Internal auditing is an independent appraisal function established within an organization to examine and evaluate its activities as a service to the organization. The Department of Internal Audit at Michigan Tech is independent of the University’s operational activities to assure complete objectivity when conducting audits.
During an audit, the internal auditor has full access to all University records, properties, and personnel relevant to the subject under review and is free to review and appraise policies, plans, procedures, and records.
The department’s responsibilities are outlined on the Board of Trustees website as well as below.
- Conduct reviews and evaluations of management practices and procedures at Michigan
Tech. Reviews include but are not limited to the following:
- evaluations of internal control systems to determine their adequacy for the protection of institutional assets, the production of accurate and reliable information, and the assurance that institutional policies and procedures, state and federal laws, and contractual policies are followed;
- determinations as to whether University resources (personnel, property, funds, etc.) are being utilized in an economical and efficient manner, including the underlying causes of any inefficiencies or wasteful practices;
- determinations as to whether the desired results or benefits are being achieved from approved programs; and
- formulating recommendations to management for improvement in, or correction of, practices and procedures.
- Conduct special studies of procedural or problem areas as requested by appropriate levels of management.
- Review information systems to ensure that they are adequately defined, properly justified, documented, and include the necessary internal controls.
- Issue reports on the result of completed reviews, discuss these reports with appropriate levels of management, and distribute them to the University’s Board of Trustees, president, and other levels of management as deemed appropriate.
- Conduct follow-up on previously reported recommendations.