April 1st 2024.
A recent investigation into Tennessee State University has revealed some concerning issues regarding the school's management of its finances and core responsibilities. The audit, conducted by CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, uncovered 57 observations and 60 recommendations, highlighting areas where the university fell short in budget monitoring, tuition collection, and scholarship distribution.
One of the most troubling findings was that University president Glenda Glover had received an additional $33,000 on top of her contracted salary without proper approval. This lack of oversight was a recurring theme throughout the audit, with auditors also noting a significant increase in scholarship funding from $22 million to over $55 million in just three years. While this may seem like positive news, the auditors deemed it "not sustainable" and found that the university lacked the necessary documentation and criteria for awarding these financial stipends.
The audit also uncovered issues with enrollment and student account balances. Despite students having unpaid balances, they were still allowed to enroll in courses. Additionally, the university failed to charge over $1 million in tuition for graduate students taking classes related to dissertation, thesis, or project writing continuation.
Another concerning aspect of the audit was the discovery of $3,952.92 in unexplained payments labeled as "University business." This lack of transparency raised questions about the university's financial practices and management.
According to the report, these findings were not new, as similar issues had been reported in the past five annual audits of TSU. The Tennessee Comptroller's Office, which released the audit, also published two other reports highlighting the university's handling of federal grant awards and financial aid for students. These reports found similar errors and led to the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation withholding grant and scholarship payments from TSU.
In response to the audit, TSU released a statement acknowledging some discrepancies but also stating that the findings covered a period that began in 2021 and did not reflect the improvements made in the past two years. The statement also pointed out that the audits did not mention the significant underfunding of TSU, which a federal analysis had revealed to be $2.1 billion between 1987 and 2020.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing TSU in a case against the state of Tennessee, spoke about the impact of this underfunding on the Black community and the importance of education as a means to bridge the wealth gap. He called on the Tennessee legislature to rectify this historic deficit and make things right for TSU.
In addition to the financial audit, there have been other developments concerning TSU. In October 2023, GOP Governor Bill Lee stripped the university of its Board of Trustees, sparking controversy and backlash. This latest audit only adds to the challenges that TSU is facing, and it remains to be seen how the university will address these issues and move forward.
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