In its review of 1,800 documents regarding University of Illinois admissions, the Chicago Tribune found only 14 e-mails going to or from UC Davis Chancellor-designate Linda Katehi in connection with a so-called clout list. “However,” the newspaper reported today (June 19), “records do not suggest that she overruled any admissions decision, pushed for subpar applicants or played a key role in the shadow system.”

Indeed, Katehi has repeatedly and strongly denied knowing about the alleged influence-peddling that has become the subject of a state inquiry. U of I President B. Joseph White, in a June 16 e-mail to UC President Mark G. Yudof, agreed that Katehi “had no involvement.”

On June 17, the San Francisco Chronicle quoted Yudof as saying: “I have 100 percent confidence in her.”

He said much the same thing in a June 18 statement, adding: “Dr. Katehi was not mentioned in the Tribune report and she is not on the witness list (for the state inquiry). In addition, I have spoken to Dr. Katehi directly and have been in communication with President White at the University of Illinois and have received assurances from both that she had nothing to do with the questionable admissions.”

The UC Board of Regents voted May 7 to appoint Katehi as UC Davis chancellor, effective Aug. 17, succeeding Larry Vanderhoef, who is stepping down after 15 years.

“Of course we are aware of the allegations in the Chicago Tribune about the University of Illinois admissions process," Yudof said June 18, "and we are aware of the state investigation that has been opened in response to that report. But we have seen nothing to persuade us that we should open our own investigation at this point.”

The Tribune series, “Clout Goes to College,” began May 29. It delves into the Urbana-Champaign campus’s “Category I” admissions list — hundreds of names put forth by legislators, university trustees and others. The alleged shadow system led to the admission of some applicants with “subpar” academic records, according to the Tribune.

Today’s Tribune reported that Katehi had been copied “on at least 14 Category I-related e-mails over the last five years, and her name appears on a spreadsheet of offices inquiring about clouted students.” (The “five-year” reference apparently refers to the time frame for the 1,800 documents that the Tribune obtained for its investigation; Katehi has been at the University of Illinois only since 2006.)

Until today, Katehi’s name had not appeared in any of the Tribune’s coverage, though as provost she is in charge of admissions.

“I do not believe that Provost’s Katehi name has appeared in the press for the simple reason that she had no involvement in admissions cases that are fueling the controversy,” White wrote in his June 16 e-mail to Yudof.

Late last week, Katehi sent an e-mail to UC Davis’ Fred Wood, vice chancellor of Student Affairs, saying: “In my position as provost at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, I do have responsibility for student admissions. However, I want to be clear to you and others at UC Davis that I was not involved in the admissions decisions that were the subject of the Tribune’s ‘Clout Goes to College’ investigation.

“Because of the governmental relations aspect and the involvement of University of Illinois System trustees, the so-called ‘Category I’ admissions process was not part of the regular admissions system and was handled at a higher level in the institution.”

President White backed her up in his e-mail to Yudof: “What I want you to know is that Provost Katehi, to my knowledge, was and is not involved in this controversy. The reason is that the chancellor handled these matters directly with the admissions director and, in some cases, deans.”

The Tribune reported that U of I documents show that Urbana-Champaign Chancellor Richard Herman and an associate provost, Keith Marshall, handled the Category I admissions.

Marshall, in charge of enrollment management, testified before the state’s new Admissions Review Commission on June 16, telling the panel that he had “a fair amount of disdain for the process,” the Tribune reported.

The newspaper further stated that Marshall described himself as a paper-pusher who was following directions from above. “I take my instructions from Chancellor Herman,” he said several times, according to the Tribune.

On the same day of Marshall’s testimony, Katehi told the San Francisco Chronicle: “It is unusual for somebody to go down a few levels and be involved in admissions, but that’s what happened here. I was not informed.”

Earlier this week, Katehi told The Sacramento Bee that she would have questioned the special admissions process had she known about it. She further stated that the state commission had not called her to testify, nor had the chancellor questioned her.

In her e-mail to Vice Chancellor Wood, the chancellor-designate said she is pleased to know that the UC system and UC Davis have “a well-established process that does not allow for special categories outside of what is defined by the campus admissions process.”

Pam Burnett, director of Undergraduate Admissions, outlined the policy for The Sacramento Bee, explaining that UC policy forbids admissions “motivated by concern for a financial, political or other such benefit to the university.”

Katehi told Wood: “I am fully supportive of a transparent admissions process.”

“In my role as chancellor, I am looking forward to working with you and supporting your efforts to bring the best students to the UC Davis campus in ways consistent with the values of the University of California.”

U of I President White, in his e-mail to Yudof, described Katehi as an outstanding leader, one whom the U of I is sad to be losing.

“I don’t know if the controversy in Illinois is creating a problem with Linda’s appointment at UC Davis,” White said. “It should not and I would be happy to tell anyone what I am telling you.”