I want to take this opportunity to affirm my personal commitment to internal control awareness and risk management. Internal controls are the operating practices, reporting relationships, policies and procedures adopted by the University to help achieve our goals and objectives. They help to ensure effectiveness and efficiency of operations, reliability of financial reporting, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Within an internal control system, the most important element is the control environment, the organization's ethical values, integrity, competence, and operating philosophy. Each individual faculty and staff member shares responsibility for this environment.

During the past two years, many of you have participated in risk assessments, internal control reviews and training programs. Many of you have also given serious thought to the control environment and have taken steps to strengthen that environment. Many thanks to those of you who have participated in this process and I urge your continued full support and participation in related training and assessment opportunities as the internal control team continues to make its way around campus.

In order to make the required internal control training more convenient for both faculty and staff, we have implemented an , which can be viewed 24/7. I encourage each of you to devote about 20 minutes of your valuable time to view the presentation.

Should you have questions about the University's internal control program, or should you want to schedule a training session or private consultation, please contact Ms. Darri Scalzo, Assistant Internal Control Coordinator, at 442-3073. Questions or observations may also be sent, anonymously if desired, to the internal control hotline, at 437-4738.

Thank you again for your participation.