MSU employee arrested for embezzlement

November 21, 2012

Collum

The business manager for Mississippi State University’s Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President was placed on administrative leave after she was arrested and charged with embezzlement Friday.
Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department arrested Beth Sykes Collum, 49, of 336 Sibley Road in Eupora, after she allegedly embezzled from the State of Mississippi Horse Show Association, an entity she served as state treasurer since 2008. She was released on a $10,000 bond.
Collum has held her post at MSU since September 2010. She has been employed with MSU since 2006.
She is listed on the MSU Office of the Provost website as being responsible for assisting with payroll processes and she “also serves as an approver of all Banner financial documents; works closely with the Director for Academic Fiscal Affairs in the preparation of budget transfers for funding requests.”
It is not clear as to how much money she is accused of stealing. Calls to OCSD investigators went unreturned as of press time.
MSU Director of University Relations Sid Salter said the university did not comment on the investigation because it involves an alleged off-campus incident. He did confirm the university placed Collum on leave pending completion of an internal investigation.
“The university strives at all times to make sure employees comply both with university policies and procedures and state law,” Salter said. “While there is no reason to believe this incident is in any way related to the university, an internal investigation is being conducted.”