BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Western Washington University’s former top auditor won a huge award after a jury found she was retaliated against over her investigation into a “ghost courses” scheme.

Antonia Allen filed a lawsuit against the university in 2020, claiming she was fired in violation of the Washington State Employee Whistleblower Act.

Allen was hired as Director of the Office of the Internal Auditor in January 2017 and says her job was to “provide independent, objective assurance” to help improve and protect the university. She launched an investigation into the alleged “ghost courses” in November 2018 after receiving a complaint from the registrar.

Her investigation found that the Woodring School of Education had offered courses that didn’t exist to some students so their credit load would keep them eligible for full financial aid. Allen took her findings directly to the U.S. Department of Education and was told the violation could bring civil and criminal penalties, including disenrollment from the Title IX program.

University officials urged her to edit her report and remove the term “financial fraud,” which she refused to do.

President Sabah Randhawa then terminated Allen in the fall of 2019.

On May 14, 2024, a Whatcom Superior Court jury found the school had illegally retaliated against her and awarded her nearly $1.5 million in front and back pay and $1.5 million for emotional harm.