E-mail this pageSUNY Plattsburgh Internal Control Program
Memo from President Ettling
Date: March 27, 2009
To: Campus Community
From: John Ettling, President
Re: Internal Controls at SUNY Plattsburgh
I want to take this opportunity to affirm my personal commitment to internal control awareness and risk management at SUNY Plattsburgh. Internal controls are those actions an organization takes to help ensure the accomplishment of its goals and objectives such as operating practices, reporting relationships, and policies and procedures that help the college to function effectively and efficiently. Strong internal controls reduce waste and the improper use of resources and help the college to comply with applicable laws and regulations. All of us play an important role in this effort because it is the ethical values, integrity, competence and hard work of an organization's people that ultimately make it successful.
In accordance with the New York State Governmental Accountability, Audit and Internal Control Act of 1987, SUNY Plattsburgh established a program to evaluate the overall state of the college's internal control systems and report deficiencies. The Internal Control Program uses a committee structure (the Internal Control Committee or ICC) to coordinate reviews in selected areas of the campus that, by the nature of the activities involved, present potential risks to the college. During the past year, several areas were reviewed to determine the effectiveness of existing controls including; procurement, human resource services, information security and payroll. The reviews resulted in some suggested changes to our operating practices, though in general, the existing internal controls were found to be acceptable. Many thanks to those of you, who have participated in the reviews, and I urge your continued full support and participation in keeping our risks low.
Being good stewards of the resources entrusted to us, modeling ethical behavior while meeting our job requirements, and suggesting opportunities for improvement are ways that we can all put these core values into practice every day. Establishing and then following good systems of internal control are a means by which we incorporate these values into the fabric of our departments and offices.
I hope you will take the time to review the brochure, "Introduction to Internal Control," which was recently sent to each employee through campus mail. The brochure and other information about our Internal Control Program at SUNY Plattsburgh are available on line at www.plattsburgh.edu/president/internalcontrolhome.php.
Should you have questions about the Internal Control Program or want to schedule a training session or individual meeting, please contact Mr. John Homburger, Vice President for Administration, (564-2130) or David Gregoire, Internal Control Coordinator, 564-3613.
Internal Control Hotline
Faculty, staff, and students who suspect intentional or unintentional misuse involving state funds, equipment, supplies or other irregular or unethical practices may anonymously report matters of concern to the Internal Control Committee through the Internal Control Hotline (voice mailbox) at 866-633-6112. Your information – not your name – could prove useful in reducing losses.
2009 Internal Control Committee
John Homburger (ext. 2130)
Vice President for Administration
Internal Control OfficerDave Gregoire (ext. 3613)
Director of Advancement Services, Institutional Advancement
Internal Control CoordinatorClark Foster (ext. 3601)
Budget Control Officer, BudgetingDr. Patricia Higgins (ext. 2195)
Associate Vice President for Academic AffairsDiana LaPorte (ext. 2539)
Assistant Vice President for Administration and Management ServicesJanet McDowell (ext. 3013)
Staff Associate, Computer Information SystemsDiane Merkel (ext. 2195)
Assistant to the ProvostMatthew Salvatore (ext. 3142)
Fitness Center DirectorKeith Tyo (ext. 3930)
Executive Assistant to the PresidentDiane Wyand (ext. 2130)
Controller, AccountingCindy Fuller (ext. 2538)
Information Technology Specialist, Management Services
Recorder