State Ethics Commission has resolved an investigation of Corrin Suzanne Mulcahy for alleged violations of the State Ethics Code

Hawai'i State Ethics Commission, Resolution of Investigation 1-2018, January 18, 2018

(Editor’s Note: If the Ethics Comm takes down all the state and county employees who are doing UH school work on the taxpayers dime, we would probably cut UH enrollment 20%.  I suggest starting with every state and county employee at UH Richardson School of Law.)

The Hawai'i State Ethics Commission ("Commission") has resolved an investigation of Corrin Suzanne Mulcahy ("Respondent Mulcahy") for alleged violations of the State Ethics Code, Hawai'i Revised Statutes ("HRS") Chapter 84.

I. Facts

Respondent Mulcahy admitted the following facts:

a. Respondent Mulcahy, at all times relevant herein, was employed by the Department of Education ("DOE") as the Assistant Superintendent of the Office of Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Support ("OCISS").

b. Respondent Mulcahy, at all times relevant herein, was a state employee as defined in HRS § 84-3. As a state employee, Respondent Mulcahy is required to comply with the State Ethics Code.

c. Respondent Mulcahy, at all times relevant herein, was pursuing a doctorate in education at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. Her dissertation topic concerned homeless children in the DOE and the implementation of the McKinney-Vente Homeless Assistance Act ("MVA") in Hawai'i public schools.

d. According to policy and practice, all educational research and data requests involving the use of DOE students, personnel, or DOE data must be reviewed and approved by the Data Governance and Analysis ("DGA") Branch in order to use such information for external purposes.

e. As the Assistant Superintendent of OCISS, Respondent Mulcahy used DOE personnel and other departmental resources to conduct research for her Ph.D. dissertation without obtaining approval from DGA's Internal Review Board.

f. Respondent Mulcahy used DOE staff to design and conduct an on-line survey of homeless community liaisons with the Homeless Concerns Office (which falls under OCISS and her management authority), and interviewed multiple DOE staff.

g. Respondent Mulcahy then used this and other confidential and/or non-public information in her dissertation without obtaining DGA approval or the written consent of the participants….  

Based on the circumstances in this case, the Commission believes that, it is reasonable, fair, and in the public interest to resolve this investigation by: (1) issuing this Resolution of Investigation, and (2) requiring Respondent Mulcahy to pay an administrative penalty of $1,500 to the State of Hawaii. …

read … Full Report

PDF: Resolution of Investigation 1-2018

PDF: Settlement Agreement

CB: DOE Official Fined For Using State Resources On Her Doctoral Work  

SA: DOE official fined $1,500 for using state resources