Collins’ last transaction was on October 9, 2008. The case now goes to the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney’s Office, state legislative auditor and Louisiana Board of Ethics for review. Hillar Moore, East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney, said he met with LSUPD officials during their investigation. Collins retired on Tuesday. —-Contact Kyle Bove at [email protected]