Dolores Cross

Dolores Cross is an educator and university administrator who became the first female president of Chicago State University (1990) and Morris Brown College (MBC) (1998–2002). In 2006, she pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement in connection with the misapplication of federal funds provided to MBC.^[1]

Early life

Dolores Cross was born in Newark, New Jersey. After receiving her Bachelor of Science in Education from Seton Hall University in 1963, Cross obtained her Master of Science in education from Hofstra University and later received a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in 1971.^{[citation needed]}

Career

Cross is a successful professor and university administrator, teaching at Claremont University, becoming vice chancellor for student affairs at City University of New York, serving as the president of the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation and later becoming the first female president of Chicago State University in 1990. President Bill Clinton appointed Cross to the steering committee for his America Reads initiative. She was elected vice-chair of the American Association of Higher Education and has received eight honorary degrees from various universities. Cross moved from the presidency of Chicago State in 1997 to the presidency of the GE Fund, a non-profit wing of General Electric. Shortly after that, she accepted the position as the first female president of Morris Brown College.^{[citation needed]}

Morris Brown College tenure

When Cross arrived at Morris Brown College, it was financially troubled. During her tenure, she worked to increase the academic standards of the college and to address its formidable financial issues.^{[citation needed]}

While she was President, Morris Brown College allegedly obtained $3.4 million in federally insured student loans and Pell grants in the names of ineligible students, including some who never attended the college, some who were enrolled part time and others who had already left. It is unclear how the money was used, although it is believed they were acquired to pay the school's already existing debts.^{[citation needed]}

As with all such loans, the responsibility for paying back the loans fell on the students. Due to its ongoing financial issues, the school eventually lost its accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. After the loss of accreditation, MBC students became ineligible for many government grants and loans. The school nearly closed in 2003 as its enrollment dropped.^{[citation needed]}

In May 2006, Cross pleaded guilty to a charge of embezzlement stemming from her time at the college.^[2][3] Federal prosecutors dismissed 27 other charges against her in exchange for her plea.^[4]

On January 3, 2007, Cross was sentenced to five years of probation and a year of home confinement for her role in fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars in federal student aid for the college. In addition, the college’s financial-aid director at the time the fraud was committed was also sentenced, to five years of probation and 18 months of home confinement. The light sentence, which prosecutors and her lawyers agreed on, was based on her age, her health, and the fact that she did not profit personally from the crime.^[4]

References

1. ^ "Former Morris Brown College president, financial aid director indicted for fraud", December 30, 2004, in Black Issues in Higher Education. Accessed via online archive service January 4, 2007.
2. ^ Morris Brown College May 1, 2006, Washington Post.
3. ^ Ex-President of Morris Brown College Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement, The Chronicle of Higher Education, May 1, 2006.
4. ^ ^{a b} Former President of Morris Brown College Draws Light Sentence in Fraud Case, The Chronicle of Higher Education, January 3, 2007.

• "Federal Indictment Accuses Former Morris Brown President and Aid Officer of $5-Million Fraud" December 10, 2004 in the Chronicle of Higher Education. Accessed summary January 4, 2007.^{[dead link]}
• "Ex-president of Morris Brown gets probation" January 4, 2007 in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Accessed January 4, 2007.^{[dead link]}

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Name	Cross, Dolores
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