[media-credit name=’University photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]With the fall semester starting in a matter of days, the University of Wisconsin announced Tuesday that the investigation into the controversy that has engulfed the school throughout the summer is complete.

Attorney Susan Steingass delivered her report on events surrounding the seven-month paid leave granted to Paul Barrows, former UW vice chancellor for student affairs, to UW System President Kevin Reilly and UW-Madison Provost Peter Spear late Tuesday afternoon, according to a university release.

The two officials will “review the report and make decisions on an appropriate course of action” before releasing the document publicly, according to the release. Reilly and Spear hope to complete the review and release the report by Sept. 23.

The Steingass probe is believed to contain specific details concerning Barrows’ leave and the nature of one or more relationships the beleaguered administrator may have engaged in with students. The report will also address whether the university properly applied its own policies in the matter.

Barrows first left the university for unexplained reasons in November. With his departure, UW decided to eliminate his position of vice chancellor for student affairs.

Barrows returned to the university June 20, but controversy immediately swirled when it was revealed he received his full salary of $191,749 during the seven-month leave by redeeming vacation and sick-leave time he had accumulated. He received the money despite applying for positions at other universities during that time.

UW Chancellor John Wiley then announced Barrows’ departure was precipitated by a failed relationship between Barrows and a graduate student, and that the former vice chancellor would be appointed to a back-up position at a reduced salary. Wiley later suspended the back-up position and put Barrows on a second period of leave, which he remains on today.

News of the Barrows scandal and UW’s practice of granting employees back-up positions sparked outrage from Gov. Jim Doyle and the state Legislature. The university subsequently announced Steingass would lead an investigation into the Barrows matter.

Before the Steingass report and related documents are publicly released, all individuals named in the findings must be notified as per state public-record laws. The individuals then have 10 business days to respond with any legal complaints concerning the documents’ release.

Concerns that the report by Steingass, a UW law professor, is not independent from the university — along with the revelation that several UW faculty members have remained on the university’s payroll despite being convicted of felonies this summer — prompted state legislators to request a separate audit of UW employment practices in August.

Reilly agreed to the demands for an outside audit last week.

The university refused to comment on the Steingass investigation until the report is made public.

A call left with Barrows was not returned.