Plans to shift Ohio State’s current compliance program to a university-wide department are under way.

The Board of Trustees met Monday to discuss the timeline of events that could lead to the implementation of a centralized compliance program.

The project, which stemmed from an investigation of the football program, athletic department and athletic compliance division, will attempt to centralize compliance in three areas of the university: athletics compliance, research compliance and compliance at the Ohio State University Medical Center.

Board member Geoffrey Chatas, chief financial officer at OSU, said Monday’s meeting was a public session to inform about a future meeting where more information will be shared.

“It was an update on the timetable of compliance. Our consultants told the committee that they are on time,” Chatas said. “They would have a full report to the committee on Feb. 9.”

Chatas said the majority of the work from the consultant, Protiviti, a business-consulting firm in Menlo Park, Calif., has been complete.

“They have completed the bulk of their work. They are looking at benchmarking a lot of institutions, both universities and companies,” Chatas said. “They are looking at what we’re doing and making recommendations about the steps forward.”

Chatas said the next Audit and Compliance Committee meeting will be more telling of what to expect down the road.

“On Feb. 9, the consultants will be making a formal recommendation to the committee for structural changes, as well as findings.” Chatas said.

Chatas said after the recommendation from the consultant, the Audit and Compliance Committee and the Board of Trustees will vote on the plan.

“If they approve it, the implementation will come after that.” Chatas said.

Chatas said that during the meeting, the chair of the Audit and Compliance Committee, Robert Schottenstein, indicated the direction is a centralized compliance effort.

“That has not changed,” Chatas said.

At that committee meeting in November 2011, Schottenstein said the goals of the university, in relation to compliance, are clear.

“This grew out of a crisis that sprung within our athletic department that raised questions about the university’s approach to compliance,” Schottenstein said. “It made us take a hard look into ways we can improve. We can use this as an opportunity to get better.”

OSU’s major compliance problems began late last year with the suspension of six football players for their dealings with local tattoo parlor owner, Edward Rife. Several players were involved in the trade of memorabilia for cash and tattoos.

Former coach Jim Tressel knew of the violations in April 2010, but did not disclose the information to university officials.

Tressel resigned from his position as football coach on May 30.