Audit of Mount Wachusett Community College

This is a state performance audit of Mount Wachusett Community College covering July 1, 2016 through December 31, 2018.

“In accordance with Section 12 of Chapter 11 of the Massachusetts General Laws, the Office of the State Auditor has conducted a performance audit of Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) for the period July 1, 2016 through December 31, 2018.”

Auditors looked at student screening in early childhood education, operations of the cafe and fitness center, and whether the college had an up-to-date strategic plan.

“In this performance audit, we examined MWCC’s activities related to the training and screening of students enrolled in its early childhood education (ECE) programs.”

The biggest safety concern was that the college could not show background-check reports for every student placed in childcare settings.

“Without proof that CORI checks have been performed for practicum students, MWCC risks allowing practicum students with criminal records to work with children in daycare centers.”

If you are a parent, student, taxpayer, or community member, this affects child safety and whether public college resources are being managed with a full picture of costs.

“The cafe and fitness center require MWCC to pay for their operations.”

The audit did not say everything was broken, but it found gaps in documentation, cost reporting, and management reporting.

“MWCC management does not use detailed management reporting to guide decisions regarding the operations of GSC and MFC.”

The audit recommends tighter CORI-check controls and fuller reporting of cafe and fitness center costs and performance.

“MWCC should implement a policy to monitor whether students have had CORI checks before they participate in ECE practicum courses and develop a procedure to ensure compliance with the policy.”

The report matters because incomplete cost information can make the cafe and fitness center look less costly than they really are, limiting good oversight by college leaders.

“To gain an accurate understanding of the operating performance of these auxiliary services, those charged with governance (the board of trustees) must understand the full cost of operating the services to make strategic decisions that protect the college’s limited resources.”

CORI means a Massachusetts criminal-record check. GSC is the Green Street Cafe, MFC is Mount Fitness Center, and both are treated as auxiliary services, meaning fee-based services tied to the college.

“An auxiliary enterprise [or service] exists to furnish goods or services to students, faculty, staff, other institutional departments, or incidentally to the general public, and charges a fee directly related to, although not necessarily equal to, the cost of the goods or services.”