AUDIT & ADVISORY SERVICES
Newsletter - Summer 2023
USC Aiken Fountain
In this issue:
  • Operational – FY 2023-2024 Audit Plan
  • IT Security – Online Shopping
  • International Collaboration
  • Gold Star Audit Client
  • USC Integrity Line – Outside Personal Businesses
  • Quality Assurance Review
  • News Links
  • Contact Information
Operational - FY 2023-2024 Audit Plan

As required by policy BTRU 1.06 – Audit & Advisory Services, our department recently completed its University-wide risk assessment with input from University leadership to identify high risk areas.  This annual exercise served as the primary input to the development of our risk-based audit plan for Fiscal Year 2023-24, which was presented to, and approved by, the Audit, Compliance and Risk Committee in its June meeting.

 

What we heard from many of the nearly 60 leaders interviewed included topics that seem to be dominating the nightly news, from the challenge of hiring and retaining talent, to the health and safety of our University community, to the loss or compromise of sensitive data.

 

In addition to the audits listed below, we reserve a set number of hours annually for advisory services.  If your department is implementing new procedures or is looking for cost savings and process efficiencies, we are available to provide consulting services or to participate on committees in an advisory capacity. If there's anything we can do for your department, please contact us at (803) 777-2752 or aaservcs@mailbox.sc.edu.

Academics/Student Support

  • Financial Aid Abatements/Withdrawal Funds
  • Mental Health – Comprehensives

 

Compliance/Human Resources

  • ADA Compliance
  • Employee Classification and Compensation
  • Title IX Operations

 

Financial

  • HEERF Fund Expenditures

 

Information Technology

  • Cybersecurity – Data Leak Protections
  • Cybersecurity – Federal Sponsors (NSPM-33)
  • Cybersecurity – Remote Access Management
  • Cybersecurity – Secure Configuration of Assets
  • Managed Human Resources
  • Managed Service Agreements
  • Strategic Planning
  • Suppliers and Third-Party Risk

Operational

  • College Business Operations – School of Law
  • Transportation Services – Columbia
  • University Policies and Procedures
  • USC Beaufort Business Operations

Research

  • Grant Accounting

 

Safety

  • Campus Safety Training – Columbia

 

Strategic

  • Artificial Intelligence – Advisory

 

Reviews Required by Policy or Charter

  • Board Office and President’s Expenses
  • Follow-up Reviews for Outstanding Audit Issues
  • IT Investment Analysis
  • Management Advisory Reviews
  • Special Investigations/Internal Control Reviews
IT Security - Online Shopping

It is so convenient to shop online at Amazon, Best Buy, etc., and have packages delivered directly to the University or to your home, avoiding traffic and crowds.  When you consider travelling (within and outside the country), we arrange lodging, transportation, and food (online ordering or dine-in reservations) mostly through our internet and apps.  Yes, the internet is convenient, but it is also risky.  It is important to take steps to protect yourself and the University when shopping online.  The Cyber-Shopping Safely handout provides guidance on “what to do” before and after making purchases online.  May the knowledge be with you.
International Collaborations

 

University of South Carolina strongly supports and values international collaboration. Faculty and staff often work with a range of partners around the world in their area of expertise (researchers, students, universities, government entities, etc.) While recognizing the value of international collaboration, USC employees must also be transparent about their involvement with foreign entities. The Office of Research Compliance (ORC) has compiled helpful resources and FAQs to support faculty and staff as they navigate important considerations working with international partners. Please visit the International Collaboration page to learn more.
Gold Star Audit Client: Counseling & Psychiatry Services

Audit & Advisory Services recently completed an audit of the University’s efforts regarding Mental Health Access and Awareness.  In this article, we spotlight some of the efforts being made by Counseling and Psychiatry Services, located within Student Health Services.

 

Counseling and Psychiatry Services behavioral health clinicians provide essential therapy and emotional wellness services for students on the University’s Columbia campus, including consultations, counseling, crisis interventions, community referrals, educational outreach, preventive programs, psychiatric evaluations, and medication management.  Counseling services include both individual and group counseling options, providing a powerful venue for growth and change to address commonly faced issues.

