State auditors confirmed, late Friday, that Florida A&M University’s 2006-2007 financial audit records were in order and supported by the state’s review of the reports.“I am happy to say FAMU has received the first unqualified audit in three years,” FAMU President James Ammons said. “This means FAMU has addressed issues in a way that the auditor general has confidence in the management of finances here at the university.”
The University moved from an unauditable financial report with 13 significant financial findings to an auditable financial statement with seven internal control findings. The report notes that these findings have either already been corrected or have been partially corrected.
FAMU officials said that they anticipated some findings since this audit period reflected the financial situation prior to Dr. Ammons’ arrival.
FAMU submitted to SACS the audit findings in the hopes that it would satisfy their concerns. SACS will make a decision on December 11 regarding FAMU’s probationary status during their semi-annual meeting.
Ammons, Hardee, Sharma, Shetty and the rest of the financial team are heroes!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for SACS to lift our probation on December 11th!
Not so fast 12:19, remember the Federal Gov't is in town investigating grade changing that possibly involves federal money. There is also a pending lawsuit against the law school, that alleges grade changing amongst other things.
ReplyDeleteSACS could lift probation, but do not be surprised if they do not.
12:44am,
ReplyDeleteFAMU invited the feds to investigate, not the other way around. BIG difference here.
Not so fast 12:44am, none of those items fall under the findings of the SACS committee to begin with. FAMU is fully supporting the Feds in prosecution. If federal money has been tampered with, the people responsible are probably gone. Thanks for your encouragement and vote of confidence.
ReplyDelete12:56,
ReplyDeleteWhat does "invited" have to do with anything? So the FAMU police and the FDLE, during the investigation, realized that a federal crime had been committed. What do you do next? Well you have no choice but to turn it over to the feds.
"Invited" or not it really does not make a difference.
This is not the first time FAMU has dealt with fraud on campus. SACS knows this all to well.
Don't be surprised if probation is continued!
You sound like a redundant idiot. You obviously do not understand how the SACS process works. Have the Feds stated that there was crime? If it was, CVB and her malevolents will be subpoenaed. Trust!
ReplyDeleteYou are correct 1:10, but not having proper controls of grades is a SACS violation that FAMU was not noted for at the beginning of the year. I guess they missed that one.
ReplyDeleteWith regard to the law school the suit charges that FAMU violated ABA procedures and made improper grade changes. More suits are on the way, and you can rest assured that both SACS and ABA know this.
SACS also know that this is not the first time fraud was committed on campus.
1:19 am,
ReplyDeleteI doubt that Dr. Bryant was involved in computer hacking to change grades that involves federal money, but it would sure make for an interesting story. What if both Rev. Holmes and Dr. Bryant were involved? That would be juicy.
What must be determined is the university's positions on all these matter and an issue of collusion must be derived. Dates and times, control processes and procedures will be evaluated. As an outsider, if you look at all the facts, it is a very good thing that the president alerted the federal government and allowed them to handle this issue. SACS to have guidelines that it must go by as well that CANNOT withhold the rights of reversal on the existing concerns and guidelines. That would turn to lawsuit to against them, especially if they move prematurely based upon items that are currently presumed or under investigation.
ReplyDelete125, I agree. She would only be subpoenaed because it occurred during her administration. Rev. Holmes? Nah, I doubt that he has anything to do with it. That would actually mean he was INVOLVED in something with FAMU.
ReplyDeleteNot so fast 12:19, remember the Federal Gov't is in town investigating grade changing that possibly involves federal money. There is also a pending lawsuit against the law school, that alleges grade changing amongst other things.
ReplyDeleteUF's problems with myUFL failing to properly report half a billion in federal money is far worst than anything that's happening at FAMU. You single out FAMU but refuse to recognize the problems at UF, which are far worse.
You are guilty of a clear double standard.
12/08/2007 12:44 AM is an anti-FAMU spammer. He singles out FAMU for criticism but refuses to acknowledge the far greater financial problems at schools like UF.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to talk about federal investigations, then don't forget about the ones that happened at USF and FIU back in 2003.
ReplyDeleteThe feds told USF to pay back $4M and FIU to pay back $4.5M (while Mark Rosenberg was provost).
Those numbers are far worst than the $1.5M in federal money that FAMU had to pay back in 2005.
Violations force USF to repay millions
BYLINE: ANITA KUMAR
St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
December 5, 2007 Wednesday
The University of South Florida must return $4-million to the federal government for inappropriately spending research grants and failing to properly record purchases.
