(CNN) A Columbia University investigation into the top Treasury Department spokeswoman's Ph.D dissertation found that she had included "localized instances of plagiarism" but did not commit "research misconduct," the university said Friday.

The investigation conducted into the 2000 dissertation by Monica Crowley, the Treasury Department's assistant secretary for public affairs and a former conservative commentator, came to a close this month and resulted in her making significant changes to the work.

Crowley has held her post at the Treasury Department since July. CNN has reached out to her for comment.

"The investigation identified localized instances of plagiarism, but concluded that the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that Dr. Crowley committed research misconduct," Columbia said in a statement. "For the dissertation to stand, the University required certain corrections, which Dr. Crowley has provided."

Columbia's assessment of her dissertation was previously reported by The New York Times

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