UMKC suspends professor after Star report
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The University of Missouri-Kansas City has suspended a School of Pharmacy professor with pay over allegations that he exploited foreign graduate students.
The suspension of Ashim Mitra followed a report in the Kansas City Star on Sunday revealing allegations that he coerced students to perform personal favors, including watching his dog and acting as waiters and busboys. Mitra has denied any wrongdoing.
The Star report said Mitra, an Indian immigrant, made the demands exclusively of Ph.D. candidates from India who were in the U.S. on student visas.
UMKC Chancellor Mauli Agrawal says the message of the suspension is that students "are our most important asset.