The university also owes the state $1.44-million after federal auditors found violations in almost all of USF's colleges, including the College of Public Health.
Federal auditors estimate USF might have wasted nearly $8-million the past four years. They accuse USF of a slew of mistakes, including charging clerical costs to grants without justification, purchasing equipment after a project already ended and paying for employees to travel who did not report working on a grant.
But the amount USF will actually owe is likely to amount to $4.1-million. The school and federal investigators are negotiating a settlement, which could allow the university to take 10 years to pay. It's unclear where the university will find the money, but it will come from research accounts.
The settlement will end a four-year investigation that began with a routine audit and mushroomed into the largest and most comprehensive inquiry of its kind in the school's 46-year history.
The federal government routinely conducts audits of nonprofit groups that receive federal grants, including universities that raise hundreds of millions of dollars in grants each year.
Florida International University is being investigated now, and auditors estimate the Miami school owes the federal government at least $4.5-million.
USF officials on Wednesday downplayed the violations, disputing some of the findings and describing others as old mistakes. They said they spent the money properly but failed to properly document the spending.
"Some mistakes we made, some we didn't," said Carl Carlucci, USF executive vice president and chief financial officer. "It's just about the bookkeeping."
Ian Phillips, vice president for research, said the disputed money is minor compared to the amount the school receives each year. USF has continued to receive other federal grants, Phillips said.
USF has become a research powerhouse in Florida, collecting a record $254-million in grants last year, second only to the University of Florida. Nearly $123-million came from the federal government; the rest was from state and local governments and private groups.
Among the largest: $6-million for antibioterrorism research, $2.9-million for public health and disaster preparedness and more than $6-million to explore ways to use underwater vehicles for homeland defense.
"The main thing is that we did the work," said Phillips, who was hired in February. "There is no question of the scientific merit of the work."
Phillips said the federal government has been notified about major changes that took effect July 1 allowing a more centralized record-keeping network. He said he also will educate the faculty about new procedures and what the audit showed went wrong.
USF president Judy Genshaft, who is in San Diego this week to speak to economic development experts, could not be reached Wednesday.
The Office of the Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services conducts routine audits of schools, hospitals and any other nonprofit groups that receive federal grants.
Officials there said they could not comment on pending cases. The case is not expected to be completed for several months.
The investigation stemmed from an audit of the Lawton and Rhea Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies, which opened as part of the USF College of Public Health in 1998. It began in December 1999, was expanded to other colleges in 2001 and concluded earlier this year.
The Chiles Center audit suggested that USF also failed to pay the state Agency on Health Care and Administration money to administer a Medicaid contract. USF is negotiating a $1.44-million settlement with the state.
The entire audit of 1998-99 records - a sample of documents from every college - revealed almost $2-million in errors. The worst offenders include the colleges of Education, Public Health, and Marine Sciences, totaling almost $1.5-million.
USF appealed that amount, claiming the mistakes were $700,000.
"We don't accept the $1.9-million worth of mistakes," Phillips said. "We're not hiding anything. This is past history."
At FIU, federal auditors last year began investigating a seven-year, $32-million grant to study nuclear waste decontamination. Provost Mark Rosenberg said the school disputes almost all of the cited violations and the $4.5-million the federal government recommends the school return.
While your at it, did USF and FIU have any ghost employees, financial aid fraud, stolen office and computer equipment, athletic receipts thrown out by the janitors, Deans committing fraud, students committing fraud, computer hacking involving grades/ federal money, and an endowed professors not showing up for work? Last but not least where any of these universities given SACS probation or given qualifed audits?
ReplyDeleteIf they have committed all of the above like FAMU then you have an argument.
2:55am Yes one Professor at USF was arrested for SUPPORTING GOTDAMN TERRORIST! And FAMU got on probation not for the audit, but for the lack of leadership which was a direct result of Politics in Education!! YOU ARE A HATER!!!
ReplyDeleteYeah, 2:55. Straight up and objectively speaking, you are really biased. It is ashamed because we are should be concern with every university's compliance with the federal money. You have proven that you obviously have something against FAMU's new strides to restoring their credibility. Everything that dissenters (hopefully they were not all you) wrote are things that had nothing to do with the current administration. This new admin has attempted to correct all mistakes mention but you keep coming up with something negative. It would be much better just to say you HATE FAMU rather than make yourself look sophomoric in your attempts to thwart the ACKNOWLEDGED advances that their current admin. has made. It sounds like UF and USF needs you. You are amazingly critical of FAMU.
