It also noted that his pay rise from 2003 to 2004 occurred at a time when the university was seeking job cuts "because the institution has failed to meet internal financial targets".
[10] In 2009 Roper resigned his position as London Metropolitan's Vice-Chancellor in the wake of a financial crisis at the university that followed from submission of inaccurate data on its drop-out rate, resulting in overpayments of government support.
The university's board of governors and audit committee had an oversight role, which made them ultimately "accountable for a financial failure of this magnitude" and meant that they "must take overall responsibility".
[13][14] He also spoke against the use of A-levels as the sole screening test in university admissions, arguing that the students' background and social circumstances must also be taken into account.
[15] During his service as the London Metropolitan's Vice-Chancellor, Roper was involved in a series of contentious battles with the union representing the university's lecturers.