Sauerbeck says the audits take place every two years, which means the school is allotted that much time through his office to improve on the findings.
“I’d say most of the educational institutions address the majority of our findings by the next time we come in,” he says.
The institution’s financial problems resulted in financial control of the College of Engineering, a joint venture with neighboring Florida State University, being handed off to FSU. Up until late March, the $10.4 million operating budget had for years been controlled by FAMU.
According to the Tallahassee Democrat, FSU President T.K. Wetherell, upon being asked why financial control was changing hands, replied: “Who would you rather have manage your money?”
In the past few weeks, the Florida Board of Governors has established the Task Force on FAMU Financial and Operational Control Issues, which is charged with restoring institutional integrity and accountability.
The task force, which includes members of the board and a former state Supreme Court Justice, will meet regularly and have discussions with the Auditor General’s office and auditing committees from the Legislature and the school’s trustee board. Tucker says worries about the school’s future are premature.
“We’re a long way from some serious problems,” he says. “But Ammons is going to need some competent help when he gets here.”
--Marlon A. Walker
© Copyright 2005 by DiverseEducation.com
