APSU internal audit reports identify access, supervisory-review follow-ups; TSAC and TBI reviews presented to committee

Chief Audit Officer Blaine Clements told the Austin Peay State University Audit Committee on Aug. 14, 2025, that the Office of Internal Audit released three reports between May 9 and Aug. 14, 2025, and that management has planned follow-ups on several findings.

The internal audits covered the university—ontract for janitorial services, the Little Govs Child Learning Center, and capital planning, design and construction. Clements also briefed the committee on external reviews performed by the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation and a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation review of access to a national crime information system, and he presented the audit office—iscal 2025 year-end brochure.

On the janitorial services contract, Clements said the audit examined compliance with contract terms and how contractor access to campus facilities is managed. The janitorial contract covers more than 2,500,000 square feet of campus space and exceeds $2,000,000 in annual cost, the audit summary states. The report identified opportunities to strengthen how access is managed; Clements said the office will follow up to confirm management takes adequate corrective action.

During committee discussion a facilities representative said the university is currently under contract with JLL, which subcontracts to CMTI. The representative described periodic campus surveys of building coordinators, monthly walkthroughs by the CMTI representative and university fiscal/plant staff, and a contractual exit clause allowing termination without penalty with approximately 90 days' notice. The facilities representative said the contract likely expires next June (approximate), but did not provide a written contract expiration date at the meeting.

The Little Govs Child Learning Center audit noted that the center serves about 40 children, many of them children of university students and staff, and that it is licensed by the Tennessee Department of Human Services and holds a three-star rating under the state's quality rating system. The audit found instances in which corporate card transactions had not been reviewed in a timely manner; Clements said supervisory review of card transactions is critical to detecting misuse and that the audit office will follow up later in the year to confirm corrective action.

The capital planning, design and construction audit examined project selection and oversight amid turnover in department leadership. Clements reported no significant opportunities for improvement were included in the summary report; he noted the audit process often yields lengthy lists of potential issues but that the report emphasizes the more significant items.

Clements said the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation review identified a few opportunities for improvement and that management provided corrective action plans that TSAC accepted. A Tennessee Bureau of Investigation review of access to the National Crime Information Systems used by campus police returned no adverse findings, Clements said.

Clements also presented the Office of Internal Audit—iscal 2025 year-end brochure, describing it as part of a fraud, waste and abuse awareness program distributed to more than 100 university employees and managers. He characterized the brochure as explanatory material about the audit office—unction and as a channel for reporting suspected fraud.

All of those items were listed as information items and required no committee action at the meeting; Clements said the audit office will perform follow-up reviews as noted in the individual reports.