College responds to overpayment errors at Qatar campus
5/4/2010 2:55:33 PM
A recent internal review of faculty employment contracts at College of the North Atlantic’s (CNA) Qatar campus revealed that some instructors were earning more than the individual maximum permitted under the comprehensive agreement. Because management fees are charged to the State of Qatar based on a percentage of total salaries, these higher than normal contracts caused the calculations for the management fee to be inflated. As a result, the college overpaid some employees approximately $3.5 million, which resulted in a management fee overcharge of approximately $1.5 million to the State of Qatar.
The college’s Board of Governors Chair, Terry Styles, says the college acknowledges there was a mistake in calculating salaries.
“When the college noticed the inconsistencies, the information was brought to our Qatari partners and to the Department of Education. We are now moving forward by ensuring that future contracts are in line with approved salary scales,” explains Styles, noting work is being done to address the overpayment issue.
“We acknowledge there was a mistake made in the interpretation of the comprehensive agreement and support the external review process being implemented by the Department of Education," says Mr. Styles. "This review process will give us a full understanding of how this was able to occur and identify the scope of the errors. We have put in place processes to prevent a future occurrence and this review will also help confirm for us that the actions we have taken are the right ones. The board looks forward to receiving the external review report."
The campus in Qatar employs approximately 400 faculty. About half of that number, 200, have new contracts being signed this year.
“Legally, morally, and ethically we have a responsibility to make this right,” states Styles. “We are committed to working with employees as we move to rectify these errors and I am hopeful most of them will decide to remain a part of the CNA-Q family.”
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Media Contact:
Roger Hulan
Communications Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
(709) 643-7938
roger.hulan@cna.nl.ca