Former professor fired for allegedly misusing lab fees
By: Amir Kurtovic
Issue date: 2/11/10 Section: News
It is unknown how many classes Nicholas DiMarco offered that applied lab fees or how many students took them. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act prevents schools from disclosing student information.
But Nicholas DiMarco was interviewed for a March 2006 Journal story regarding lab fees and the apparent lack of auditing that goes into the process. The story states that Nicholas DiMarco offered six sections of professional seminars for that semester, and a lab fee was charged for each of them.
"The fees go towards purchasing questionnaires and surveys, from companies that provide them," DiMarco is quoted as saying in the story. "They have to be purchased each year to remain current."
It remains unclear whether there is a criminal investigation or pending charges for Nicholas DiMarco's involvement in this scheme. Richard Callahan, the U.S. attorney for the eastern district of Missouri, said his office cannot confirm or deny the existence of an investigation.
After being fired from WU, Nicholas DiMarco served as a visiting professor at St. George's University in Grenada. According to a February 2009 article from the SGU Gazette, a student news outlet, Nicholas DiMarco spoke at a seminar about the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality test, the same test he charged WU students for through lab fees. A document found on SGU's Web site also listed Nicholas DiMarco as a visiting professor between the months of September and October 2009. The document listed WU as the school Nicholas DiMarco is affiliated with, more than one year after he was fired by WU.
But Nicholas DiMarco was interviewed for a March 2006 Journal story regarding lab fees and the apparent lack of auditing that goes into the process. The story states that Nicholas DiMarco offered six sections of professional seminars for that semester, and a lab fee was charged for each of them.
"The fees go towards purchasing questionnaires and surveys, from companies that provide them," DiMarco is quoted as saying in the story. "They have to be purchased each year to remain current."
It remains unclear whether there is a criminal investigation or pending charges for Nicholas DiMarco's involvement in this scheme. Richard Callahan, the U.S. attorney for the eastern district of Missouri, said his office cannot confirm or deny the existence of an investigation.
After being fired from WU, Nicholas DiMarco served as a visiting professor at St. George's University in Grenada. According to a February 2009 article from the SGU Gazette, a student news outlet, Nicholas DiMarco spoke at a seminar about the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality test, the same test he charged WU students for through lab fees. A document found on SGU's Web site also listed Nicholas DiMarco as a visiting professor between the months of September and October 2009. The document listed WU as the school Nicholas DiMarco is affiliated with, more than one year after he was fired by WU.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 5
none
posted 2/11/10 @ 10:22 AM CST
He also had unfair grading practices. Shady character all the way around.
Not Happy
posted 2/11/10 @ 10:43 AM CST
As I continue to read stories that are uncovered by The Journal I am becoming more and more unhappy with their findings on the WU administrators. While, I am currently a student at WU and inches away from graduation, I'm beginning to think I should have put my money elsewhere. (Continued…)
Keith
posted 2/11/10 @ 3:46 PM CST
Any information on how he got caught?
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