Despite pay KPMG some $4.7 million, state aduitors had trouble auditing FAMU's financial records. The university's books were in such array this year, that auditors issued an "qualified report" meaning they couldn't verify that the numbers they were looking at were correct.The Tallahassee Democrat's series continues today.
The signs of trouble at FAMU came long before the exhaustive audit this spring exposed a whopping 35 operational and financial problems. At least four audits going back to 2003 have cited serious, repeated concerns.
The red flags were whipping by last summer, when state auditors released their annual audit of FAMU's books from July 2004 through June 2005 and qualified their findings. In other words, they said they couldn't be sure the numbers they were looking at were right.
"They could not audit (FAMU's) accounting," said Joelen Merkel, a University of Florida trustee who serves on the state's FAMU task force. "This is very, very serious."
No other university has had a qualified state financial audit.
Continue reading: Auditors couldn't vouch for FAMU financials
Also see: Auditor catches Castell in a lie
Castell tells us a whopping lie, "audit not as bad as it seems"
FAMU's books unauditable
Why is FAMU still insisting that this will not affect the law school? Finances and the organizational structure of a school are some of the criterias. Students need to read the ABA accreditation standards and decide for themselves if they may be affected...
ReplyDeleteStandard 102(b):
A law school that is provisionally approved may have its approval withdrawn if it is
determined that the law school is not in substantial compliance with the Standards or
that the law school is not making adequate progress toward coming into full
compliance with the Standards. If five years have elapsed since the law school was
provisionally approved and it has not qualified for full approval, provisional approval
shall lapse and the law school shall automatically be removed from the list of approved
law schools unless, prior to the end of the five year period, in an extraordinary case and
for good cause shown, the Council extends the time within which the law school must
obtain full approval
Standard 104:
An approved law school should seek to exceed the minimum requirements of the
Standards
Standard 201:
(a) The present and anticipated financial resources of a law school shall be adequate to
sustain a sound program of legal education and accomplish its mission.
(b) A law school shall be so organized and administered that its resources are used to
provide a sound program of legal education and to accomplish its mission.
Standard 210. LAW SCHOOL-UNIVERSITY RELATIONSHIP
(a) If a law school is part of a university, that relationship shall serve to enhance the
law school’s program.
(b) If a university’s general policies do not adequately facilitate the recruitment and
retention of competent law faculty, appropriate separate policies should be established
for the law school.
(c) The resources generated by a law school that is part of a university should be made
available to the law school to maintain and enhance its program of legal education.
(d) A law school shall be given the opportunity to present its recommendations on
budgetary matters to the university administration before the budget for the law school
is submitted to the governing board for adoption
Standard 301:
(a) A law school shall maintain an educational program that prepares its students for
admission to the bar, and effective and responsible participation in the legal profession.
(b) A law school shall ensure that all students have reasonably comparable
opportunities to take advantage of the school’s educational program, co-curricular
programs, and other educational benefits.
Interpretation 301-1:
A law school shall maintain an educational program that prepares its students to address
current and anticipated legal problems.
Interpretation 301-2:
A law school may offer an educational program designed to emphasize certain aspects of the
law or the legal profession.
Interpretation 301-3:
Among the factors to be considered in assessing the extent to which a law school complies
with this Standard are the rigor of its academic program, including its assessment of student
performance, and the bar passage rates of its graduates.
Would you Law School folks chill out for a moment? We have an more pressing immediate problem in front of us right now --- saving the entire University's accreditation!
ReplyDeleteDamn, yall are such babies!
Humpty Humphries had a great fall
ReplyDeleteI guess the law school has never been considered part of the FAMU family so ABA accreditation and student, staff, alumni and faculty concerns are not pressing and immediate.
ReplyDeleteFAMU should have learned a long time ago that if you don't help put out your neighbor's fire it will eventually burn your own house down.
Nah, the Law School IS indeed a part of the University. But yall cry like BITCHES!
ReplyDeleteBitches are female dogs. They don't cry, they bite. All the FAMU Alum I've met are very professional and classy. Not dogs at all.
ReplyDeleteFor real law school folks.....we understand your frustration wholeheartedly, but you are wearing us out. The law school accreditation is a major issue, along with pharmacy, and all of the other academic departments. But, you don't have to take up the whole board with your issues everyday.
ReplyDeleteI am advised that KPMG is a " professional firm providing Audit, Tax and Advisory Services". If that is the case and FAMU paid that firm some $4.7 million, for those services, can anyone explain what "professional" services did that firm render and why did FAMU audits end up in such bad shape? It appears to me that KPMG needs to be held accountable by providing specific and satisfactory proof that it provided "professional" services.
ReplyDeleteTo anonymous at 10:30 a.m. You make a good point. It time for all the academic areas of FAMU to bring their issues to the table and the law students should take their concerns elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteWe must have been mistaken to believe that there were so many critical problems. The glossy publication we received from FAMU indicated that it was smooth sailing.
the onion is just beginning to be peeled.
ReplyDeleteWhat’s the purpose of the SACS and Assessment office?
ReplyDelete4:58--you need to properly cite your source. You're plagiarizing. I read that quote already. Write something else (or new).
ReplyDeleteanon 6:32,
ReplyDeletethis a blog, not a term paper, book, or piece for the ny times.
the onion is just beginning to be peeled!
No matter what this is, stealing other folks' words is stealing other folks' words. Plain as that. You're a thief. Plain as that.
ReplyDelete...and a thief with an attitude.
ReplyDeleteThe law school is important, but I agree that they do need to ease up a little with the whining. Just do your freaking jobs.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Law school, has little pass the bar, and is the rumor true he was fired from his last job. Does anybody no why he was fired. Inquiring minds wants to know, especially if he will be part of the new administration - or will he? Perhaps these answers may shine light on why he has done such a poor job as VP for compliance
ReplyDeleteYeah, do a google on Riggs Bank and Rufus. They are under SEC investigation for guess what? Compliance and Audit issues.
ReplyDelete