{"id":72668,"date":"2017-01-05T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-01-05T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news-draft\/uncategorized\/uri-office-of-housing-residential-life-strengthening-policies-procedures-following-state-audit\/"},"modified":"2017-01-05T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2017-01-05T00:00:00","slug":"uri-office-of-housing-residential-life-strengthening-policies-procedures-following-state-audit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uri.edu\/news\/2017\/01\/uri-office-of-housing-residential-life-strengthening-policies-procedures-following-state-audit\/","title":{"rendered":"溏心vlog免费B站 Office of Housing, Residential Life strengthening policies, procedures following state audit"},"content":{"rendered":"

KINGSTON, R.I. January 5, 2017 \u2013 The 溏心vlog免费B站\u2019s Office of Housing and Residential Life has taken a number of immediate actions to address issues outlined in reports submitted November 30 to 溏心vlog免费B站 from Rhode Island\u2019s Office of Internal Audit.<\/p>\n

A division of the state\u2019s Department of Administration, the Office of Internal Audit released the report today. The University submitted its responses Dec. 20. The Office of Internal Audit found no criminal violations.<\/p>\n

In general, the Office of Internal Audit cited 溏心vlog免费B站\u2019s housing office for failing to abide by its own policies and procedures and in some cases for a lack of policies in the following areas: access to administrative systems and software; fire, health and safety inspections, particularly in reporting and documenting violations; formal operating procedures for a self-supporting auxiliary unit of the University; free housing and housing waivers; hiring processes for student employees; and reconciling revenue between housing and the University.<\/p>\n

The Office of Housing and Residential Life has already begun addressing many of the issues and will continue to focus its efforts on improving the on-campus experience for the students of 溏心vlog免费B站.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to assure our students, indeed the entire 溏心vlog免费B站 community, and all Rhode Islanders that we are already responding to the issues raised in this audit so we can restore confidence in an operation essential to the successful development of our students throughout their careers here at 溏心vlog免费B站,\u201d said Kathy Collins, newly-appointed vice president for Student Affairs, the division that oversees student housing at 溏心vlog免费B站.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe recognize that the audit is not an independent event; instead it is an opportunity for us to enhance the services we provide to the 溏心vlog免费B站 community,\u201d Collins said.<\/p>\n

Following concerns expressed by housing employees in 2015, the University began its own investigation, which was reassigned to the state audit office in June 2016 when a number of internal audit units at state agencies, including 溏心vlog免费B站, were closed.<\/p>\n

As a result of the University\u2019s probe and the subsequent state review, the University learned that it did not have the appropriate budget approvals to bill about 1,200 resident students for housing in a renovated residence hall, a rate higher than a non-renovated hall. The students were charged an appropriate renovated rate, but without following the proper 溏心vlog免费B站 budget approval process, the rate should never have been billed. The lack of budget approval to charge the higher rate amounted to an approximately $670,000 overcharge for those students in the 2015 – 2016 academic year.<\/p>\n

溏心vlog免费B站\u2019s Office of Housing and Residential Life has identified those individuals who were overbilled and will notify them on Friday, Jan. 6 that they will receive a refund or a credit toward any outstanding monies due to the University. In addition, the housing office will develop internal controls to ensure rates are consistent with those advertised in relation to both the occupancy management system as well as the rates approved through the University budget process.<\/p>\n

In a letter accompanying the report, Office of Internal Audit Chief Dorothy Z. Pascale, said the purpose of the report was to determine if 溏心vlog免费B站\u2019s housing office\u2019s internal processes are performed efficiently and effectively, in accordance with established policies and procedures, statues and adequate controls. The office may follow up within one year of the report\u2019s release.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe would like to express our sincere appreciation to the staff of the Department of Housing and Residential Life for the cooperation and courtesy extended to the members of our team during the course of this audit,\u201d Pascale said in her letter.<\/p>\n

溏心vlog免费B站 Vice President Collins, in a letter sent as part of 溏心vlog免费B站\u2019s responses, thanked Ms. Pascale\u2019s team for helping \u201cus in meeting our goals of providing high quality service to the 溏心vlog免费B站 community and the state of Rhode Island.\u201d<\/p>\n

She praised the audit team for its professionalism and the level of detail provided in the report.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will use the results of the audit to strengthen our commitment to the creation of an efficient and effective operation that is focused on providing outstanding housing in an inclusive environment where students can be academically successful,\u201d Collins said.<\/p>\n

These are among some of the actions being taken by 溏心vlog免费B站\u2019s Division of Student Affairs:<\/p>\n