The University initiated a thorough inventory process, including a requirement to tag and photograph all assets, during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024. The inventory process was started on schedule in May 2024, and departments were asked to complete their inventory procedures and sign off on th...
The University initiated a thorough inventory process, including a requirement to tag and photograph all assets, during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024. The inventory process was started on schedule in May 2024, and departments were asked to complete their inventory procedures and sign off on the inventory reports by June 2024. Despite the additional complications created by the University’s campus relocation project necessitated by the closure of the Hawai‘i Loa campus and the construction of the science laboratories, 91% of the departments completed their inventories prior to June 30, 2024. The remaining 9% of departments completed their inventories after requesting an extension and/or providing additional details on the requested inventory items in the meantime, and these inventories were completed during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. These results demonstrate improvement and progress compared to the prior year’s finding in this area and illustrate the University’s commitment to adhering to tits fixed asset inventory processes and procedures.
The University is committed to addressing these issues promptly and effectively to ensure compliance with federal regulations. Accordingly, the University will complete the following tasks to correct this repeat finding:
1) Assess the allocation of resources. Assess the resources required to complete physical inventories and reconciliations timely. Allocate personnel, temporary assistance, and/or reassign staff duties as needed to support compliance with policy and regulation.
2) Review the inventory timeline and monitoring process. Assess, and if necessary, adjust the timeline for conducting and reconciling physical inventories of all department assets within the required two-year cycle. Consider modifying the time of the inventory to enable reconciliation prior to fiscal year-end. Evaluate whether shifting to a staggered inventory process to spread the workload throughout the year would assist with achieving compliance.
3) Leverage technology for inventory management. Identify ways to leverage the University’s existing ERP software alongside reporting technologies and techniques to aid in the inventory management and property reconciliation process. Use these tools to improve the efficiency and accuracy of inventory management.
4) Ensure the proper tagging of equipment. Conduct a review of all equipment items to ensure they are appropriately tagged or assigned unique identifiers in accordance with the Fixed Asset Policy and related regulations.
5) Train and guide staff and faculty who are responsible for asset management. Develop and provide training sessions for responsible staff and faculty on the inventory process, reconciliation procedures, and tagging requirements, to include individuals within the Business Office and located within the departments. Reinforce accountability and ensure consistent application of policies.
6) Monitor and report on the progress of the action plan by providing regular updates to Management.
Person(s) Responsible: Controller & Associate Vice President.
Targeted Correction Date: December 31, 2025.
Fiscal Year in which Finding Initially Occurred: 2023 (Finding Number 2023-003).