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Audit flags recurring compliance problems at Southern University campuses; Commission discusses escalation and leadership academy update
Summary
The Commission's quarterly compliance audit highlighted persistent deficiencies at Southern University campuses (including a 0% certification-of-compliance finding at Southern University New Orleans); commissioners warned they could withdraw appointing authority if problems persist. The meeting also featured a leadership-academy presentation and the agency's recommended FY26 budget overview.
The Commission received a quarterly compliance-audit report on April 2 that identified multiple areas of concern at several agencies and commended others for strong performance. Melinda Robert, compliance and audit administrator, said 16 agencies were included in the cycle; six improved, seven declined and three held steady compared with the prior audit cycle.
Southern University New Orleans was cited with three areas of concern, including 0% compliance on certification-of-compliance documentation and low completeness for position descriptions, Robert said. Southern University A&M (Baton Rouge) showed weaknesses in PES (performance-evaluation-system) planning; Alexandria Housing Authority also had PES planning deficiencies. Robert said most deficiencies involved maintaining required documentation; the audit cycles run every two years.
Commissioners expressed frustration with the recurring Southern University findings. One commissioner warned that if the same problems appear in the next audit cycle he would move to withdraw the university's appointing authority; staff said reports are forwarded to the university president and relevant supervisory boards and that the Commission's enforcement would include authority withdrawals if warranted.
In the director's report the Commission heard a presentation on a new Leadership Academy led by Dr. Dana LaBeurz from the Learning, Performance and Culture Division. The program launched January 1 as an on-demand, mostly online academy with virtual events; staff reported more than 600 participants from over 50 agencies and cross-pay-schedule participation. The program offers competency-based courses, portfolio-building assignments and virtual networking events.
The Commission also heard a fiscal briefing from Chief Financial Officer Brandon Savick on the recommended FY26 budget ($15,468,885). Savick described means of financing (interagency transfers and self-generated revenue), personnel costs as the largest appropriation category, and a small recommended increase primarily attributable to market-rate adjustments.
Why it matters: the audit findings highlight continuing compliance risks at institutions that employ classified workers and create uncertainty for those employees; commissioners signaled willingness to escalate oversight if improvements are not recorded. The Leadership Academy and the budget review underscore the agency's emphasis on workforce development and fiscal stewardship.
Next steps include staff follow-up with Southern University leadership and ongoing monitoring in the next audit cycle, continued rollout of the Leadership Academy and the director's planned communications to agencies on the FY26 budget.
