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Verdict on GSU expected Tuesday
Posted on December 6, 2001
The wait for news on Grambling State University's accreditation status will be over as soon as Tuesday.
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is meeting in New Orleans this week and next. It will consider the information GSU has sent in defense of its financial status and is expected to take some action by Tuesday when the SACS conference ends.
Acting GSU President Neari Warner and chief financial officer Billy Owens were out of town and could not be reached for comment. They are expected to return Dec. 14 to Grambling, said Vickie Jackson, GSU spokeswoman.
However, Jackson said university officials are hopeful.
"We are hopeful, and we'd like to be optimistic while at the same time not to second-guess SACS," Jackson said.
"We'd like to believe the packet that we've submitted to SACS, which included a written description of the proposal submitted to us by Legislative Auditor Dan Kyle, will substantiate our efforts to improve the university's overall fiscal standing and ultimately meet SAC's criteria.
"We understand that we did not submit an audit, so perhaps a full affirmation at this time is unlikely, but, in the near future, we will do that," Jackson said. "As we implement Kyle's proposal, we feel confident that we will at some time in the near future get full accreditation for the university. Currently, the university is fully accredited. A lot of people are unaware of that. I'm hoping they will at least continue the warning."
Warner explained the school's financial situation in a letter dated Nov. 16 to James T. Rogers, executive director for SACS' Commission on Colleges.
She noted that in September the university submitted a report to SACS addressing 11 recommendations it made in June when GSU was placed on warning. In the September report, Grambling indicated completed financial audits would be submitted.
"Grambling State University was advised on Nov. 5, 2001, by Dr. Dan Kyle, legislative auditor for the State of Louisiana, that his office would be unable to complete an audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, in time for consideration by the Commission at its December meeting," Warner wrote.
However, Warner outlined in the letter steps Grambling has taken to strengthen its financial and operating system. The key point, according to Warner, was when GSU hired Owens as its chief financial officer.
Owens took over Aug. 5. He is a veteran of financial management, having served as vice president for business and fiscal affairs at Tuskegee University, assistant vice president for budget and planning at Marquette University, associate vice president for finance and controller at the Medical College of Wisconsin and associate controller at Southern Methodist University.
When he arrived four months ago at Grambling, Owens began assessing the university's accounting, business, human resource and information technology operations, and reviewed current policies and procedures. He also developed a detailed plan of action that includes specific steps and time lines to correct conditions and findings cited by Kyle's office, Warner wrote.
Some of the completed actions taken:
-- A change in software
-- Hired key accounting, human resource, information technology and facilities people.
-- Completed GSU's annual financial report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001
-- Implemented a comprehensive staff reduction plan to abolish 111 classified and 26 unclassified positions to bring student and staff ratios in line
-- Implemented a specific and on-going employee-training program for active employees and new hires at GSU to improve and ensure the integrity of the financial operations.
Mark Drennen, commissioner of administration for the State of Louisiana Division of Administration, complimented GSU on its financial statement.
In a letter to Sally Clausen, president of the University of Louisiana System, he said the financial forms received by his office "represent some of the better work I have seen from GSU in years."
Warner also explained to SACS in her letter that Kyle could not complete his audit of Grambling in time for the December meeting of SACS.
However, Kyle offered an unprecedented proposal to GSU last month to stop the university's 2001 audit.
Kyle said his staff would work with financial officers at the university to ensure records are in shape for fiscal year 2002.
When books are audited for the current financial year that ends June 30, 2002, the university will have to use a new accounting reporting form required by the government accounting standards board.
The new form will have financial statements for public bodies looking like those for corporations, Kyle said.
Grambling needs to prepare its financial records to accommodate the new form with help from Kyle's staff, he said.
With the focus on fiscal 2002, the university could receive a qualified audit for the current year. That means the university would be missing some financial information from the past that would affect the auditor's statement.
By fiscal 2003, though, the university's financial records should be in good enough shape to have an unqualified audit, Kyle said.
Kyle said as much in a Nov. 5 letter to Warner, which she included as an attachment to her report to SACS.
"I am hoping that SACS will just slightly reprimand us and put us on some type of probation, and Dr. Kyle has graciously agreed to bring in his staff to help make the necessary staffing changes," said Mike Woods, ULS Board of Supervisors chairman of personnel.
"I'm cautiously optimistic. I don't see (SACS) taking away our accreditation. I can't imagine SACS in my wildest imaginations doing that."
