Internal Audit

Audits

Internal audits evaluate the University’s compliance with laws, rules, and regulations; determine the efficiency of operations; and/or review internal control procedures. Audits are clearly defined projects that require extensive planning, substantive proof for findings and recommendations, documentation of each audit activity and finding, and an audit report, which may include recommendations for improving university operations.

Management Assistance

Management assistance projects often analyze facts or data which may be historical in nature, verifying that something did or did not occur, or prospective in nature, estimating future occurrences.  Assistance projects require a summary report, which is tailored to the project and may be in a variety of forms including: written or verbal reports, e-mails, or a summary table of findings.  Results of a management assistance projects may stand alone, or they may become part of a larger project within Internal Audit or in another area at FGCU. 

Consulting

Upon request, and as staff time is available, Internal Audit provides proactive consulting assistance on internal control, compliance and operational issues in which it has expertise.  Consulting projects may include, but are not limited to, committee participation, reviews of draft documents such as draft procedures or contracts, publications, and post-audit assistance.  These projects are proactive in nature and often answer questions about proposed programs or proposed changes to existing programs.  An example of a consulting project is reviewing proposed written procedures and making suggestions about possible revisions before the procedures are implemented. 

Investigations

The Office of Internal Audit is designated as an official contact for allegations of fraudulent or dishonest activity and for Whistle-Blower complaints.  Internal Audit also conducts administrative investigations requested by the President.  Criminal investigations are performed by the University Police Department or other law enforcement agencies, with assistance by Internal Audit when appropriate. 

Professional standards apply to all services provided by the Office of Internal Audit.  They provide guidance to assure that internal audit projects are performed with the utmost competency, integrity, objectivity, and due diligence.

The Director of Internal Audit shall be familiar with professional and statutory standards that guide Internal Audit, and shall ensure that all Internal Audit activities comply with the appropriate professional standards.  Internal Audit professional staff will also be knowledgeable about the standards, and familiar with their application.

Each project report will identify which professional standards were followed for that project.  If the project followed standards other than those promulgated by The IIA, the workpapers will also document why other standards were selected.

International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing promulgated by the IIA

Most of the activities of the Office of Internal Audit are conducted in accordance with the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing promulgated by the IIA.  If IIA Professional Practice Standards are not appropriate or cannot be followed, the standards used for the project and the reason they were selected will be documented in the project work papers.

Other Standards

Internal Audit occasionally conducts special projects that require adherence to standards other than the IIA Professional Practice Standards, including Whistle Blower and criminal investigations.  The Director of Internal Audit will determine if other standards are required for a special project and will ensure that the appropriate standards are applied.

Code of Ethics

The Office of Internal Audit at Florida Gulf Coast University is committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards in fulfilling its responsibilities, including the guiding principles of integrity, objectivity, and competency.  In this regard, all Internal Audit staff prescribe to the Code of Ethics promulgated by The Institute of Internal Auditors (The IIA) to the extent they do not conflict with obligations and requirements codified in the Florida Statutes.  A copy of The IIA Code of Ethics is provided below.

Internal Audit staff also adhere to the Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees as codified in Chapter 112, Part III of the Florida Statutes.

Internal Audit is an independent assurance and consulting function designed to add value and improve the University's operations. It assists Florida Gulf Coast University to accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control, and governance processes.

FGCU Whistle-Blower Protection

• EthicsPoint Hotline: Need to voice a concern? Florida Gulf Coast University has established an EthicsPoint Hotline to provide members of the FGCU community a simple anonymous way to report activities that involve certain suspected misconduct or violations of our policies and procedures, regulations, or state and federal laws. To report a potential issue using the hotline, please click here or call toll-free 1-844-300-1073 (24 hours a day, 365 days a year)
• FGCU Policy 1.004:   Policy Against Fraudulent or Other Dishonest Acts
• Florida Statute 112.3187:  Adverse action against employee for disclosing information of specified nature prohibited; employee remedy and relief

Confidential Information and Florida Public Records Law

Security of confidential Information

Internal Audit projects often include the collection and examination of confidential information.  Records that are confidential pursuant to state and federal statutes, laws, rules and regulations include but are not limited to student records, information regarding the security programs for data and information technology resources, certain personnel records, and certain medical and law enforcement records.

To adhere to confidentiality provisions and other federal and state statutory exemptions from Florida’s public records laws, files and reports containing information that is confidential or exempt from public records laws will be maintained in a secure location in the Office of Internal Audit.  At all times, confidential information will be safeguarded from any unauthorized persons.

Public Records and Exemptions for Certain Internal Audit Projects

Florida’s Public Records law applies to state universities and to the internal audit function of the universities.  Once the report is released, audit workpapers are public documents. However, the public records exemptions identified below may apply to Internal Audit projects:

1. FS §119.071 (2)(c) 1 – Active criminal investigations.
2. FS 119.0713 (2) – Audit report & workpapers of an internal auditor of any public body corporate until the audit is complete and the audit report becomes final.  [Per FS § 1001.72(1) each state university board of trustees is a public body corporate.]
3. FS §112.3188 – Certain information provided under the Whistle-Blower’s Act, including the identity of the complainant, unless disclosure is necessary to prevent a substantial and specific danger or to prevent the imminent commission of a crime or the disclosure is absolutely necessary.
4. FS §1012.91(1)(b) – Any records maintained or information obtained pursuant to any investigation of misconduct of a University employee is confidential until the investigation ceases to be active.

Statutory references identified above are from the 2009 Florida Statutes, and may change from time to time as the Florida Statutes are revised by legislative action.

Requests for Information from Outside Parties

The Florida Gulf Coast University spokesperson coordinates all requests for University information that are received from outside parties.

2009 to 2023 Newsletters Archived

2024 Newsletter

FGCU Links

• General Counsel Policies and Regulations
• Finance & Accounting Policies and Procedures
• Cash and Check Collection Procedures
• University Travel
• Budget Forms 

Accounting, Auditing and State of Florida Government Links

• Association of College and University Auditors (ACUA)
• Board of Governors
• Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)
• My Florida
• State of Florida Auditor General
• The Florida Commission on Ethics
• Florida Statutes (Title XLVIII-K-20 Education Code)
• Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO)