Macomb, IL – A state audit of Western Illinois University uncovered a few problems.
The Financial Audit and Compliance Examination is an annual review conducted by the office of William Holland, Illinois Auditor General. The report covers the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2009.
There were three major findings:
1) The University did not accurately report student data to national databases as required by the Federal Pell Grant and Loan Programs.
2) The University did not have adequate grant reporting procedures for one of the grants under the Adult Education State Grant Program.
3) The University did not comply with the Board of Higher Education Act requirements for submission of capital improvement plans.
Regarding the third finding, the audit says WIU did not seek the approval of the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) for a $307,000 remodeling project at the bookstore in the University Union.
In addition, the net excess costs of approximately $2.1 million of capital improvements on a Student Recreation Center were not submitted for IBHE approval. The University did, however, obtain approval for $4.0 million, but the total cost of the project was approximately $6.1 at the end of the fiscal year.
Auditors recommended the University design monitoring procedures to ensure all plans of non-instructional capital improvements are submitted to IBHE for approval prior to construction.
University spokesperson Darcie Shinberger says WIU concurs with the findings. She also says Western always acts quickly to correct problems cited in state audits.
"If there is an issue or a finding from the auditors, it's typically corrected before the auditors even leave campus," says Shinberger.
She says measures are in place in response to the findings from the latest audit.