Utah legislative audit of Utah State University finds leadership bypassed procurement rules and policy

A January 2026 performance audit by Utah's Office of the Legislative Auditor General reviewed Utah State University's governance, leadership and culture, which lawmakers ordered six months earlier. The audit found several instances where leadership and staff bypassed requirements in Utah Code and university policy, including a purchase from an individual with prior professional connections to the university that went through a sole source process; the initial cost estimate of $30,000 grew to over $100,000 in four months.