Posted on December 6, 2001
The wait for news on Grambling State University's accreditation status will be over as soon as Tuesday.
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is meeting in New Orleans this week and next. It will consider the information GSU has sent in defense of its financial status and is expected to take some action by Tuesday when the SACS conference ends.
Acting GSU President Neari Warner and chief financial officer Billy Owens were out of town and could not be reached for comment. They are expected to return Dec. 14 to Grambling, said Vickie Jackson, GSU spokeswoman.
However, Jackson said university officials are hopeful.
"We are hopeful, and we'd like to be optimistic while at the same time not to second-guess SACS," Jackson said.
"We'd like to believe the packet that we've submitted to SACS, which included a written description of the proposal submitted to us by Legislative Auditor Dan Kyle, will substantiate our efforts to improve the university's overall fiscal standing and ultimately meet SAC's criteria.
"We understand that we did not submit an audit, so perhaps a full affirmation at this time is unlikely, but, in the near future, we will do that," Jackson said. "As we implement Kyle's proposal, we feel confident that we will at some time in the near future get full accreditation for the university. Currently, the university is fully accredited. A lot of people are unaware of that. I'm hoping they will at least continue the warning."
Warner explained the school's financial situation in a letter dated Nov. 16 to James T. Rogers, executive director for SACS' Commission on Colleges.
She noted that in September the university submitted a report to SACS addressing 11 recommendations it made in June when GSU was placed on warning. In the September report, Grambling indicated completed financial audits would be submitted.
"Grambling State University was advised on Nov. 5, 2001, by Dr. Dan Kyle, legislative auditor for the State of Louisiana, that his office would be unable to complete an audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, in time for consideration by the Commission at its December meeting," Warner wrote.
However, Warner outlined in the letter steps Grambling has taken to strengthen its financial and operating system. The key point, according to Warner, was when GSU hired Owens as its chief financial officer.
Owens took over Aug. 5. He is a veteran of financial management, having served as vice president for business and fiscal affairs at Tuskegee University, assistant vice president for budget and planning at Marquette University, associate vice president for finance and controller at the Medical College of Wisconsin and associate controller at Southern Methodist University.
When he arrived four months ago at Grambling, Owens began assessing the university's accounting, business, human resource and information technology operations, and reviewed current policies and procedures. He also developed a detailed plan of action that includes specific steps and time lines to correct conditions and findings cited by Kyle's office, Warner wrote.
Some of the completed actions taken:
-- A change in software
-- Hired key accounting, human resource, information technology and facilities people.
-- Completed GSU's annual financial report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001
-- Implemented a comprehensive staff reduction plan to abolish 111 classified and 26 unclassified positions to bring student and staff ratios in line
-- Implemented a specific and on-going employee-training program for active employees and new hires at GSU to improve and ensure the integrity of the financial operations.
Mark Drennen, commissioner of administration for the State of Louisiana Division of Administration, complimented GSU on its financial statement.
In a letter to Sally Clausen, president of the University of Louisiana System, he said the financial forms received by his office "represent some of the better work I have seen from GSU in years."
Warner also explained to SACS in her letter that Kyle could not complete his audit of Grambling in time for the December meeting of SACS.
However, Kyle offered an unprecedented proposal to GSU last month to stop the university's 2001 audit.
Kyle said his staff would work with financial officers at the university to ensure records are in shape for fiscal year 2002.
When books are audited for the current financial year that ends June 30, 2002, the university will have to use a new accounting reporting form required by the government accounting standards board.
The new form will have financial statements for public bodies looking like those for corporations, Kyle said.
Grambling needs to prepare its financial records to accommodate the new form with help from Kyle's staff, he said.
With the focus on fiscal 2002, the university could receive a qualified audit for the current year. That means the university would be missing some financial information from the past that would affect the auditor's statement.
By fiscal 2003, though, the university's financial records should be in good enough shape to have an unqualified audit, Kyle said.
Kyle said as much in a Nov. 5 letter to Warner, which she included as an attachment to her report to SACS.
"I am hoping that SACS will just slightly reprimand us and put us on some type of probation, and Dr. Kyle has graciously agreed to bring in his staff to help make the necessary staffing changes," said Mike Woods, ULS Board of Supervisors chairman of personnel.
"I'm cautiously optimistic. I don't see (SACS) taking away our accreditation. I can't imagine SACS in my wildest imaginations doing that."