LOGAN — Utah State University recently spent nearly $325,000 to remodel the president’s office and Champ Hall, according to recently-obtained public records. The majority of those costs began in the final months before former President Elizabeth Cantwell left her post to become the next president of Washington State University.
President Cantwell speaks with university faculty and staff on campus
Cache Valley Daily requested several open records requests to look at the former president’s expenditures and travel during her short tenure over the past 1 ½ years.
Champ Hall Remodel
Purchase card records indicate a remodel of the president’s office and Champ Hall began around December 2024. The $284,880 remodel included more than $184,000 in furniture costs, more than $800 in mirrors, an improved bathroom complete with new plumbing, and a $750 bidet toilet. The remodeling project involved work from campus carpentry, electrical, and finish crews.
Security System installation at Champ Hall
Utah State University recently spent nearly $325,000 to remodel the president’s office and Champ Hall, according to public records. (Cimaron Neugebauer / Cache Valley Daily)
Before the remodel, back in April 2024, crews installed an access control security system at Champ Hall for nearly $40,000. The entrance of Champ Hall, an area of administrative offices on the west wing of Old Main which includes the president’s office, the provost, and USU Board of Trustees, now requires a keyless security badge for entry. As an added measure of security, scheduled appointments are also now required for any visitors.
USU said security upgrades were a result of an assessment of Old Main and Champ Hall that was conducted by the Department of Public Safety “several years ago.”
“The security upgrades are not connected to the workspace renovation to the president’s suite. It was approved by President Cantwell,” said a spokesperson with USU.
Travel and reimbursement records
In regards to travel during Cantwell’s brief 18 months leading USU, public records indicate Cantwell had a brand new 2023 Toyota Highlander, a nearly $30,000 four-seater GEM E4 street legal electric vehicle, and two Ford Fusions for regular transportation.
Fuel receipt records for Cantwell show consistent travel until Aug. 31, 2024, at which point the remaining fuel receipt records were heavily redacted by USU, with no explanation. Between September 2024 and February 2025 there were 43 receipts, with 37 redacted.
Travel reimbursements for out-of-state travel show Cantwell went on a weeklong trip in November 2024 for the purpose of “donor visit – fund raising” that included a four-day stay in Pullman, Wash., according to travel and reimbursement records.
On Nov. 6, Cantwell traveled from Logan to Seattle. She then stayed at a hotel in Pullman, Wash., four hours away from Seattle from Nov. 7 – 10. She then flew to Orlando, Fla. for a two-day annual land-grant university meeting, according to public records that indicate Cantwell was reimbursed for the trip.
Cantwell moves on to WSU
Washington State University would not comment on when Cantwell joined the search process, citing it was a confidential search and not made public.
However, WSU Board of Regents public meetings indicate semifinalists were interviewed in mid-November. By Jan. 24, the board approved extending an offer to “Candidate B.” On Feb. 6, in a special public meeting, WSU Board of Regents appointed “Candidate B” and announced Elizabeth Cantwell as the next president of WSU.
After her introduction, Cantwell stood behind a lectern addressing an audience, wearing a gray blazer, red dress and red and white sneakers.
“I do value transparency incredibly,” Cantwell told the crowd. “And that means every aspect of our community and our ability to communicate with one another.”
The Utah Board of Higher Education (UBHE) issued a statement on Feb. 6 — hours after Washington State University announced that Cantwell had been named its 12th president.
UBHE wished Cantwell the best, stating, “While the details are still being finalized, we expect that she will wrap up her time at USU in the next couple of months and assume her new role on April 1, 2025.”
A week later, UBHE appointed Al Smith as interim president of USU. He officially took over on Feb. 20, replacing Cantwell after her unexpected departure in the middle of the academic year and 1 1/2 years on the job.
Cantwell’s last day on payroll will be March 31, according to a spokesperson with the Utah System of Higher Education.
When asked whether Cantwell informed USU of her acceptance of another job at WSU before WSU’s public announcement on Feb. 6, a USU spokesperson responded:
“President Cantwell notified the USU community via email on Feb. 7.”
Ongoing Lawsuits attached to Cantwell
Despite moving onto WSU, Cantwell is still named as a defendant in an ongoing federal civil lawsuit filed by former deputy athletic director Jerry Bovee in February.
The lawsuit is one of three cases USU’s legal team is fighting ever since its surprise terminations in July 2024 of its head football coach, deputy athletic director, and two other athletic department staff members. The four were all dismissed by USU over alleged failures to report an April 2023 incident of domestic violence as required by USU policy. All have maintained no wrongdoing in reporting the situation. The largest financial lawsuit is a $15 million lawsuit against USU filed in November 2024 by former USU head football coach Blake Anderson.