sch

nei

der

do

wn

s

HIGHER EDUCATION PRACTICE

Schneider Downs’ Higher Education Group is a premier practice dedicated to serving the specialized needs of colleges and universities. Through our comprehensive blend of integrated services and capabilities, this practice is widely recognized throughout the region for its extensive experience and expertise in the higher education sector.

Our team has been strategically assembled to deliver highly experienced professionals who have devoted their careers to advising the higher education community throughout the region. At the core of our practice is a service model that combines national firm capabilities with a pragmatic, regional-firm approach, providing our clients with the progressive insights and innovative solutions that are essential in today’s rapidly changing environment. We operate with a service-focused philosophy: You talk, we listen. It is this philosophy that has fueled our practice growth.

Our practice works with a large and diverse group of highly respected higher education institutions. In addition to serving our many clients within the sector, Schneider Downs is an active member of NACUBO and EACUBO. Our professionals have enjoyed the privilege of presenting on numerous accounting, tax and consulting-related topics to assist in meeting the educational needs of NACUBO’s and EACUBO’s members.

SERVICE CAPABILITIES

Audit Services

Schneider Downs professionals focus on the business of our clients and the environments in which they operate. Our audit procedures are tailored for each higher education institution and are developed only after obtaining a detailed understanding of the accounting systems, administrative

procedures and internal controls in place. This understanding enables us to effectively identify business and financial statement risk necessary to develop and plan the audit.

Accounting and Assurance Services include: • Audits, reviews and compilations (including A-133)• Agreed-upon procedures• ERISA audits and recordkeeping• New accounting standards assistance• Audit preparation services• General business consulting• Internal audit outsourcing services• NCAA agreed-upon procedures

OMB Circular A-133 Audit ApproachWe possess significant experience with the execution of audits under the provisions of OMB Circular A-133, and currently perform numerous such audits in both our Pittsburgh and Columbus offices. Our clients’ direct federal funding sources include the U.S. Departments of Education, Defense, Interior, Labor and Health and Human Services, including the National Institutes of Health, as well as the National Science

Schneider Downs—Higher Education Practice

Shareholder-Led Service

A fundamental value of Schneider Downs’ Higher Education practice is our commitment to shareholder-led service. At Schneider Downs, every client receives our assurance of frequent and relevant access to the appropriate shareholders. We are proud that our most recent client satisfaction survey revealed that 100% of our responding higher education clients gave the highest possible rating to the quality of their relationship with their engagement team, and 100% reported that they were satisfied with their access to our shareholders.

Foundation. Our clients have included organizations with significant awards in the Research and Development Cluster and ARRA (Stimulus Act) funding, as well.

403(b) Plan AuditsBeginning in 2009, 403(b) plans became subject to Part 1 of Subtitle B of Title 1 of ERISA. Accordingly, many plans are now required to follow the annual reporting and disclosure requirements imposed by ERISA. Our Employment Benefit Plan Group has jointly collaborated with our audit professionals to actively work with our higher education clients as they embrace the newly imposed compliance requirements and prepare for financial statement audits. As our firm is already auditing more than 150 plans, our ERISA experience and credentials provide us with the necessary skills to provide a high level of services to the higher education community. We continue to work with our clients to help them respond to the regulatory environment with minimal disruption.

Endowment Experience The breadth of our practice provides us with the opportunity to work with organizations in higher education and other sectors whose investment portfolios and endowments are significant and complex. Many of our clients’ portfolios include alternative investments, investments in limited partnerships, hedge funds and derivatives and real estate, as well as the full spectrum of charitable gift, annuity and split-interest agreement instruments. Such exposure to sophisticated financial instruments and investment portfolios allows us to address the financial reports and tax compliance matters in a timely, technical matter.

Tax Services

Tax Advisory Services Our Exempt Organization Tax Services Group is nationally recognized for its technical expertise and extensive experience in tax and business matters that affect higher education institutions.

Our exempt organization tax practice has a dedicated staff of nonprofit tax professionals whose industry experience permits them to quickly access the operational environment and bring practical tax solutions to your institution. Our team is well-versed in areas of taxation specific to colleges and universities, and assists clients with the following:

Governance/Policy Matters • Conflict-of-interest policy and management• Fringe benefits and compensation matters • Board education • Intermediate sanctions

Auxiliary and Investment Activities • Unrelated business income activities • Alternative investments compliance• Joint ventures • Shared service agreements • Compliance checks • IRS audit examinations • Exemption applications

Compliance Issues • FIN 48 analysis• Private benefit plans• Supporting organizations • Substantiation of charitable contributions • State and local tax exemption and compliance• Form 990 compliance• Public charity status redetermination requests• Charitable solicitation registration• Foreign information reporting

State and Local Tax

Our dedicated State and Local Tax (SALT) professionals have been assisting clients with complex tax issues for more than 50 years, and we remain steadfast in our commitment

Commitment to Continuing Professional Education

Schneider Downs sponsors quarterly seminars for our higher education and nonprofit clients at no cost. Each of our seminars offers CPE credits and covers a wide range of topics. We also offer a biannual full-day continuing education session. In addition to our complimentary seminars, Schneider Downs offers Nonprofit Matters, a monthly newsletter focused specifically on the nonprofit sector.