ReplyDeleteCongrats FAMU on the passing audit.
ReplyDeleteAt this positive juncture in FAMU's history there seems to be some form of resentment from our neighbors across the state. Many said that we need to fix our finical house (and in a hurry) and argued that the state tax payer’s dollars were being wasted at FAMU. Ammons and company have “reversed sail” in less than 4 months. Instead of you all saying how good of a job this administration did in turning around such a bad audit, you point to things that are totally irreverent to what was going on.
ReplyDeleteMy point is this; it is clear that we were mired over the past 4 years with poor administrative knowledge. Specifically, under CVB's term as she was totally focused on firing people that had ties to the Humphries administration. Ultimately what she did was fire the people that knew how to get the job done. Thus a loss in administrative knowledge (one of the SAC findings) and the rise qualified audits.
In terms of the current grade scandal, the media didn't break this news, FAMU broke this news. We went to the media, we went to the FDLE, and we went to the FEDS. Why, because we want to do things above board. Once again, instead of applauding our leadership, you act as though these were problems that that should cause FAMU to be closed down or took over by the state. If that is the case, I am sure a number of schools in the SUS should be closed for attempts at computer hacking. In the state Tennessee this semester, there were students that were involved with the SGA on one of the campuses in West Tennessee that were caught changing there grades on the computer system. No one outside of that school has ever heard of this incident. Does that mean TBR should take over that University?
As I close, these past few months have really shown me the racial atmosphere in the State of Florida. I am not going to engage in the game of "UF does it or FSU, UCF, USF..." If you look at this board, the one on TDO, Tampa Bay Online, it is obvious that many people in the state of Florida totally "hate" the fact that FAMU is a State supported University. Many have argued that the money could have been better used if FAMU were dissolved and the money split amongst the other 10 SUS, specifically between the big two, UF and FSU. There were calls that we close this past spring, and now that we have proved to right the ship, the calls have not been silenced. Some argue that the "Task Force" has made us do this. The one thing that is clear is this; if this would have been anyone of the major Universities in the SUS, we would not be engaging in this type of conversation (close the University, let the state take over, etc….). Now, call it what you will, but race surely is playing a factor in the conversation. It is said that the problem of the 21st Century may well be the problem of the color line. :-(
Congratulations Dr. Ammons, Ms. Hardee, and staff for a job well done. We never lost faith.
ReplyDeleteWith regard to FAMU haters, go to hell.
Rosenburg, Roberts, and Pappas have shown their true colors more than once. This trio should be watched very closely because they can't be trusted and are practicing double standards. I believe they resent FAMU's successes and are engaged in undermining our efforts at FAMU. It is well documented that UF, FSU, and others have been exposed of cheating, grade changing, and engaging in other unlawful acts. If you like, I can post them here. FAMU is the greatest university in Florida period and we have proven it time and time again.
We love you FAMU and will protect you from the devil by any means necessary.
10:38,
ReplyDeleteDitto!!!! AMEN!!
"In terms of the current grade scandal, the media didn't break this news, FAMU broke this news"
ReplyDeleteThat is not completely true, a concerned parent called the Democrat, the Democrat then repeatedly called FAMU about the investigation. FAMU "broke" the news later in the day after the media outlets began to inquire.
I am repeating to this board that playing the race card and calling people haters and racist will only make matters worse. FAMU more than deserves that attention that it is receiving.
10:38,
ReplyDeleteAttacking specific leaders in the BOG will only make matters worse. Choose your words carefully.
"FAMU is the greatest university in Florida period and we have proven it time and time again."
ReplyDeleteIf FAMU is the greatest with a 40 percent 6 year student graduation rate, then what is UF at over an 80 percent graduation rate?
11:53,
ReplyDeleteThis is 10:38. I expressed my opinion on specific BOG leaders. In my opinion, the trio of Rosenburg, Roberts, and Pappas should be watched very carefully. Their actions clearly demonstrate double standards and bad intentions for FAMU in my opinion. If I'm wrong, then they need to prove me wrong.
"If FAMU is the greatest with a 40 percent 6 year student graduation rate, then what is UF at over an 80 percent graduation rate?"
ReplyDeleteUF is crooked and cooking the numbers in my opinion. Does that answer your question?
11:55
ReplyDeleteOk. So you are from UF? I see now.