Beginning with the Fall 2022 semester, mental health resources were expanded to include a 24/7 mental health support line.  A free app (CampusWell), as well as a wellness hub website (Thrive@Carolina), were also introduced, increasing access for students to more mental health-related resources.  Since its inception, approximately 500 calls have been made to the 24/7 support line, with the wellness hub website receiving more than 6,200 visits.

 

Services may also be accessed by booking online via MyHealthSpace or by calling (803) 777-5223.  Walk-in appointments are available each afternoon until 4:00 pm, with same day/single session appointments available at 8:00 am.
 
AAS commends Counseling and Psychiatry Services for the great work they do for the University community.
USC Integrity Line - Outside Personal Businesses

Improper solicitation, conflicts of interest and the intermingling of university resources with personal businesses is prohibited.  Make sure you properly disclose these on the University’s Conflict of Interest disclosure system (AIR) and that you have developed a management plan that ensures you are doing all the right things to comply with university policies.

 

If you have a personal business, you must first get permission from your supervisor (HR 1.30, Outside Employment and/or ACAF 1.50, Outside Professional Activities).  If this disclosure has the potential for a conflict of interest, a management plan should be developed with assistance from your supervisor or the Conflict of Interest Manager, Frank DiSilvestro (BTRU 1.18, Conflict of Interest and/or RSCH 1.06, Disclosure of Financial Interests and Management of Conflicts of Interests Related to Sponsored Projects (Research)).

 

Some other areas to consider in your pursuit of following relevant policies:

  • solicitation by university employees for non-university sponsored activities on university property during working time is prohibited regardless of whether the solicitation occurs in the work area or not (HR 1.48, Solicitation and Distribution). 
  • you may not use USC's name or letterhead and may not imply University endorsement when engaged in private activities, personal business or public advocacy (BTRU 1.12, Use of University of South Carolina Name).
  • the use university resources or equipment for a personal business is prohibited by (HR 1.30, Outside Employment and/or ACAF 1.50, Outside Professional Activities).

 

Allegations related to personal business activities are sometimes reported to the USC Integrity Line.  It is important to know the relevant University policies, be transparent by disclosing personal businesses on the conflict of interest disclosure system and make the necessary arrangements to comply with policies.

 
* * *

 

USC Integrity Line Reporting

 

You can report your concern anonymously to the USC Integrity Line:

Reports are shared with a select group of three individuals:

  • Chair of the Audit, Compliance and Risk Committee of the Board of Trustees
  • Chief Audit Executive
  • General Counsel

These individuals determine the appropriate path forward for investigating your report.

Click here for more information on the USC Integrity Line
Quality Assurance Review

Back in the Winter 2023 newsletter, we told you about a professional standard that requires the internal audit function to be audited every 5 years by a qualified and independent assessor or assessment team.  This is called an external Quality Assurance Review (QAR).  Our QAR team consisted of well-respected Chief Auditors from four peer institutions.

 

Audit & Advisory Services (AAS) had their QAR performed this past Spring and presented the report to the Audit, Compliance and Risk Committee of the Board of Trustees in June.  We were found by the QAR Team to “Generally Conform” to our professional standards -- Generally Conforms is the best conclusion you can get from a QAR – go figure!  The report also included accolades about the best practices we provide to the university, such as our robust and inclusive risk assessment process and our productive and professional staff.

 

We are proud of the QAR report we received and the accomplishments our team has made over the years.  We look forward to serving USC with value-added audit and advisory services for many more years to come.
News Links
Contact Audit & Advisory Services
1600 Hampton St.
Suite 610
Columbia, SC 29208
 
Website: sc.edu/audit
Email: AAServcs@mailbox.sc.edu
Phone: 803-777-2752

Have suggestions or requests for future newsletter topics? Send us an email.
 

Archived Newsletters

Spring 2023

Winter 2023

Fall 2022

Spring 2022


 

Photos (from top to bottom): USC Lancaster, Stock photo by Anna Shevets, Stock photo by Valentin Antonucci, Stock photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich, USC Beaufort, Stock photo by Rovenimages
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1600 Hampton St., Columbia, SC, 29208