An article in the Daily Egyptian says documents show Chancellor Carlo Montemagno's daughter and son-in-law were hired for university jobs created for them that they never formally applied for and that were never advertised.
Montemagno's daughter, Melissa Germain, and her husband, Jeffrey, began working in newly created positions soon after the chancellor's hiring.
SIU-Carbondale spokesperson Rae Goldsmith says Chancellor Montemagno worked out a verbal commitment over the hiring of the two family members with SIU President Randy Dunn during Montemagno's contract negotiations.
"In the case of one family member, who had some relevant skills in communications, we did put that person in a position in the University Communications office and we placed that person in the position directly. In the case of the other family member, that person is in a temporary, what we call extra help position, and those positions are typically filled the way they were filled."
She says this happens quite a bit.
"It's not unusual when you're working to attract senior faculty as well as deans and administrators for individuals to ask for potential opportunities for partners and spouses. It's a little more unusual when you're talking about other family members. But, the principle itself is fairly common."
Goldsmith says Melissa Germain is doing the job she was hired to do.
"She is working on a strategic plan to help us better promote the arts and she is actively promoting the arts. She was a good find for us. She has not only experience in higher education communications, but she also has a great social media background which will be an asset as we get the plan moving."
Germain's husband, Jeffrey, is working in a temporary position under interim Vice Chancellor for Research Jim Garvey. University data show Germain's rate of 45-dollars an hour is about twice as much as for other extra help positions on campus. Goldsmith says rates for extra help positions are determined by the supervisor.
"They typically have quite a bit of latitude. In this case, I suspect the supervisor set the rate based on the qualifications."
