REPORT DIGEST EASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY FINANCIAL AUDIT FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2021 Release Date: June 22, 2022 FINDINGS THIS AUDIT: 1 CATEGORY: NEW -- REPEAT – TOTAL Category 1: 0 -- 1 -- 0 Category 2: 0 -- 0 -- 0 Category 3: 0 -- 0 -- 0 TOTAL: 0 -- 1 -- 0 FINDINGS LAST AUDIT: 1 Category 1: Findings that are material weaknesses in internal control and/or a qualification on compliance with State laws and regulations (material noncompliance). Category 2: Findings that are significant deficiencies in internal control and noncompliance with State laws and regulations. Category 3: Findings that have no internal control issues but are in noncompliance with State laws and regulations. State of Illinois, Office of the Auditor General FRANK J. MAUTINO, AUDITOR GENERAL To obtain a copy of the Report contact: Office of the Auditor General, Iles Park Plaza, 740 E. Ash Street, Springfield, IL 62703 (217) 782-6046 or TTY (888) 261-2887 This Report Digest and Full Report are also available on the worldwide web at www.auditor.illinois.gov INTRODUCTION This digest covers Eastern Illinois University’s Financial Audit as of and for the year ended June 30, 2021. Eastern Illinois University’s Compliance Examination and Single Audit covering the year ended June 30, 2021 will be issued separately at a later date. SYNOPSIS • (21-01) The University did not have adequate internal control over reporting its census data and did not have a reconciliation process to provide assurance census data submitted to its pension and other postemployment benefits (OPEB) plans was complete and accurate. FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS INADEQUATE INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER CENSUS DATA Eastern Illinois University (University) did not have adequate internal control over reporting its census data and did not have a reconciliation process to provide assurance census data submitted to its pension and other postemployment benefits (OPEB) plans was complete and accurate. During testing, some of the more significant issues we noted include the following: • The University had not performed an initial complete reconciliation of its census data recorded by SURS and CMS to its internal records to establish a base year of complete and accurate data. • We noted 31 of 537 (6%) instructors were deemed ineligible by the University, when they should have been reported to SURS. SURS determined the total potential impact to each instructor’s total service credit to be that could be off by .25 to 6 years. (Finding 1, pages 5-8) We recommended the University continue to implement controls to ensure census data events are timely and accurately reported to SURS. Further, we recommended the University continue to work with SURS to annually reconcile its active members’ census data from its underlying records to a report of census data submitted to SURS’ actuary and CMS’ actuary. Finally, we recommended the University work with SURS and CMS to identify and address any unremitted or erroneously remitted employee and, if applicable, employer contributions related to these events. The University agreed with the recommendation. AUDITOR’S OPINION The auditors stated the financial statements of the University as of and for the year ended June 30, 2021, are fairly stated in all material respects. This financial audit was conducted by Sikich LLP JANE CLARK Division Director This report is transmitted in accordance with Section 3-14 of the Illinois State Auditing Act. FRANK J. MAUTINO Auditor General FJM:PH