School of Art & Design Prof. Francis Nunoo-Quarcoo has pled guilty to stealing thousands of dollars from his former employer — the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

Nunoo-Quarcoo, the former director of the Visual Arts Department at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) stole $9,800 from the school at the Circuit Court for Baltimore County, Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced in a Dec. 21 press release.

Nunoo-Quarcoo’s fabrication of invoices was exposed following an inquiry made into Main Street Oriental Rugs in Ellicott City, Md. The invoices stated that repairs were made on UMBC’s silk screening equipment, when in reality Nunoo-Quarcoo bought oriental rugs to furnish his home in Catonsville, Md.

As the director of Visual Arts at UMBC, Nunoo-Quarcoo had the authority to approve these transactions himself.

“The case was prosecuted by the Attorney General's Criminal Division following a joint investigation with the Maryland State Police and the UMBC Police Force,” the press release states.

Nunoo-Quarcoo currently teaches Art & Design 121 at the University, a studio class that focuses on clay work. According to a Sept. 28, 2009 article in the University Record Online, he received tenure effective Sept. 1, 2009.

University spokesman Rick Fitzgerald said the University doesn’t comment on specific personnel matters when asked about Nunoo-Quarcoo’s future as a School of Art & Design professor.

“What we find more meaningful is that each set of circumstances really is unique and each situation is kind of looked at really carefully on a case-by-case basis and reviewed individually.” Fitzgerald said.

He added that Nunoo-Quarcoo told him that he declined to comment, saying he had nothing to add beyond what was already a part of “the public record."

Nunoo-Quarcoo didn’t respond to multiple direct inquiries from The Michigan Daily.

His sentencing is scheduled to take place on May 25, according to the Maryland Attorney General press release.

Fitzgerald said the University has a set standard that is expected of its employees.

“There is also a standard practice guide that all employees, faculty and staff are obligated to acknowledge and to be aware of and to follow that really outlines kind of the financial responsibilities of the employee,” Fitzgerald said.

The University’s Standard Practice Guide includes the “five guiding principles for financial controls” and “essential department level requirements for financial controls” for employees.

According to the guide, “it is the responsibility of every faculty and staff member who are involved in any financial activity on behalf of the University to be fiscally responsible and to exercise appropriate financial controls, as outlined in this document and as is relevant to their role.”