Wright State University near Dayton says foreign worker visa use investigated

FAIRBORN, Ohio (AP) — A state university in southwest Ohio says its foreign-worker visa program is under federal investigation.

Wright State University near Dayton says it also has disciplined three high-level administrators, including its provost, in connection with the investigation.

School officials say in a statement that they were informed earlier this year of “credible evidence” that not every employee sponsored by the school under H-1B work visas sometime between two and five years ago was actually working for the school. Federal H-1B visas are for foreign workers in specialty occupations.

The university could face suspension of its ability to sponsor the visas, as well as fines and legal fees.

The school says it is cooperating with federal investigators who are trying to determine whether criminal statutes were violated.