The dean of the University of North Dakota medical school who was criticized in a recent performance audit of the school says he will inform state lawmakers about changes officials plan to make.

The audit praised the school's faculty and research but criticized Dean H. David Wilson's management style and said the school has done a poor job of managing its own operations.

"It's been an arduous process," Wilson told members of a legislative committee. "We're glad it's over. We'll take our spanking."

Sen. Judy Lee, R-West Fargo, said she was disappointed that Wilson referred to the report as a "spanking."

Wilson said he meant it as a joke. "We have improvements to make, and we'll make those," he said. The changes will include updating decades-old laws and finding a way to give legislators more information about how the school spends money.

UND President Charles Kupchella, in a letter to the Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review Committee, acknowledged many of the audit's criticisms and pledged improvements. He took issue with other criticisms, including a suggestion that the medical school should not be spending state money on research.

Kupchella also acknowledged the criticism of Wilson's management style but offered a vote of support.

"Even given the conclusion that the Dean needs to make improvements in his management style, and in the way he manages the people-aspects and politics of tough decisions," Kupchella wrote, "much - certainly not all - of the credit for the enhanced status of our Medical School goes to Dean H. David Wilson."