January 13, 1998

The Cadre

Audit uproar

Value for Money audit

By Todd MacLean

Opinions on the Value for Money Audit presently being conducted on UPEI by the provincial government are varied. Mostare in opposition to the audit, particularly UPEI President Elizabeth Epperly, but others feel that such strong opinions towards the audit may be unwarranted.

Themaincriticism of the audit is its inappropriateness, which was explained ina letter sent by Dr. Epperly to the Minister of Education on the day that the audit was made

public.

“This Value for Money Audit is not really about how much money we spend; the proposed audit is an intrusive

examination of . How

would the Auditor

pose to determine the value of s?” wrote Epperly.

The problem lies in the

fact that the government is claiming to “know best” what

s the university should offer. The university’s aca-

demic s are already cousin externally re- viewed on a regular basis by experts in the respective fields, and it is felt that this govern- ment audit, with its extensive criticisms, will only giveanega- tive impression of the univer- sity.

“Audits like this only nothing positive will come out of it,” said Janice Broderick, Student Union President.

“They will simply be ‘nitpicking’ our Liberal Arts

"I think she had every right to do it, and it was an

excellent letter. Gillan said he'd tell her ifthe audit was going to take place, and when he didn’t, she obviously had a right to be frustrated."

In fact, ina Senate meet- ing on December 5, 1997, the day after the public announce- ment was made, Epperly men- tioned that prior to the an- nouncement she had been told that there would no be such an audit at all.

Even as the Value for Money Audit is underway, exactly what is being audited is still hazy within the univer- sity community. Beyond a study of academic programs, little is known about the audit. Its purpose, and what is ex- pected from the results, is rather unclear.

“The question of ‘what’s in it?’ is a major con- cern,” said Faculty Associa- tion Head, Gerald Johnson. “We know that they’ re basing their study on so-called ‘per- formance indicators’ however, what is being studied is still unknown.”

Johnson explained that “because the faculty are con- stantly being evaluated in many ways, we are quite open [to the audit), and have no prob- lem with yet another evalua- tion taking place. Evaluation by another te ee ay non-concerning. [Epperly is Seoteaten andoppeeciots tht

matter, and appreciates the faculty are used to this.” iversity’s Board

community, according to Broderick.

But she also made it evi- ners for harm shouldn't be taken

“When an audit was con- ducted at a university in Lethbridge, Alberta, the fac- ulty went on strike, the presi- dent was fired, and the univer- sity was basically put in ‘limbo’ for an entire year.”

The question of UPEI's autonomy is also arising as a

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result of the audit. In her letter, Epperly wrote, “We are nota government department; we are not a business...To be

vital and sive the Uni- versity must be fully responsi- ble for its own programs.” The assistance of the AUCC and the AAU will be sought on

o f

this issue.

There will be opportuni- ties during the process for the University to question the au- dit’s activity, and also to re- view and to comment upon the final report when it is finished, before its release.

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