Finding 1177814 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
B
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-03-10
Audit: 391175
Organization: Antioch College Corporation (OH)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The College has borrowed from its endowment funds, risking compliance with Ohio UPMIFA and donor restrictions.
  • Impacted Requirements: The fair value of donor-restricted endowment assets has fallen below required levels, violating prudent management standards.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Develop long-term financial plans to restore endowment stability and ensure compliance with donor intentions.

Finding Text

Finding 2025-001 - Material Weakness - Borrowings from Endowment Fund Criteria: Ohio Revised Code 1715.53 (Ohio UPMIFA) Appropriations from net appreciation states that "an institution may appropriate for expenditure or accumulate so much of an endowment fund as the institution determines is prudent for the uses, benefits, purposes, and duration for which an endowment fund is established. Unless stated otherwise in the gift instrument, the assets in an endowment fund are donor-restricted assets until appropriated for expenditure by the institution. In making a determination to appropriate or accumulate, the institution shall act in good faith, with the care that an ordinary prudent person in a like position would exercise under similar circumstances." Condition: The College has borrowed from its endowment funds for campus renovations and to cover certain operating expenses of the College prior to and immediately following its accreditation and approval to participate in federal student financial aid programs. As such, the fair value of assets associated with the donor-restricted endowment funds has fallen below the level that the donor or UPMIFA requires the College to retain as a fund of perpetual duration. Cause: When the purchase of the College happened in 2009, the buildings were in such despair that they were not able to be used. The College deemed it prudent to borrow from endowment to repair the buildings to be able to meet accreditation standards. Effect or potential effect: The judgment of the Board of Trustees is that the endowment exists for the sole purpose of benefiting the College and that the continuing operation of the College could not be assured without borrowing of funds from the endowment. Potential effect is that donor would not agree with "prudence" of the borrowing of the endowment funds. Recommendation: The College should continue to work long-term plans for maintaining and sustaining financial stability and full restoration of the endowment. Repeat finding: Yes. Prior year finding number 2024-001. The College was not in financial position to repay loans from endowments. Views of responsible officials: See attached.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding 2025-001 - Material Weakness - Borrowings from Endowment Fund Condition Found: The College has borrowed from its endowment funds for campus renovations and to cover certain operating expenses of the College prior to and immediately following its accreditation and approval to participate in federal student financial aid programs. As such, the fair value of assets associated with the donor-restricted endowment funds has fallen below the level that the donor or UPMIFA requires the College to retain as a fund of perpetual duration. Corrective Action Plan: Antioch College obtained guidance from legal counsel regarding the appropriateness of borrowing from the endowment fund under Ohio UPMIFA. Borrowing from the endowment fund by Antioch College was approved by order of Judge Robert Hagler of the Probate Division of the Court of Common Pleas of Greene County, Ohio, in 2013, and Judge Hagler declared in the order the endowment loans “are prudent ‘investment decisions’ pursuant to Ohio Revised Code §1715.52.” [Antioch College Corporation, et al. vs. Antioch University, et al., Greene C.P. No. 10938MIS (Feb. 14, 2013)]. March 6, 2020 forensic audit of the endowment by CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, noted Antioch College has appropriately accounted for endowment transaction. Antioch College has developed long-term plans for maintaining and sustaining its financial stability through key strategies outlined in the board-approved Social Enterprise and Enrollment (SEE) Plan:  Investing in advancement capacity for increased revenue across all areas including annual giving, major gifts, grant income, and events  Identifying a core college footprint and reducing ongoing facilities expenses through building sale, investment, and/or long-term leasing, considering our needs today and in the future  Adjusting financial aid packages and increasing student-derived revenue  Investing in increasing admissions of new and varied students (UG, transfer, incarcerated, adult, visiting) from all religions, races, ethnicities, political ideologies, abilities, genders, gender expressions, sexualities, languages, countries of origin, nationalities, and retention of current students resulting in higher overall enrollment numbers  Adopting and implementing interdisciplinary curriculum pathways and generating these developments as noteworthy through strategic communications and highlighting our world-class faculty  Supporting learning hubs to sustain the cost of their operations through earned and philanthropic revenues, alongside contributing to college overhead  Working towards a sustainable cost structure and business model that keeps us from borrowing from restricted sources, strengthens our financial position, and enables us to begin repaying our endowment over time  Exploring, but not relying on, potential game changers, including the Federal Work College model, transfer pathways, prison education, and community-based learning Office of the President One Morgan Place Yellow Springs, OH 45387 Antioch College is seeing success with the SEE Plan. In 2024, Antioch College was designated a Federal Work College. Advancement continues to meet and exceed revenue goals, including the 2025 End of Year Campaign. Antioch College continues to reduce expenses by “right sizing” both campus footprint and staff, including the prior sale of the old Student Union and pending property sales in fiscal year 2026. Investments in enrollment are succeeding as demonstrated by the record (post 2011 reopening) Winter-term enrollment achieved in January 2026. As Antioch College continues to improve long-term financial stability, in December 2025, its Board of Trustees has established an Endowment Repayment Plan Working Group. The Endowment Repayment Plan Working Group is tasked with assessing and considering options for repayment of borrowed endowment funds, and then reporting back to the Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees. Person Responsible for Corrective Action Plan Implementation: Board of Trustees

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Material Weakness Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1177815 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $492,598
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $414,390
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $299,908
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $32,711