Finding 2023-004
Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Education Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster
ALN: 84.007, 84.033, 84.063, 84.268 and 84.379
Federal Award Number: P007A224069, P033A224069, P063P212290, P063P222290, P268K222290, P268K232290, P379T222290, P379T232290
Award Year: 2022-2023
Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material
Noncompliance
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions – Disbursements to or on Behalf of Students Criteria: Per 34 CFR 668.164(h), a Title IV credit balance occurs whenever the amount of
Title IV program funds credited to a student’s ledger account for a payment
period exceeds the amount assessed the student for allowable charges associated with that payment period. Credit balances must be paid directly to the student or parent as soon as possible, but no later than fourteen days after the balance occurred if the credit balance occurred after the first day of class.
If the University retains the credit balance on the student account, the University must obtain the student or parent’s authorization prior to retaining the credit balance.
Condition: We tested a sample of 60 students who received Title IV funds during the year. We noted four students with Title IV credit balances on their account, and no parent or student authorization of the retained credit balance.
Cause: Student Financial Aid office policy did not require obtaining an authorization for retaining a credit balance on student accounts. Accordingly, staff did not obtain authorization for credit balances retained beyond fourteen days.
Effect: In conjunction with the missing notifications in finding 2023-003, certain students may have been temporarily unaware that they had Title IV funds applied to their account and available for their use.
Questioned Costs: None reported.
Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 60 students who received $686,202 in Title IV Aid, out of a population of 953 students who received $9,993,184 in Title IV aid. 4 of the students had unauthorized credit balances on their accounts. These students received $53,279 in Title IV aid.
Repeat Finding from
Prior Year: No
Recommendation: We recommend the University update its Student Financial Aid and Business Office policy to require monitoring for Title IV credit balances and require authorization for credit balance retention to be signed for all students intending to leave Title IV aid balances on their accounts.
View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-004
Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Education Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster
ALN: 84.007, 84.033, 84.063, 84.268 and 84.379
Federal Award Number: P007A224069, P033A224069, P063P212290, P063P222290, P268K222290, P268K232290, P379T222290, P379T232290
Award Year: 2022-2023
Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material
Noncompliance
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions – Disbursements to or on Behalf of Students Criteria: Per 34 CFR 668.164(h), a Title IV credit balance occurs whenever the amount of
Title IV program funds credited to a student’s ledger account for a payment
period exceeds the amount assessed the student for allowable charges associated with that payment period. Credit balances must be paid directly to the student or parent as soon as possible, but no later than fourteen days after the balance occurred if the credit balance occurred after the first day of class.
If the University retains the credit balance on the student account, the University must obtain the student or parent’s authorization prior to retaining the credit balance.
Condition: We tested a sample of 60 students who received Title IV funds during the year. We noted four students with Title IV credit balances on their account, and no parent or student authorization of the retained credit balance.
Cause: Student Financial Aid office policy did not require obtaining an authorization for retaining a credit balance on student accounts. Accordingly, staff did not obtain authorization for credit balances retained beyond fourteen days.
Effect: In conjunction with the missing notifications in finding 2023-003, certain students may have been temporarily unaware that they had Title IV funds applied to their account and available for their use.
Questioned Costs: None reported.
Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 60 students who received $686,202 in Title IV Aid, out of a population of 953 students who received $9,993,184 in Title IV aid. 4 of the students had unauthorized credit balances on their accounts. These students received $53,279 in Title IV aid.
Repeat Finding from
Prior Year: No
Recommendation: We recommend the University update its Student Financial Aid and Business Office policy to require monitoring for Title IV credit balances and require authorization for credit balance retention to be signed for all students intending to leave Title IV aid balances on their accounts.
View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-002
Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Education Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster
ALN: 84.268 and 84.063
Federal Award Number: P268K222290, P268K232290, P063P212290, P063P222290
Award Year: 2022-2023
Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material
Noncompliance
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions – Return of Title IV Funds
Criteria: Per 34 CFR 668.22(a), the University is required to have procedures in place to ensure unearned Title IV funds are correctly calculated and returned timely to the Department of Education.
