UC regents, auditors taking closer look at UCI

Marisa O’Neil

An internal audit of the department of epidemiology turned up

questions about how its grants are administered, and now the UC

regents are meeting with auditors to discuss the matter.

In a closed session today, the regents will hear a report on the

ongoing audit at the school. UC and UC Irvine officials gave few

details of the investigation.

“Because a personnel issue may be involved, the matter will be

discussed in closed session, and UC is not at liberty to disclose

additional details at this time,” UC spokesman Paul Schwartz said.

UCI spokesman Tom Vasich said he could not comment because the

audit is ongoing. Once the audit is complete, possibly later this

summer, more information will be available, he said.

Calls to the department of epidemiology were referred to Vasich.

The department studies the control of chronic diseases like

cancer, according to its website. The site lists studies on breast

cancer, asthma and genetics conducted by the department.

University auditing departments assess a variety of functions at

each school, including operating practices, compliance with the

education code and ethical conduct.

“Internal auditors may take directly to the respective chancellor

or laboratory director, the university auditor, the president, or the

regents matters that they believe to be of sufficient magnitude and

importance,” the Internal Audit Management Charter reads.

In its audit plan for the next year, UC plans to concentrate on

areas of perceived risk for breaches and glitches in financial

management, health sciences operation and information technology. At

UCI, it has identified billing, disaster recovery planning, major

construction, gift processing and personal identification as areas of

high risk.