The Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education announced Friday that Karen Buffkin, the General Counsel of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, has been placed on administrative leave.

Buffkin's leave comes amid a sexual harassment scandal involving the system's former chancellor, Dr. John Maduko.

An employee claims Maduko sent her two years' worth of explicit messages and has accused Buffkin of dismissing her complaints against him.

An outside firm has been hired to conduct an investigation into the Maduko allegations. It's expected to be completed within a month.