SBHE Responds to FY 2009 Operational Audits for UND, LRSC, NDSCS and NDSU
BISMARCK, N.D. - The State Board of Higher Education's Budget, Audit and Finance Committee today considered and discussed campus responses to operational audits of the University of North Dakota, Lake Region State College, North Dakota State College of Science and North Dakota State University by the State Auditor's Office.
A number of concerns at NDSU were cited, ranging from a lack of documentation and other issues related to use of purchase cards to needed improvement in stewardship of public resources.
Members of the BAFC expressed serious concerns about the audit findings as well as appreciation for the work of the State Auditor's Office.
"This type of business conduct is not acceptable to the State Board of Higher Education," said Duaine Espegard, BAFC chair. "The board's expectations of campus personnel are clearly spelled out in the new code of conduct adopted this past June, and violations of conduct will not be tolerated.
"The Budget, Audit and Finance Committee appreciates the direct manner in which President Bresciani has responded to this audit and his plan for ensuring that the recommendations made by the State Auditor's Office are fully implemented and the underlying issues are fully resolved," Espegard said.
"Setting the tone for ethical conduct is one of my primary responsibilities as president of NDSU," Bresciani said. "A new emphasis on good governance, accountability and service to our students, the people of North Dakota and other stakeholders was set in motion prior to these audit findings. As a result, NDSU has redefined the mission and role of the Audit and Advisory Services Office as well as the Office of Ethics, Compliance and Audit."
Bresciani also has signed an executive order adopting a code of conduct applicable to all employees and has taken a number of additional steps emphasizing his expectations of stewardship and ethical behavior.
The BAFC was pleased to note that there were no formal audit findings at UND.
