REPORT DIGEST NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY FINANCIAL AUDIT FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2018 Release Date: January 29, 2018 FINDINGS THIS AUDIT: 1 CATEGORY: NEW -- REPEAT -- TOTAL Category 1: 0 -- 0 -- 0 Category 2: 1 -- 0 -- 1 Category 3: 0 -- 0 -- 0 TOTAL: 1 -- 0 -- 1 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 the Northeastern Illinois University’s (University) Financial Audit as of and for the year ended June 30, 2018. The University’s Compliance Examination (including the Single Audit) covering the year ended June 30, 2018 will be issued at a later date. SYNOPSIS • (18-01) The University did not establish and implement adequate internal control procedures over student receivables and tuition billings. FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS INADEQUATE CONTROLS OVER STUDENT RECEIVABLES AND TUITION BILLINGS The University did not establish and implement adequate internal control procedures over student receivables and tuition billings. We noted the following: • The University improperly classified student accounts with credit balances against students’ receivable. In our testing of receivable aging schedule of 47 students, we noted two (4%) student accounts had credit balances totaling $1,780. The credit balances pertained to student overpayments from prior years which were supposedly refunded to students. As of June 30, 2018, there were 837 students with credit balances totaling $311,155. The University subsequently reclassified the credit balances to accounts payable. • The University did not ensure correct tuition rates were billed to students. In our testing of tuition fee billings of 25 students, we noted three (12%) students erroneously billed lower tuition rates than the approved student tuition rates by the University’s Board of Trustees. These students were noted to be included under the fall 2011, summer 2013 and second bachelor’s cohorts. As of June 30, 2018, there were 86 students incorrectly billed totaling $16,397. (Finding 1, pages 69-70) We recommended University management provide adequate oversight over student receivables and tuition billings to ensure student accounts are properly classified in the financial statements and students are billed with accurate student tuition fee rates. University officials agreed with the recommendation and stated going forward, the University will increase the frequency in running necessary procedures to address student credit balances and implement a secondary review when applying new tuitions rates in the system. AUDITOR’S OPINION The auditors stated the financial statements of the University as of and for the year ended June 30, 2018 are fairly stated in all material respects. This financial audit was conducted by E.C. Ortiz & Co., 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:JGR