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Regents hear internal audit staffing shortfalls and plans for construction and follow‑up audits
Summary
Internal audit leaders from Kansas State, Pittsburg State and Fort Hays told the regents they completed core work despite turnover, but several campuses say they are understaffed and plan targeted outsourcing (construction audit) or student auditor support; the committee discussed options to prioritize high‑risk audits.
Three internal audit directors representing Kansas State, Pittsburg State and Fort Hays presented the committee with 2025 results and 2026 plans and answered questions about resourcing and independence.
Jana Clark (Kansas State) said K‑State completed 21 audits and investigations in 2025—exceeding an 80% KPI—with quarterly follow up on 158 recommendations, but remains understaffed with three auditors compared with peer averages. Clark said work deferred from 2025 (K‑State 105 legislative appropriation spending and global food system spending) will carry into 2026 and that the office plans to outsource a construction audit in fiscal 2027 because that expertise is not in‑house.
Jamie Dalton (Pittsburg State) confirmed similar charter updates and noted a planned separation of strategic planning and internal audit roles; Dalton said one in‑house auditor was adequate for that campus size but flagged normal turnover and a backlog to be addressed during transition.
Nick Davidson (Fort Hays State) described a year of limited capacity after turnover; he plans FY26 audits focused on student fiscal services, residence life and off‑campus accounts, and flagged the potential benefit of student auditors or additional staff if workload requires it.
Regents pressed whether to outsource high‑priority projects or add permanent staff. Board leadership said the system has weighed in‑house vs. external sourcing and values continuity from internal auditors, but will authorize external firms for specialized work. Several regents urged the universities to prioritize highest‑risk audits and keep the committee informed if additional positions are needed.
No formal action was taken; the committee recorded the presentations and noted follow‑up on staffing and the outsourced construction audit timeline.
