Thompson Rivers University

(BRENDAN KERGIN / iNFOnews.ca)

An independent workplace investigation into last year’s allegations of misconduct involving two senior Thompson Rivers University administrators is complete.

The investigator’s report was delivered to a sub-committee of the university’s Board of Governors on Dec. 21, 2022.

“The report is currently being reviewed by outside counsel to determine what portions of the report TRU may be able to share," said university spokesperson Michelle Nordstrom in an email. “Once those review processes are complete and all parties have been properly informed of findings, it is likely that TRU will be able to share some portions of the report.”

It’s expected that release could happen later this month.

Larry Phillips and Matt Milovick were accused by current and former staff and faculty members of anti-Indigenous racism and bullying behaviour in November, 2021. Phillips is the former assistant vice-president of people and culture at the university, and Matt Milovick is the university’s vice-president of finance and administration.

The allegations against Philips include sexual harassment.

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After the allegations against Phillips and Milovick were received through an anonymous email, an independent sub-committee was established by the university to investigate, according to a media release from TRU on Nov. 24, 2021.

The sub-committee has been investigating the matter with the guidance of an independent investigator, as well as an independent Indigenous investigator, along with legal counsel, the university said in the release.

“At this time, these allegations need to be proven, confirmed and substantiated,” said Marilyn McLean, chair of the Board of Governors, in the Nov. 2021 release. ”Until such time as the investigation is complete and the findings and recommendations are made, it would be unfair and unjust for any action to be taken against these individuals.”

March 2022 was the initial estimate provided by the investigators to complete the work but took longer for a number of reasons during the thorough investigation process, including timeline extensions for the complainants in September and October of 2021, according to the university’s investigation timeline.

The process was delayed in June 2022 when one of the two lead investigators was appointed as a provincial court judge and had to be replaced with another investigator the following month. 

READ MORE: Silent march held to pressure TRU to suspend administrators accused of harassment

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