For unofficial withdrawals, the University is required to determine the student’s official date of withdrawal within 30 days of the student’s last date of attendance.
According to volume 5 of the Federal Student Aid Handbook, for credit hour programs, institutionally scheduled breaks of five or more consecutive days are excluded from the R2T4 calculation as periods of nonattendance. They do not affect the calculation of the amount of Title IV aid earned. If a scheduled break occurs prior to a student’s withdrawal, all days between the last scheduled day of classes before a scheduled break and the first day classes resume are excluded from both the numerator and denominator in calculating the percentage of the term completed. If the withdrawal occurs prior to a scheduled break, the days in the break are excluded only from the denominator.
Additionally, the University is required to return unearned funds for which it is responsible as soon as possible, but no later than 45 days after the date of determination of a student’s withdrawal.
Condition: Out of a sample of 15 students who received Title IV funds and withdrew during the award year, 5 students had errors in their calculations. In the 5 student calculations, we noted one late determination of withdrawal date, three returns completed more than 45 days after the withdrawal date, two incorrect percentage of aid earned calculations, and an overpayment of $9 to the Department of Education.
Cause: Due to turnover in student financial aid department staff, individuals responsible for Return to Title IV calculations were not able to complete certain calculations timely or accurately. The review control in place did not catch the related errors.
Effect: The University may have temporarily kept funds that should have been returned to the Department of Education.
Questioned Costs: $0
Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 15 students who received $98,738 in Title IV Aid and withdrew from the University, out of a population of 73 students who received
$638,982 in Title IV aid and withdrew from the University. 5 of the students had errors in loan disbursement notification. These 5 students received $30,480 in Title IV aid (prior to the returns).
Repeat Finding from
Prior Year: No
Recommendation: We recommend the University perform refresher training with all staff assigned to perform return to Title IV calculations.
View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-004
Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Education Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster
ALN: 84.007, 84.033, 84.063, 84.268 and 84.379
Federal Award Number: P007A224069, P033A224069, P063P212290, P063P222290, P268K222290, P268K232290, P379T222290, P379T232290
Award Year: 2022-2023
Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material
Noncompliance
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions – Disbursements to or on Behalf of Students Criteria: Per 34 CFR 668.164(h), a Title IV credit balance occurs whenever the amount of
Title IV program funds credited to a student’s ledger account for a payment
period exceeds the amount assessed the student for allowable charges associated with that payment period. Credit balances must be paid directly to the student or parent as soon as possible, but no later than fourteen days after the balance occurred if the credit balance occurred after the first day of class.
If the University retains the credit balance on the student account, the University must obtain the student or parent’s authorization prior to retaining the credit balance.
Condition: We tested a sample of 60 students who received Title IV funds during the year. We noted four students with Title IV credit balances on their account, and no parent or student authorization of the retained credit balance.
Cause: Student Financial Aid office policy did not require obtaining an authorization for retaining a credit balance on student accounts. Accordingly, staff did not obtain authorization for credit balances retained beyond fourteen days.
Effect: In conjunction with the missing notifications in finding 2023-003, certain students may have been temporarily unaware that they had Title IV funds applied to their account and available for their use.
Questioned Costs: None reported.
Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 60 students who received $686,202 in Title IV Aid, out of a population of 953 students who received $9,993,184 in Title IV aid. 4 of the students had unauthorized credit balances on their accounts. These students received $53,279 in Title IV aid.
Repeat Finding from
Prior Year: No
Recommendation: We recommend the University update its Student Financial Aid and Business Office policy to require monitoring for Title IV credit balances and require authorization for credit balance retention to be signed for all students intending to leave Title IV aid balances on their accounts.
View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-002
Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Education Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster
ALN: 84.268 and 84.063
Federal Award Number: P268K222290, P268K232290, P063P212290, P063P222290
Award Year: 2022-2023
Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material
Noncompliance
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions – Return of Title IV Funds
Criteria: Per 34 CFR 668.22(a), the University is required to have procedures in place to ensure unearned Title IV funds are correctly calculated and returned timely to the Department of Education.