to consistently monitor, evaluate and update our clients regarding state and local tax changes and developments. The considerable experience and expertise of the SALT group allow our clients to optimize their tax situation and assure compliance with evolving laws and regulations. Our responsibility is to stay abreast of tax complexities and opportunities, allowing our clients to focus on business goals. Our comprehensive array of SALT services include:

• Sales and Use Tax Compliance Review• Sales and Use Tax Refund Review• Fin 48 Compliance• Realty Exemption Challenges• Unclaimed Property Reporting• Legislative Assistance

Technology Advisors

Schneider Downs Technology Advisors is committed to providing value-added technology services and solutions to our clients. We strive to create an on-going, mutually beneficial relationship with our clients by focusing on client satisfaction, delivery of quality service and the continuous training of our staff. In today’s ever-shrinking and demanding world market, one of the most challenging tasks facing any entity is utilizing and processing information effectively and efficiently.

For over 20 years, we have been implementing solutions that streamline and automate processes, provide data visibility, and improve enterprise wide communication. To address the diverse needs of our clients, we offer products and services in the following areas:

• Software implementation and support focused on higher education solutions

• Software selection services• Disaster recovery and business continuity planning• Productivity and process improvement

• Project management• IT strategic planning• Payment Card Industry (PCI) readiness assessment

Internal Audit

In an era when effective governance is paramount, the role of internal audit has continued to evolve. Historically, only larger, research-driven universities had internal audit departments; however, with an evolving environment, mid-size and small colleges and universities must now address many of the same issues as their larger counterparts, as well as other unique issues.

Internal audit can assist management and the Board in evaluating risks and establishing strong corporate governance and internal controls. Internal audit can assist management in an effort to enhance organizational performance and find cost-savings opportunities, which may prove critical to tuition-driven institutions trying to effectively meet students’ needs while balancing their budgets.

What Schneider Downs offers as an array of services, internal audit goes beyond traditional services. We can assume the entire internal audit function, or work with you to streamline controls into processes that serve your business goals and mitigate risks into the future.

Internal audit services include:

• Internal audit outsourcing• Internal audit co-sourcing• Sarbanes-Oxley assistance services• Quality assurance review (QAR)• Data mining and analysis• Risk assessment• Information technology audit• Information security assessment

Our professionals combine practical business experience with timely technical expertise to provide cost-effective services and solutions to our clients. We encourage your to visit out website at www.schneiderdowns.com and to contact us at (412) 261-3644 to discuss our capabilities in further detail.

Commitment to Higher Education

In order to exceed the expectations of our clients, Schneider Downs devotes substantial capital resources to our higher education practice. This commitment of firm resources includes on-going training of our people through both internal and external education. This training helps ensure that each member of our higher education team remains up to date with the business, technical and regulatory environment impacting the nonprofit sector.

The information presented in this brochure is general information and is not intended to be relied upon without consulting a tax professional regarding specific facts and circumstances. This advice is not intended or written to be used for, and it cannot be used for, the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties that may be imposed, or for promoting, marketing or recommending to another person, any tax-related matter.

An Associationof Independent Firms

1133 Penn AvenuePittsburgh, PA 15222

(412) 261-3644

41 S. High Street, Suite 2100Columbus, OH 43215

(614) 621-4060

www.schneiderdowns.com

IGAF WorldwideSchneider Downs’ Global Reach

Schneider Downs’ global delivery service model incorporates the IGAF Worldwide association of 130 independent public accounting firms selected as best in class for quality of practice, professional

standing, size, local reputation, diverse technical capabilities and geographic location. Schneider Downs’ position within IGAF Worldwide is strengthened by our CEO’s senior position as a member of both the North American Board and World Boards of IGAF Worldwide.

Schneider Downs works with IGAF Worldwide member firms throughout the world to coordinate our clients’ business needs.

The Schneider Downs DifferenceBig Firm Capabilities with a Regional Firm Approach

Service ApproachSchneider Downs is among the top 50 largest accounting firms in the United States. Our breadth and depth of integrated services provides us with the ability to offer our clients a viable alternative to the national firms. Despite our growth, we have retained our regional-firm ethic of responsive, personalized service – our senior executives are in the field alongside our clients. You will always have their ear, and their advice, when needs arise.

Schneider Downs’ Five Business DivisionsOur 50+ years of practice and five business

divisions give clients access to more than 80 service offerings. What makes us

unique is our local, in-house capabilities, complemented by the extensive global reach of IGAF Worldwide, and our firm’s continuous investment in subject-matter expertise to serve our growing domestic and international clients.

Schneider Downs is registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight

Board (PCAOB).

For more information contact:

Nancy L. BromallAudit Shareholder(412) 697-5237nbromall@schneiderdowns.com

Susan M. KirschTax Shareholder(412) 697-5444skirsch@schneiderdowns.com

John R. NullAudit Shareholder(412) 697-5421jnull@schneiderdowns.com

Roy M. LydicAudit Shareholder(614) 586-7208rlydic@schneiderdowns.com

Jay R. MeglichAudit Shareholder(614) 586-7124jmeglich@schneiderdowns.com

ASSURANCE AND TAX ADVISORS

BUSINESS ADVISORS

CORPORATE FINANCE ADVISORS

TECHNOLOGY ADVISORS

WEALTH MANAGEMENT ADVISORS

PITTSBURGH n COLUMBUS

www.schneiderdowns.com