U-M hires project manager to follow up on internal audit of 6-month child porn reporting lapse

Fred White Jr., a retired senior auditor at U-M, also will serve as a liaison for the external review of the lapse ordered by the Board of Regents in February.

U-M President Mary Sue Coleman said the university is making “progress” on the “directive to engage in a external review,” but did not say whether the university has chosen a panel or firm for the review.

Coleman made the announcement during a Thursday Board of Regents meeting.

In May, a medical resident at University Hospital discovered a thumb drive containing child pornography in an employee area. Although the resident reported the pornography to hospital security and at least eight people knew of it by June, including university lawyers, the thumb drive and its contents were not reported until November. Former pediatric resident Stephen Jenson has since been federally charged with possessing child pornography.

The university conducted an internal review of the reporting lapse and released a report in February. The review calls for improving communication between hospital security and the university's Department of Public Safety, including defining reportable criminal activity. It also suggests considering a DPS liaison office within the health system.