September 17, 2026
Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,
Today, Connecticut State Colleges and Universities released the findings and recommendations from Grand River Solutions (GRS), the independent firm selected to complete a comprehensive review of the system's response to the matter involving the former interim chancellor, Dr. John Maduko.
The report is available here.
Please note that this report contains information that may be upsetting to members of our community.
The independent review released by CSCU identifies serious concerns that arose during Dr. Maduko's tenure as both interim chancellor and President of CT State, including gaps in how some concerns were documented, shared, and escalated, as well as employee concerns about confidentiality and retaliation.
I recognize the troubling nature of the findings outlined in the report, notably the CT State-specific findings, and we are taking them seriously. Although these events preceded my presidency, acknowledging and addressing their institutional consequences is now my responsibility. Anyone who raises a concern must be able to trust that it will be handled appropriately, only shared with those who need the information, and addressed without fear of retaliation.
In coordination with the CSCU System Office and Compliance Office, we are reviewing our records and access controls to understand how sensitive information is maintained and shared. We are also evaluating our reporting and escalation procedures to ensure concerns reach the appropriate offices and determining what additional review or response is required regarding the confidentiality and retaliation concerns described in the report. We will also reinforce for every employee where concerns can be reported, the protections against retaliation, and the responsibilities associated with handling sensitive information.
The review did not make factual findings on the underlying allegations against Dr. Maduko, and we will not speculate about individual matters or personnel outcomes. Our responsibility is to act on what the review tells us about the institution: concerns must be documented, routed appropriately, protected, and addressed. Our employees and students must be able to trust those processes. That is the standard we must work to meet.
As I shared earlier this semester, we are establishing the Office of Institutional Integrity and Compliance, which will play a central role in advancing this work and strengthening accountability across CT State. The office will help enforce applicable policies and further educate our college community about how concerns should be reported, reviewed, escalated, and addressed, as well as the related confidentiality and anti-retaliation protections and the responsibilities we all share in upholding them.
If you have experienced or witnessed harassment or discriminatory behavior, you may report it directly to CT State's Office of Equity and Civil Rights through this online reporting form.
We recognize that the report and the matters it addresses may be difficult for members of our community. CT State employees may contact our employee assistance program partner, The Lexington Group, at 1-800-676-HELP (4357) for free, confidential support available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for both personal and work-related issues.
Moving forward, we are most certainly committed to fully understanding these findings, learning from them, and taking the actions necessary to strengthen CT State as a safe workplace and teaching and learning environment where every member of our community is treated with dignity, respect, and care.
Sincerely,
Christina Royal, Ph.D.
Interim President
