Lanzhou Jiaotong University recently sparked outrage among netizens after firing a young lecturer when she took time off to undergo cancer treatment. The lecturer has since passed away, but the university finally issued an apology to the lecturer and her family on the evening of Monday, Aug. 22.

Liu Lingli was dismissed from a private college affiliated with the university in January 2015 while undergoing treatment for ovarian cancer. The school argued that Liu was fired due to absenteeism, but that defense was struck down by the Lanzhou Intermediate People's Court, which ruled that Liu and the college still had an employment relationship.

Liu died on Aug. 14 at the age of 32. After Liu’s case provoked widepread sympathy and anger at the school, the college assembled an investigation team to probe into the case.

Monday's statement came after the conclusion of the investigation. The college apologized for the hasty decision made by the university and expressed regret over Liu’s death. It also pledged to improve the school's management and adjust certain rules in the wake of this case.

Previously, the college also admitted that it was illegal to fire Liu, consenting to pay Liu’s salary from her period of so-called absenteeism. The total amount is 72,000 yuan, including a salary of 57,600 yuan for the period when she was not at school, and another 14,400 yuan as a consolation payment for her death.

The school also issued a statement on its official website, formally revoking the decision to fire Liu. Another document said that the school’s head of human resources has been suspended from her position for misconduct during Liu’s case.