Winthrop audit could offer useful information

Winthrop University, like other public universities in the state, has faced economic challenges in recent years stemming from the recession, dwindling financial support from the state Legislature and flat enrollment numbers. A comprehensive audit by the Legislative Audit Council seems like a reasonable way to uncover any imminent problems and find ways to address them.

Seven Democratic state lawmakers, including Rep. John King of Rock Hill, called last month for an audit of the university. That sets in motion a process that could result in a decision by the middle of this month to conduct the audit.

That is not a sure thing. State law requires at least five legislators to sign a letter requesting the audit. Then the Legislative Audit Council board must decide whether a review is warranted.

But the board also could decide to delay action on King’s request.

King and the other six lawmakers who signed the letter are members of the Legislative Black Caucus. High on their list of reasons for requesting the audit was a concern about what they say is a lack of diversity in top leadership roles at the university.

Winthrop has been highly successful in recruiting black students and enrolling a higher percentage of African-Americans than nearly all public universities in the state. But auditors could provide insight into whether the makeup of faculty and staff reflect the same diversity in terms of race and gender.

We hope, however, that any audit also would take a close look at the overall financial health of the university. King asserts that Winthrop has been relying too heavily on its reserves in recent years.

Auditors could gauge if that is the case and, if so, what steps are needed to find other revenue sources in the months ahead.

It is important, we think, to get answers to these questions as Winthrop’s recently hired president, Dan Mahony, prepares to take office this summer. He would be president when the audit took place, and the information could prove crucial to how he decides to lead the school.

Winthrop has not had an audit since the mid-1990s. That audit occurred during a time of open hostility between the faculty and President Anthony DiGiorgio.

There is nothing approaching that level of belligerence now, and we hope that doesn’t change. We applaud Winthrop’s board for its apparent willingness to cooperate fully if an audit occurs. Board Chairwoman Kathy Bigham said the university respects the process King and other lawmakers have used to request the audit and that Winthrop officials are ready to answer any questions that might arise.

It appears that King and the other lawmakers who signed the audit request acted in the best interests of the university with no evident malicious intent. And we think a full review of the school’s policies and finances would benefit Winthrop, especially as it welcomes a new president.

This story was originally published April 2, 2015 at 6:18 PM with the headline "Winthrop audit could offer useful information."