For unofficial withdrawals, the University is required to determine the student’s official date of withdrawal within 30 days of the student’s last date of attendance.
According to volume 5 of the Federal Student Aid Handbook, for credit hour programs, institutionally scheduled breaks of five or more consecutive days are excluded from the R2T4 calculation as periods of nonattendance. They do not affect the calculation of the amount of Title IV aid earned. If a scheduled break occurs prior to a student’s withdrawal, all days between the last scheduled day of classes before a scheduled break and the first day classes resume are excluded from both the numerator and denominator in calculating the percentage of the term completed. If the withdrawal occurs prior to a scheduled break, the days in the break are excluded only from the denominator.
Additionally, the University is required to return unearned funds for which it is responsible as soon as possible, but no later than 45 days after the date of determination of a student’s withdrawal.
Condition: Out of a sample of 15 students who received Title IV funds and withdrew during the award year, 5 students had errors in their calculations. In the 5 student calculations, we noted one late determination of withdrawal date, three returns completed more than 45 days after the withdrawal date, two incorrect percentage of aid earned calculations, and an overpayment of $9 to the Department of Education.
Cause: Due to turnover in student financial aid department staff, individuals responsible for Return to Title IV calculations were not able to complete certain calculations timely or accurately. The review control in place did not catch the related errors.
Effect: The University may have temporarily kept funds that should have been returned to the Department of Education.
Questioned Costs: $0
Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 15 students who received $98,738 in Title IV Aid and withdrew from the University, out of a population of 73 students who received
$638,982 in Title IV aid and withdrew from the University. 5 of the students had errors in loan disbursement notification. These 5 students received $30,480 in Title IV aid (prior to the returns).
Repeat Finding from
Prior Year: No
Recommendation: We recommend the University perform refresher training with all staff assigned to perform return to Title IV calculations.
View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-004
Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Education Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster
ALN: 84.007, 84.033, 84.063, 84.268 and 84.379
Federal Award Number: P007A224069, P033A224069, P063P212290, P063P222290, P268K222290, P268K232290, P379T222290, P379T232290
Award Year: 2022-2023
Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material
Noncompliance
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions – Disbursements to or on Behalf of Students Criteria: Per 34 CFR 668.164(h), a Title IV credit balance occurs whenever the amount of
Title IV program funds credited to a student’s ledger account for a payment
period exceeds the amount assessed the student for allowable charges associated with that payment period. Credit balances must be paid directly to the student or parent as soon as possible, but no later than fourteen days after the balance occurred if the credit balance occurred after the first day of class.
If the University retains the credit balance on the student account, the University must obtain the student or parent’s authorization prior to retaining the credit balance.
Condition: We tested a sample of 60 students who received Title IV funds during the year. We noted four students with Title IV credit balances on their account, and no parent or student authorization of the retained credit balance.
Cause: Student Financial Aid office policy did not require obtaining an authorization for retaining a credit balance on student accounts. Accordingly, staff did not obtain authorization for credit balances retained beyond fourteen days.
Effect: In conjunction with the missing notifications in finding 2023-003, certain students may have been temporarily unaware that they had Title IV funds applied to their account and available for their use.
Questioned Costs: None reported.
Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 60 students who received $686,202 in Title IV Aid, out of a population of 953 students who received $9,993,184 in Title IV aid. 4 of the students had unauthorized credit balances on their accounts. These students received $53,279 in Title IV aid.
Repeat Finding from
Prior Year: No
Recommendation: We recommend the University update its Student Financial Aid and Business Office policy to require monitoring for Title IV credit balances and require authorization for credit balance retention to be signed for all students intending to leave Title IV aid balances on their accounts.
View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-002
Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Education Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster
ALN: 84.268 and 84.063
Federal Award Number: P268K222290, P268K232290, P063P212290, P063P222290
Award Year: 2022-2023
Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material
Noncompliance
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions – Return of Title IV Funds
Criteria: Per 34 CFR 668.22(a), the University is required to have procedures in place to ensure unearned Title IV funds are correctly calculated and returned timely to the Department of Education.
