Today, the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor (OSA) published an investigative audit related to university-issued credit card transactions by Fayetteville State University (FSU) staff.
The investigative audit was prompted by allegations that employees in FSU’s Office of Strategic Communication (OSC) had made impermissible purchases on their university-issued purchase and travel credit cards. The investigation found that OSC staff made credit card purchases totaling $692,239 between January 1, 2022, and August 31, 2023, that were impermissible and or did not contain sufficient documentation.
FSU has issued a response agreeing with all audit findings and submitted a detailed plan to improve its internal processes related to each finding, including campus-wide training on purchase and travel card policies and the hiring of internal auditors.
“FSU’s leadership has been forthcoming, collaborative, and solutions-oriented throughout this process,” stated State Auditor Jessica N. Holmes, J.D. “We appreciate their assistance in helping us identify and work together to address these issues and strengthen their internal protocols.”
Following today’s report, OSA’s findings from the investigative audit will be referred to the State Bureau of Investigation to determine if there is sufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges.
Click here to read the full report.