Probe of Cal Poly Pomona Chief Widens : Education: Chancellor’s office investigation focuses on housing allowance that Bob Suzuki accepted even after on-campus residence was refurbished.

The chancellor’s office of the California State University system on Monday expanded a probe of Cal Poly Pomona President Bob Suzuki to include an off-campus housing allowance that Suzuki collected for almost a year after his on-campus residence was refurbished.

The Times reported Sunday that Suzuki received a $1,000-a-month allowance for 10 months after more than $60,000 worth of repairs were completed on the university’s Manor House--despite an agreement with the state that said the payments were to stop once the repairs were completed.

He collected the allowance through July, even though he moved full time into the campus house in early spring.

In a prepared statement Monday, Suzuki said: “I categorically reject any suggestion of wrongdoing or any inappropriate use of resources. I am confident that the current chancellor’s office review will serve to substantiate that I have acted appropriately.”

Suzuki said he had held off moving into Manor House because he hoped money for further refurbishing could be raised through private sources. He said that when he realized this spring that the money could not be raised, he finally moved in.

In the prepared statement, he also said he agreed from the outset to accept the allowance for no more than two years and that his agreement included an understanding that repairs would take two or three years. Suzuki also said the money was placed in a special account that paid for items such as furniture and other operating expenses.

Cal Poly Pomona has been the subject of a probe by the chancellor’s office since The Times reported in May that Suzuki hired a friend who spent tens of thousands of dollars promoting the university in Asia and recruiting Asian students for Cal Poly’s continuing education department.

Cal State system spokesman Steve MacCarthy said he did not have details on what the probe into the housing allowances would encompass.

Housing allowances are common for Cal State presidents who live off campus. Three of the 20 presidents live in official on-campus residences, three live in homes off campus that are owned by the university, and the others receive a housing allowance. The system also provides a house for Chancellor Barry Munitz.

The official residence at Cal Poly had been empty for at least 14 years and needed numerous repairs. Cal Poly spent almost $30,000 in state funds making those repairs, which were completed last September and included removing carpeting and refinishing hardwood floors. Suzuki also used $32,000 that was set aside by the Cal Poly Foundation to do additional repairs and buy four Persian rugs for $20,000.

Suzuki said the plumbing still does not work properly and the house still needs other items, such as drapes for second-floor windows.