On October 1, 2002, a noncompetitive contract was devised with Dr. Charles Gervase, whom Shumaker had known since his days as president of Central Connecticut State College where Gervase was dean of the College of Education. Gervase had helped to develop an international program in Siracusa, Sicily. Shumaker had been able, with Gervase’s help, to transfer that program to the University of Louisville and hoped to establish a similar program at UT. Gervase was to be special consultant to the president for Italian affairs from October 1, 2002, until June 30, 2003. The contract was approved by Purchasing, entered into the contract tracking system on October 24, and sent to the President’s Office to obtain Gervase’s signature. The contract was not returned, fully executed, to the Treasurer’s Office until April 15, 2003, and the Treasurer’s Office made no payments until the contract was fully executed. The total payments to Gervase were $11,550.
Several initiatives with Siracusa were implemented, including an Honors Course offered in Sicily and a three-day seminar on diabetes conducted in Sicily by faculty from UT, Memphis. Gervase’s contract expired June 30, 2003, and it was Vice President Scheurer’s decision whether to renew. Scheurer placed the contract on hold. The Special Review of the President’s Office conducted by UT’s Audit and Consulting Services and issued on August 15, 2003, pointed to the need to ensure that contracts are fully executed before the contract period begins.