MSCHE/ACOE Self Study

is driven by the College’s Strategic Plan. The document Strategic Planning Process for SUNY College of Optometry (Appendix A-8) provides an overview of the planning and budgeting process. As a state-operated entity, the College is subject to all of the rules, regulations, operating and audit procedures that govern any state agency. Information systems with regard to financial operations (purchasing, payroll, personnel, etc.) are linked to the SUNY system-wide network, the Office of the State Comptroller and the Department of Civil Service. The College follows the State University of New York Administrative Procedures Manual (http://www.suny.edu/FinanceandBusiness/FBAdmProc.cfm.). A User Procedures Manual issued by the New York State Office of the Comptroller details the requirements of State agencies relating to procurement, accounting, revenue, appropriations, internal control and general financial management (please see http://www.osc.state.ny.us/agencies/accmanual/index.htm). The College provides departmental managers access to a SUNY system-developed monitoring tool (SUNY Management Resource Tool = SMRT) on the SUNY portal, wherein the managers can view the accounts under their responsibility on a real-time basis. The State Comptroller audits, on a cyclical basis, each State agency. Audits that focus on specific areas are also conducted regularly by SUNY System Administration. Since SUNY State College of Optometry is part of the State University of New York’s system, it does not have campus-specific audited financial statements or management letters. Typically, campuses within SUNY do not have audited financial statements or management letters. The College is held accountable within the systems of the University and State of New York. All campus fiscal information is fed to the SUNY Controller’s Office who compiles the campus information with others within the SUNY system to produce consolidated financial statements which are then audited by an independent auditor. The information is available in the integrated post secondary education data system (IPEDS) database. The State University of New York State College of Optometry is financially sound. Its all-funds financial condition, as evidenced in the attached IPEDS data (Appendices D-9a and D-9b) for the periods FY 2002 – 03 through FY 2009 – 10, indicates steady growth in Total All Revenues & Other Additions. These data also indicate that Total Expenses & Deductions track revenues appropriately; spending is kept to within the institution’s available resources. The Internal Control Act, more specifically referred to as the New York State Governmental Accountability, Audit and Internal Control Act (originated in Chapter 814 of the Laws of 1987, then made permanent in Chapter 510 of the Laws of 1999), requires that all State agencies, including SUNY institute a formal internal control program. Internal controls are designed to promote performance

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