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FGCU trustees approve 2025–26 internal audit risk assessment after reviews of accreditation, cybersecurity and president's office spending
Summary
The Audit and Compliance Committee unanimously approved FGCU's Risk Assessment for the 2025–2026 Internal Audit Work Plan, directing audits on accreditation readiness, IT infrastructure, federal research reimbursements and a proposed review of the President's Office expenses.
The Florida Gulf Coast University Audit and Compliance Committee unanimously approved the Risk Assessment for the 2025–2026 Internal Audit Work Plan on Aug. 21, 2025, following a presentation by Director of Internal Audit Bill Foster.
Foster told the committee he had met with the president's cabinet and department leaders across ITS, Athletics, the Office of Institutional Ethics and Compliance and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs to identify top institutional risks and shape the draft plan. He said the State University System's creation of a new accrediting body, the Commission for Public Higher Education, created uncertainty for Academic Affairs that the audit plan would monitor.
"We met with each member of the President's Cabinet, as well as department heads from Information Technology Services, Athletics, the Office of Institutional Ethics and Compliance and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, to determine the highest risk in their respective areas," Foster said during the meeting.
The work plan features audits the committee highlighted as priorities: a Board of Governors-required Performance-Based Funding Data Integrity audit, a proposed review of the President's Office expenses and targeted reviews of IT infrastructure and cybersecurity planning. Foster said the proposed President's Office audit was intended to demonstrate fiscal accountability following high-profile spending issues at other institutions and at the president's request to "lead by example." "President Aysegul Timur wanted to reinforce the importance of accountability and lead by example," Foster said.
Vice President for Administrative Services and Finance David Vazquez provided the committee an operational total for the President's Office from the prior year, saying "the operational expenses in the Office of the President last year was approximately $4.1 million," including presidential and direct-report salaries.
Foster also flagged potential external funding risks: changes under discussion at the federal level that could reduce indirect cost reimbursements for sponsored research, and possible cuts to Corporation for Public Broadcasting funding that "could result in an 18 percent reduction in funding for WGCU," FGCU's public media service, he said.
Committee members pressed on information-technology risks and the university's approach to artificial intelligence. Trustee Leo Montgomery asked whether AI models that influence financial statements would be subject to audit. Associate Vice President and Chief Information Officer Mary Banks said FGCU was engaging on AI through academic and enterprise partnerships, that enterprise agreements and ITS approval currently protect university data, and that a formal AI policy remained under development.
The committee voted unanimously to approve the risk assessment; Chair Joseph Fogg said the committee would recommend the item to the full Board on Sept. 9.
Next steps: the work plan and any resulting audit schedules will be circulated to committee members and presented for full Board consideration at the Sept. 9 meeting.
