To: Chief Administrative Business Officers                              Date: June 8, 19999

From: Richard West                                                                          Phone: (562) 591-4604
Executive Vice Chancellor/CFO
Business and Finance

Subject: Reporting of Auxiliary Financial Information in IPEDS

Over the last five years the CSU has made extraordinary strides in the area of financial accountability with the move to GAAP accounting and reporting of audited, consolidated financial statements. However, gaps remain in the consistency of the public information available.

As noted by campuses, external groups access and use campus financial information that varies significantly based on the source (i.e., campus publications, audited financial statements, IPEDS reports). IPEDS information is particularly accessible and is therefore most commonly used for campus comparisons and national rankings. IPEDS information is influential in determining Carnegie classifications and contract/grant solicitation.

It is in the best interest of the campuses and the CSU to minimize the information variances. One major step will be to include auxiliary financial information in the IPEDS reports submitted by the CSU and ensure that the total financial information reported is consistent with audited financial statements.

Given the fact that detail required for full IPEDS reporting may not be readily available from the CSU auxiliaries’ traditional reports, this reporting change will be phased in over two years. For the current year, campuses may report their auxiliary information for IPEDS on a voluntary basis. For the 1999/2000 fiscal year, all campuses will be required to electronically submit auxiliary information in the detail required for IPEDS reporting. As a point of relief for campuses, auxiliary information required prior to October 1 will be greatly reduced.

The attached document and reporting template will assist you and your staff in evaluating when your campus will begin submitting IPEDS auxiliary information.

Bill Musselman, Acting Director of Accounting, can be reached at (562) 591-4625 if you have questions on the enclosed material.

 

RPW:lcr

cc: Bill Musselman
Lenore Rozner