This month, FAMU received good marks on its latest state operational audit. The Florida auditor general’s office only reported five findings at the 13,226 student school.FAMU’s recent payroll glitch was noted in the report. Back in July 2010, FAMU President James Ammons directed the FAMU Office of Audit and Compliance (OAC) to investigate why 43 faculty and staff, whose salaries totaled $219,794, were paid two to 32 business days late.
The operational audit details the reason for the problem: “According to OAC personnel, in response to a higher than anticipated demand by students for courses during the Summer terms, the University requested that faculty teach additional courses during the Summer. These additional courses were in excess of the standard work assignments for faculty and required a contract for the additional hours. Many of these additional courses began before the contracts with adjunct faculty teaching these courses and support staff could be processed in the payroll system.”
Ammons concurred with the auditors’ recommendation to strengthen FAMU’s payroll processes and re-emphasized FAMU’s commitment to paying employees in a timely manner.
Every two years, multiple findings turn up in the operational audits of public universities all across Florida. In the latest round, the most findings were found at the institution formerly led by the SUS chancellor.
The last operational audit for current Chancellor Frank Brogan’s tenure at Florida Atlantic turned up 15 findings. Former Chancellor Mark Rosenberg received 13 findings at Florida International.
There were seven findings at UF, seven at UNF, six at USF, five at FSU, five at UCF, two at FGCU, two at New College, and one at UWF.