Dolores Cross
Encyclopedia
Dolores Cross is an educator and university administrator who became the first female president of Chicago State University
(1990) and Morris Brown College
(MBC) (1998–2002). In 2006, she pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement
in connection with the misapplication of federal funds provided to MBC.
. After receiving her Bachelor of Science
in Education from Seton Hall University
in 1963, Cross obtained her Master of Science
in education from Hofstra University
and later received a Ph.D.
from the University of Michigan
in 1971.
, serving as the president of the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation and later becoming the first female president of Chicago State University
in 1990. President Bill Clinton
appointed Cross to the steering committee for his America Reads initiative. She was elected vice-chair of the American Association of Higher Education and has received eight honorary degree
s from various universities. Cross moved from the presidency of Chicago State in 1997 to the presidency of the GE Fund, a non-profit wing of General Electric
. Shortly after that, she accepted the position as the first female president of Morris Brown College.
While she was President, Morris Brown College allegedly obtained $3.4 million in federally insured student loans and Pell grant
s in the names of ineligible students, including some who never attended the college, some who were enrolled part time and others who had already left. It is unclear how the money was used, although it is believed they were acquired to pay the school's already existing debts.
As with all such loans, the responsibility for paying back the loans fell on the students. Due to its ongoing financial issues, the school eventually lost its accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
. After the loss of accreditation, MBC students became ineligible for many government grants and loans. The school nearly closed in 2003 as its enrollment dropped.
In May 2006, Cross pleaded guilty to a charge of embezzlement
stemming from her time at the college. Federal prosecutors dismissed 27 other charges against her in exchange for her plea.
On January 3, 2007, Cross was sentenced to five years of probation and a year of home confinement for her role in fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars in federal student aid for the college. In addition, the college’s financial-aid director at the time the fraud was committed was also sentenced, to five years of probation and 18 months of home confinement. The light sentence, which prosecutors and her lawyers agreed on, was based on her age, her health, and the fact that she did not profit personally from the crime.
Chicago State University
Chicago State University is a state university of the U.S. state of Illinois, located in Chicago.-History:Cook County Normal School was founded in 1867, largely through the initiative of John F. Eberhart, the Commissioner of Schools for Cook County...
(1990) and Morris Brown College
Morris Brown College
Morris Brown College is a private, coed, liberal arts college located in the Vine City community of Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It is a historically black college affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church...
(MBC) (1998–2002). In 2006, she pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted....
in connection with the misapplication of federal funds provided to MBC.
Early life
Dolores Cross was born in Newark, New JerseyNewark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. After receiving her Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Education from Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University is a private Roman Catholic university in South Orange, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1856 by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley, Seton Hall is the oldest diocesan university in the United States. Seton Hall is also the oldest and largest Catholic university in the...
in 1963, Cross obtained her Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in education from Hofstra University
Hofstra University
Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
and later received a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1971.
Career
Cross is a successful professor and university administrator, teaching at Claremont University, becoming vice chancellor for student affairs at City University of New YorkCity University of New York
The City University of New York is the public university system of New York City, with its administrative offices in Yorkville in Manhattan. It is the largest urban university in the United States, consisting of 23 institutions: 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E...
, serving as the president of the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation and later becoming the first female president of Chicago State University
Chicago State University
Chicago State University is a state university of the U.S. state of Illinois, located in Chicago.-History:Cook County Normal School was founded in 1867, largely through the initiative of John F. Eberhart, the Commissioner of Schools for Cook County...
in 1990. President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
appointed Cross to the steering committee for his America Reads initiative. She was elected vice-chair of the American Association of Higher Education and has received eight honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
s from various universities. Cross moved from the presidency of Chicago State in 1997 to the presidency of the GE Fund, a non-profit wing of General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
. Shortly after that, she accepted the position as the first female president of Morris Brown College.
Morris Brown College tenure
When Cross arrived at Morris Brown College, it was financially troubled. During her tenure, she worked to increase the academic standards of the college and to address its formidable financial issues.While she was President, Morris Brown College allegedly obtained $3.4 million in federally insured student loans and Pell grant
Pell Grant
A Pell Grant is money the federal government provides for students who need it to pay for college. Federal Pell Grants are limited to students with financial need, who have not earned their first bachelor's degree or who are not enrolled in certain post-baccalaureate programs, through participating...
s in the names of ineligible students, including some who never attended the college, some who were enrolled part time and others who had already left. It is unclear how the money was used, although it is believed they were acquired to pay the school's already existing debts.
As with all such loans, the responsibility for paying back the loans fell on the students. Due to its ongoing financial issues, the school eventually lost its accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...
. After the loss of accreditation, MBC students became ineligible for many government grants and loans. The school nearly closed in 2003 as its enrollment dropped.
In May 2006, Cross pleaded guilty to a charge of embezzlement
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted....
stemming from her time at the college. Federal prosecutors dismissed 27 other charges against her in exchange for her plea.
On January 3, 2007, Cross was sentenced to five years of probation and a year of home confinement for her role in fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars in federal student aid for the college. In addition, the college’s financial-aid director at the time the fraud was committed was also sentenced, to five years of probation and 18 months of home confinement. The light sentence, which prosecutors and her lawyers agreed on, was based on her age, her health, and the fact that she did not profit personally from the crime.