Office of Internal Control

Dear Faculty and Staff,

Upholding strong internal controls is fundamental to building and maintaining trust across our College community. These controls help us safeguard our shared resources, foster a culture of accountability, and enable all of us to work with confidence that we’re meeting our obligations to each other, to our students, and to the broader regulations that govern our institution and the State of New York. When our internal controls are strong, we can focus our energy on our mission, knowing that we’re operating effectively and minimizing the risk of errors, irregularities, and wasted resources.

This responsibility rests with each of us, especially those serving in leadership and supervisory roles. We ask that you take time to familiarize yourself with the information below and help ensure that your team members understand these policies, which allow us to serve our community with integrity and purpose.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to operating from a place of accountability, ethics, and mutual trust. Your diligence in this area makes a real difference in the health and effectiveness of our institution.

Michael E. Steiper, Ph.D.
President

February 9, 2026

 

About Internal Control at Purchase College

In 1987, the Legislature enacted a law entitled 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).

Internal control is a process that integrates activities, plans, attitudes, policies, systems, and resources designed to provide reasonable assurance that Purchase College will achieve its objectives and mission. The objectives of an internal control system include the safeguarding of assets, checking accuracy and reliability of accounting data and financial reporting, promoting effectiveness and efficiency of operations, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and adherence to prescribed policies. Internal control review processes are used to evaluate the ongoing internal control system and to assess and monitor the implementation of necessary corrective actions.

The Division of Budget (DOB) issued the Budget Policy and Reporting Manual Item B-350, Governmental Internal Control and Internal Audit Requirements, which require certain internal control responsibilities and annual certification to DOB.

The requirements are:

1. Establish and maintain guidelines for a system of internal control.
2. Establish and maintain a system of internal controls and a program of internal control review.
3. Make available to employees a statement of policies and standards with which they are expected to comply.
4. Designate an Internal Control Officer to implement and review the internal control program.
5. Implement education and training to ensure employees have adequate awareness and understanding of internal control standards.
6. Evaluate the need for an Internal Audit function.

 

Our Internal Control Officer (ICO), Darrell Perkins, is responsible for the development, maintenance, and testing of a college-wide Internal Control Program which includes all sectors and divisions. Appropriate compliance with all New York State and SUNY regulations are evaluated annually and communicated to me so that I may formally certify the College’s compliance.

For additional information on our internal control program, please contact Darrell at x6016 or via email to internal.control@purchase.edu.