State Auditor Dave Boliek is preparing to pull back the curtain on an investigation into North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, putting the Greensboro campus squarely back under the public spotlight. The move ramps up questions about how the university handles public contracts and works with its affiliated foundations, and it has trustees, students and lawmakers bracing for any new marching orders on oversight and governance.
Boliek is scheduled to present the findings on Thursday (April 23), as reported by WCNC. According to the local report, the auditor is expected to lay out his office’s conclusions and field questions about what happens next. State and campus officials are expected to track the briefing closely for any formal recommendations that could ripple through university operations.
What recent official audits show
The State Auditor’s financial statement audit covering North Carolina A&T for the year ended June 30, 2024, issued an unmodified opinion and found no material errors, according to the Office of the State Auditor. That report states the university’s basic financial statements "present fairly" the institution’s financial position for the period covered. A clean opinion on the books, however, does not rule out separate probes into specific procurement or compliance issues.
Earlier investigative review flagged procurement gaps
A prior investigative review by the auditor’s office found that the university had, at times, worked around competitive purchasing rules. The report noted that the university had "purchased painting services totaling $100,210" without seeking competition and concluded that some purchases may have been split to avoid bid thresholds. It recommended that the university determine whether any splitting was intentional and tighten its internal controls. Those findings are laid out in the Office of the State Auditor’s investigative report on NC A&T.
How enforcement and escalation work
Under state law, when the auditor believes information may be evidence of criminal misconduct, the office is required to report that information to the State Bureau of Investigation or the appropriate district attorney, giving the auditor a clear route to escalate serious findings. Recent coverage has shown Boliek using public briefings to roll out high-profile reviews in other jurisdictions, including budget and management audits that drew sharp responses from both officials and residents. The relevant procedures are spelled out in North Carolina General Assembly materials, which outline the auditor’s referral responsibilities and how those disclosures can play out in public.
University leaders and trustees are expected to pore over whatever Boliek presents and then decide whether to roll out new controls or launch internal follow-ups. In the past, recommendations from the Office of the State Auditor for other public bodies have triggered procedural changes and board-level reviews. The auditor’s findings, whether they focus on tightening processes or making referrals, are likely to shape how oversight of campus purchasing and related foundations unfolds next. Observers in Raleigh and Greensboro will be watching closely for the full report once it lands.
