State Auditors Come to Grambling's Aid; Accreditation Visit Looming - Brief Article

Black Issues in Higher Education, Jan 6, 2000

GRAMBLING, La. -- Beset by computer problems, changes in personnel and years of financial problems, Grambling State University has at last finished the year-end financial report it is supposed to provide the state annually.

The report was submitted last month after a team assembled by the University of Louisiana System, which governs Grambling and seven other universities in Louisiana, was dispatched to the institution by system president Bobby Jindal.

The financial experts from across the university system had been on campus since October. The team was sent after state Legislative Auditor Dan Kyle pulled auditors from the university, saying the school's records were in such disarray the auditors were unable to do their jobs. Four months of records were missing and key financial staff members had left earlier this year.

The records were due in November and state Commissioner of Administration Mark Drennen recently said the state would have to prepare its own year-end finance report without the Grambling figures. The law requires Louisiana's report to be done by Dec. 31.

Grambling State faces its biggest test early next year when the school is evaluated for reaccreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The nearly 100-year-old school was first accredited in 1949, and has been re-accredited every decade since. Accreditation is key to attracting students, faculty, certain federal funding and now even some state dollars.

Gordon Pugh, a Baton Rouge lawyer heading another University of Louisiana System committee assisting Grambling, said recently that he believes the university will be ready for the Feb. 7-10 visit from the accreditation team.