An independent investigator says 17 University of Washington students were undernourished on a study trip last summer to Ghana.

The report obtained by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer says the UW employee supervising the trip did not appropriately handle student complaints about insufficient food, illnesses and bullying by a professor.

A university spokesman, Norm Arkans, said Tuesday it will be more diligent about making sure that people who lead trips to more remote parts of the world are qualified.

The students traveled to the town of Hain to study sustainable development.

Complaints about the trip were investigated by workplace investigator Ellen Lenhart of Bellevue.