BU seeks third-party auditor for ‘failed’ project

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This article was published 27/01/2025 (235 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon University (BU) is seeking an independent third party to audit its “failed” multimillion-dollar enterprise resource planning (ERP) project.

The audit will focus on the decision-making processes, project management, and vendor performance leading up to the collapse, board of governors chair Kevan Sumner said.

The university community will also be invited to contribute input, ensuring transparency and accountability in the review.

“We are now searching for an alternative auditor to proceed with the evaluation. This is an opportunity to learn important lessons and take corrective action,” Sumner said.

The ERP project, launched in 2020 under the “Renew BU” initiative, was intended to modernize the university’s academic and administrative systems by replacing its outdated 1978 homegrown software. After four years of development and over $6 million in spending, the project was officially halted in early 2024, leaving BU without a functional system.

The project faced significant hurdles, including its launch during the COVID-19 pandemic, which added logistical difficulties and contributed to delays.

Sumner said the audit process initially awarded to KPMG faced an unexpected delay last week. With a kickoff scheduled for Thursday, the firm withdrew due to a conflict of interest involving its ties to Anthology, the Florida-based ERP provider.

“This is very disappointing, and we’re still committed to moving forward as quickly as possible with another auditor and ensuring our university community is kept informed,” Sumner added.

“The project failed despite the university’s best efforts to implement the ERP system, which was an outcome nobody wanted.”

Instead of assigning blame, the chair said, the board commissioned an independent audit to identify shortcomings and prevent future missteps.

Regarding the possibility of recovering funds or pursuing legal remedies against Anthology, Sumner declined to comment, stating he does not foresee changes to the funds already expended.

Despite the setbacks, Sumner highlighted the efforts of BU’s IT staff, whose work improved some administrative functions, though a comprehensive ERP system remains unrealized.

Adding to the complexity is the fact that none of the current board members were in place when the project was initiated. Sumner, who became chair in September, noted that the board has undergone more than 100 per cent turnover since the ERP project began.

Reflecting on what could have been done differently, Sumner said the audit would provide the necessary insights. “It would be presumptive of me to jump to any conclusions without the opportunity for this audit to proceed,” he said.

A source at the university told the Sun the institution had to search for a third party for the audit, as the provincial audit department could not provide such services.

“The audit department said the information received about BU will be taken into account when selecting future audits,” the source said. “It did not recommend any specific consultant to BU, nor did it suggest using a non-competitive bidding process. No specific instructions for conducting an audit were given.”

» aodutola@brandonsun.com with files report from Matt Goerzen

» X: @AbiolaOdutola