Cal State Fullerton Audits Itself

An audit by Cal State Fullerton of its own financial management reports glitches, staffing problems and an unwieldy cash flow system but does not address the harsh criticisms contained in a state audit released last week.

In the report by the state Auditor’s Office, auditors accused officials of mismanaging funds, spending scholarship money on meals and entertainment and disregarding hiring regulations to give work to friends.

Most of the allegations focused on expenses Cal State Fullerton charged to nonprofit foundations that handle its fund-raising and on the activities of one woman in the school’s business division.

The university’s report says only that staffing changes in its business and financial affairs division have left new employees assuming greater and more complex responsibilities. Two key vacancies remain to be filled.

No university employees were mentioned by name in the state’s report, and no one has been disciplined, said university spokeswoman Paula Selleck.

“I don’t believe the topic has been visited since [the state audit], and to my knowledge it hasn’t been discussed,” Selleck said.

The university’s report, however, was not meant to compare findings or to respond specifically to each of the points raised by state auditors, said Colleen Bentley-Adler, director of public affairs for the state university chancellor’s office.

“They were asked to see if controls are in place, and the review confirms those controls are in place,” she said. “Now the next step is for them to implement the recommendations and to make quarterly reports.”