MORGAN RESPONDS TO AUDIT CONCERNS

The University has been advised that a recent legislative audit revealed various deficiencies in the University’s management and oversight of certain capital improvement projects. It appears the university did not comply with state procurement regulations by failing to obtain the appropriate approvals prior to undertaking certain campus improvements.

The Administration regrets the difficulty in which the University finds itself, and has moved aggressively to implement internal controls that should prevent such mistakes in the future and improve capital program operations. Briefly, the University has taken steps to improve the procurement process including change orders by establishing an oversight committee with representatives from Procurement, Design and Construction, and the office of the Vice President for Finance and Management. The committee will review and verify key aspects of capital construction projects to ensure compliance with all appropriate state and university guidelines.

University officials continue to advocate for the development of the campus to the level of the best public institutions in the state. Any distraction from that goal is unfortunate. However, we are determined to promptly respond to all of the concerns raised in the audit report, and to maintain the focus on increasing the competitiveness of the campus for attracting students regardless of race or socio-economic background.

Finally, the Director of Design and Construction has resigned and the search for a replacement is underway, as is the search for a Construction Manager and an administrative assistant, who will assist in verifying future transactions.