When a college announces an internal audit—especially one tied to a high-level administrator’s departure—it naturally raises questions. People want to know if their institution is financially sound, if their tax dollars and tuition dollars are being used responsibly, and whether leadership is on top of the situation. At Amarillo College (AC), those questions have grown louder in recent weeks following the administrative leave and later resignation of Chris Sharp, the former vice president of business affairs.
While the investigation remains ongoing, we actually know quite a bit about what triggered the audit, how AC leadership is responding, and what steps are being taken to steady financial oversight moving forward. With all of that in mind, here’s a clear, common-sense breakdown of what has happened so far and what it means for AC’s future.
A Sudden Administrative Leave—and a Delayed Public Announcement
The situation began on Oct. 3, when Chris Sharp was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation related to financial procedures. AC President Dr. Jamelle Conner confirmed this after Tuesday’s Board of Regents meeting, noting that Sharp had been placed on paid administrative leave. In an interview, she explained that she began noticing issues while digging into the budget as part of building a new strategic plan for the college.
“There were some things that raised a little bit of concern, and that was, at that time, why [Sharp] was placed on administrative leave,” Conner said.
What exactly those concerns were remains undisclosed. Conner emphasized that because the audit is still in progress, she did not want to comment on details she had uncovered. She also acknowledged the gap between Sharp’s leave on Oct. 3 and the college publicly announcing the matter on Nov. 12, explaining that she was trying to “get information right” while simultaneously stabilizing the finance department and completing her strategic plan.
On Nov. 11, AC faculty and staff received an email stating: “Chris Sharp has submitted his resignation and will be pursuing other employment opportunities… Please join me in wishing Chris well in his future endeavors.” The next day, the college confirmed his resignation publicly, and also confirmed that it had launched an independent audit.
AC Finances: Leaders Say the College Is Stable
One of the biggest community concerns in any financial investigation is whether the institution’s money is safe. On this point, AC has been consistent: the college says it has seen no direct loss of funds.
“No AC funding has been lost or misplaced as of now,” Conner said, while also reminding the public that “we’re waiting to see what comes out of this review.”
AC’s Nov. 12 news release also stated clearly: “The College’s finances are stable.”
The audit itself is expected to take about three months, and it will be significant in scope. It will review multiple years of financial data, along with any related complaints or discrepancies tied to Sharp’s tenure. Independent, multi-year audits tend to be thorough, and AC appears to be preparing for that level of scrutiny.
Shifts Inside the Finance Department
Sharp’s departure was not the only change in AC’s finance area. The college is part of TexPool, a local government investment pool, and the board had to appoint a new authorized representative after a separate finance employee resigned. Importantly, Conner said that resignation “wasn’t something that I’m aware of that had anything to do with [the audit or Sharp’s resignation].”
In the meantime, Conner reassigned parts of Sharp’s responsibilities to other AC cabinet members—an interim solution as the college stabilizes its financial operations.
The Question of Reserves: A Regent Voices Concern
One of the more eye-opening revelations from the board meeting involved AC’s financial reserves. Regent Johnny Mize noted that the reserves appeared to have dropped significantly over the last few years:
“For the first time in many, many months, we did get a new report on reserves … It appears to me, based upon what was presented, we had moved from – in ‘23 we had $22 million and then in ‘24 we had $8.3 million, and ‘25 we had $8.1 million.”
Mize said this was “news” to him and that he could not recall reserve use being presented to the board in the past. However, he also pointed out that some of this occurred before Conner became president. His comments underscored why the audit’s findings will be important for both the board and the public.
Conner also highlighted that several budget categories regularly exceeded their projected costs, resulting in the use of reserve funds. She suggested adjusting those budget lines upward to prevent continuing to dip into reserves. Conversely, she also identified areas where funding cuts or reductions could be made.
During the meeting, board members discussed establishing an approval process for any use of reserves not already included in the annual budget—another sign that the college is tightening oversight.
A New Line of Credit and Cash-Flow Realities
Another element that has drawn attention is a $5 million line of credit approved by the board at an Oct. 9 special meeting. Conner explained that this move was not unusual, describing it as a response to “what tends to happen” in AC’s cash flows and noting that it stemmed from common financial practice.
Lines of credit for public institutions can function like a safety net, helping them manage timing gaps between revenues and expenses. Still, the timing—and the broader audit context—naturally raises questions the public hopes the audit will address.
Strategic Planning and New Transparency Measures
Despite the turmoil, Conner presented her new strategic plan to the board, which included updated mission and vision statements (not yet finalized) and a detailed financial analysis comparing September results with previous years and next year’s projections.
Perhaps the most important step toward rebuilding trust is AC’s new push for financial transparency. Conner announced that the college will now publish a monthly financial report for the public, which will also be approved by the board each month.
“I think tonight, what I presented really speaks to the state of where we are financially: that the college is okay, we’re stable, we’re fine, we’re still moving forward,” Conner said. She added that nothing currently being considered will harm AC’s ability to serve students or the community.
The Big Picture: Stabilizing Today While Preparing for Tomorrow
Financial investigations can shake public confidence, especially in institutions as central to a community as a college. But audits also offer something critical: clarity. They allow organizations to reset, establish better systems, and prevent future issues.
Everything AC has shared so far suggests that leadership is trying to take that path. Conner’s decision to initiate an independent audit, reassess the budget, present new reserve-use protocols, and launch monthly reporting all point toward a culture shift aimed at strengthening oversight.
The community will have to wait for the audit’s conclusions, but in the meantime, Amarillo College is attempting to show that it is aware of the issues and willing to do the work required to address them.
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