SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
NORMAL, Ala. — Alabama A&M University (AAMU), a historic and vital institution of higher learning in North Alabama, is demonstrating leadership, transparency, and resolve in response to a recent state audit that highlighted several areas of administrative improvement.
The audit, released by the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts and covering fiscal years 2019 through 2022, identified seven non-compliance findings—ranging from internal recordkeeping to property reporting. University officials have responded by implementing key reforms and demonstrating a firm commitment to financial excellence and institutional accountability.
“We are aware of the findings from 2020 and 2021 which occurred during the previous administration,” said Carlton Spellman, Vice President for Business and Finance at AAMU, in a statement to AL.com. “We have made various corrections and are confident that we are moving in the right direction.”
Audit Findings and Constructive Response
According to the audit source: Yahoo News, areas needing attention included:
• Athletic Ticket Accountability: The audit cited the need for documented oversight of printed, sold, and complimentary tickets. In response, AAMU has now fully implemented a cashless ticketing system across all athletic events, aligning with modern best practices.
• Bank and Ledger Reconciliations: The audit noted untimely reconciliation of financial accounts and lack of proper documentation. AAMU has since moved to implement new procedures for timely reviews and approvals.
• Payroll Oversight: One isolated incident of employee overpayment occurred due to a clerical form error. The university has reinforced its payroll verification process to prevent future discrepancies.
• Unclaimed Property Compliance: The university was advised to better track and report outstanding checks. AAMU is updating its policy framework in line with the Code of Alabama 1975, to ensure full compliance moving forward.
• Procurement and Purchasing: One violation involved unauthorized grain sales at the Winfred Thomas Agricultural Research Station. AAMU has recommitted to ensuring all acquisitions follow formal bidding and purchase order procedures.
Despite these findings, the audit did not cite misuse of funds, and the university has received recognition for its proactive stance on correcting the issues, much of which originated under a prior administration.
🧭 A Roadmap for Growth
This chapter comes at a pivotal time for AAMU, which is also advancing major initiatives such as a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) study in partnership with city and regional planners to improve community access and campus growth.
With its Board of Trustees scheduled to meet on June 27, the university is expected to outline ongoing steps to elevate operational excellence and reassure stakeholders of its solid financial stewardship.