A former employee of the University of Waterloo is facing charges in connection with allegations that he billed the school for personal trips.

Waterloo Regional Police announced Wednesday that Kenneth McGillivray is facing charges including fraud, forgery and breach of trust.

He is accused of submitting more than $12,000 worth of expense claims to the school for personal trips that police say he took “under false pretenses.”

McGillivray was hired in 2012 as the university’s vice-president of advancement, earning an annual salary of over $300,000.

He resigned from that position in May of 2015 and police say it was around that date the university contacted them.

"We were contacted by university officials that looked into a situation where some suspicious expense claims were submitted to them. They did an internal investigation and felt it necessary to contact us," said Acting Staff Sgt. Robert Cowan of the Major Fraud Unit of Waterloo Regional Police.

A university spokesperson says that the school “made the authorities aware of this situation immediately upon learning of this alleged fraudulent activity” and has since reviewed its internal procedures.

McGillivray came to the University of Waterloo from the University of Southern California where, according to the school’s president, he had an exemplary reputation for fundraising and alumni development.

The university declined to comment on the arrest but says there are policies and guidelines in place for travel claims. They include providing all receipts, approval before payment, and random audits following reimbursement.

McGillivray is scheduled to appear in court December 22.

With reporting by Allison Tanner.