Please explain how expressing an opinion of a BOG member will make matters worse. Do they have special powers that can be inflicted? I'm really concerned now. It's time to write the Governor and the legislature if what you are insinuating is true...
ReplyDeleteGrade changing doesn't involve federal money. The federal govt was "invited" by the administration to lead the investigation because they are considering it a cyber crime because of unauthorized access to the grading system. Get your facts straight 12:44am
ReplyDeleteUF's money problems are bigger than ANYTHING the anti-FAMU spammer has listed.
ReplyDeleteKenneth E. Hillier stole $1M. UF's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences had a deficit of $4.7M in 2005-2006 and almost $3M in 2006-2007. UF took in $8M in "fees" that without providing documentation that the money was expended properly. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Science has failed to collect on $16M. UF gave employees reimbursements for travel that exceeded the legal rate. UF's data system, myUFL, failed to properly report half a billion in federal money.
It is hypocritical to single out FAMU when UF's financial problems are much worst. The criminal activity and financial mismanagement at UF is the worst in the state. FAMU's problems do not reach into the hundreds of millions; UF's does.
It does indeed suggest racism for the anti-FAMU spammer to point the finger at the state's only HBCU when the state largest predominantly white university is in much worse shape.
The idea of FAMU is not supposed to work or be needed in the "multi-cultural" society. It is a threat that exposes the cultural biases that have been arranged and the hidden rules of a predominant society. FAMU's success is the antithesis of what this country is trying to prove. The problem is that FAMU is STATE- SUPPORTED. It has long been a leading university in state and has received documented recognition on a national and international level for its achievements. While other were excelling in athletics, FAMU was and is known for its academic excellence. Our problems are being exploited to prove the point that the HBCU no longer works. The Pappas Report is a work of that mindset. Trust, with its author being a grad of UF, no matter how dire it would ever be, that report would never be written about them. The Race Card as some would say would be unnecessary if people would acknowledge that racism and classism still severely exists in our country. I would not readily expect anyone who has never experienced racism to understand why it is brought in matters such as these.
ReplyDeleteUF will never have the same probations and sanctions because its problems will never be viewed as the same by the powers that be. The idea is to stregnthen the mindset that FAMU is incapable and others are of meeting standards and handling their business. So let's phase them out, take their programs and merge them within our system so that we can have access to the best and brightest of the African American persuasion. And to them, it assuages their conscience because after all, now we have provided a program where they can come to our universities. This is the mind of America. FAMU's existence is needed in this state if nothing but to prove the point of reminding that we are not inferior to anyone.
12/08/2007 4:10 PM
ReplyDeleteYou sound like one of the many excellent professors I had at FAMU. Well stated.
Looks like FSU lost $2.6M of university property back in 1992, as well.
ReplyDeleteFSU FACULTY OVERPAID, AUDITORS FIND
MIAMI HERALD
September 21, 1992, Monday
SECTION: Section B; Page 8, Column 1; (AP)
Audit conducted by Florida officials contends that Florida State University officials have overpaid faculty and cannot account for $2.6 million worth of property; another audit charges that Board of Regents continues to violate state law by not documenting how professors spend workdays.
Anonymous said...Not so fast 12:19, remember the Federal Gov't is in town investigating grade changing that possibly involves federal money. There is also a pending lawsuit against the law school, that alleges grade changing amongst other things. SACS could lift probation, but do not be surprised if they do not.
ReplyDelete12/08/2007 12:44 AM
For the last time, Dr. Ammons and team called in the Feds and for very obvious reasons. The Feds were invited! Now why is that? Because there are parties with an invested interest in the outcome of this "grade changing" scandal that did not and do not have the best interest of the university in mind. The "best interest" means those parties involved brought to justice.
I commend Dr. Ammons for inviting the Feds in, because it sends the right message. There is a new boss in town and these types of events at FAMU will be dealt with swiftly and within the confines of the law.
Not based on who your shopping buddy's daughter's sister soror friend is.
I applaud Dr. Ammons because this will eventually change the entire atmosphere. People needs to do their jobs the best way they can and they need to be very ethical about it. If we all do our jobs as hard as Dr. Ammons seems to be doing his, FAMU will only get better.
ReplyDelete11:53AM,
ReplyDeleteThe BOG ain' seen nothing yet. When all is said and done, they're going to rue the day that that conducted business based on hate. If I were them, I'd be polishing off my resumes right about now.