Husband: “Across UW-Madison, … less than 3% of employees annually receive bonuses. In [DEI chief Levar] Charleston’s division, he approved bonuses to 85% of his staff without consulting senior leadership. [M]ore than half of the division’s 71 employees had already received a bonus in the previous year… Between Dec. 1, 2023, and Nov. 30, 2024, Charleston also approved salary increases ranging from 10% to 23% for 12 employees… Charleston’s division spent the most on travel, training and events of any unit on campus — about $11,000 per employee in 2024. Other divisions averaged about $3,300 per employee.
… Travel and event spending rose sharply compared to previous years. The division spent $1.2 million in 2019. This ballooned to $1.7 million in 2023 and $2.65 million in 2024.
Supply spending also increased, from $326,00 in 2019 to nearly $600,000 in both 2023 and 2024. Some of the expenses were questionable, [a] report said.
Among the charges: $18,000 for student massage therapy services, $21,000 for a senior leadership retreat at a Lake Geneva resort, $14,000 for Maui lodging costs for seven students and staff for recruitment purposes.
He also faces accusations of research misconduct.
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Wife: Faces credible accusations of plagiarism.