For unofficial withdrawals, the University is required to determine the student’s official date of withdrawal within 30 days of the student’s last date of attendance.
According to volume 5 of the Federal Student Aid Handbook, for credit hour programs, institutionally scheduled breaks of five or more consecutive days are excluded from the R2T4 calculation as periods of nonattendance. They do not affect the calculation of the amount of Title IV aid earned. If a scheduled break occurs prior to a student’s withdrawal, all days between the last scheduled day of classes before a scheduled break and the first day classes resume are excluded from both the numerator and denominator in calculating the percentage of the term completed. If the withdrawal occurs prior to a scheduled break, the days in the break are excluded only from the denominator.
Additionally, the University is required to return unearned funds for which it is responsible as soon as possible, but no later than 45 days after the date of determination of a student’s withdrawal.
Condition: Out of a sample of 15 students who received Title IV funds and withdrew during the award year, 5 students had errors in their calculations. In the 5 student calculations, we noted one late determination of withdrawal date, three returns completed more than 45 days after the withdrawal date, two incorrect percentage of aid earned calculations, and an overpayment of $9 to the Department of Education.
Cause: Due to turnover in student financial aid department staff, individuals responsible for Return to Title IV calculations were not able to complete certain calculations timely or accurately. The review control in place did not catch the related errors.
Effect: The University may have temporarily kept funds that should have been returned to the Department of Education.
Questioned Costs: $0
Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 15 students who received $98,738 in Title IV Aid and withdrew from the University, out of a population of 73 students who received
$638,982 in Title IV aid and withdrew from the University. 5 of the students had errors in loan disbursement notification. These 5 students received $30,480 in Title IV aid (prior to the returns).
Repeat Finding from
Prior Year: No
Recommendation: We recommend the University perform refresher training with all staff assigned to perform return to Title IV calculations.
View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-003
Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Education Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster
ALN: 84.268
Federal Award Number: P268K222290, P268K232290 Award Year: 2022-2023
Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material
Noncompliance
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions – Disbursements to or on Behalf of Students Criteria: Per 34 CFR 668.165(a), if an institution credits a student ledger account with
Direct Loan, Federal Perkins Loan, or TEACH Grant program funds, the
institution must notify the student or parent of the anticipated date and amount of the disbursement, the student or parent’s right to cancel all or a portion of the loan, and the procedures by which the institution must be notified if he or she wishes to cancel the loan.
McMurry does not require students to provide affirmative confirmation of Title IV award amounts. Per 34 CFR 668.165(a), institutions that do not obtain affirmative confirmation of the accepted loan amounts must provide the aforementioned disbursement notice in writing no earlier than 30 days before, and no later than 7 days after, crediting the student's institutional account.
Condition: We tested a sample of 60 students who received Title IV funds during the year. Of those students, we tested disbursement notification records for the students who received Direct Loans during the year.
We noted errors in 39 student files. Students were either notified of Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 Direct Loan disbursements more than 7 days after their student accounts were credited with the disbursements, or received no notification of the student loan disbursement.
Cause: Loan disbursement notifications are provided to a list of students following each round of aid disbursements. The list of students who require notification comes from a financial aid software report. Financial aid staff provide notifications based on the generated list.
The University hired a new loan coordinator during the year under audit. The change in staffing resulted in missed and late student loan notifications.
Effect: Certain students may have been temporarily unaware that they had Title IV funds applied to their account and available for their use.
Questioned Costs: None reported.
Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 60 students who received $686,202 in Title IV Aid, out of a population of 953 students who received $9,993,184 in Title IV aid. 39 of the students had errors in loan disbursement notification. These students received $495,936 in Title IV aid.
Repeat Finding from
Prior Year: No
Recommendation: We recommend the University perform refresher training with all staff assigned to perform loan disbursement notification procedures.
View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-004
Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Education Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster
ALN: 84.007, 84.033, 84.063, 84.268 and 84.379
Federal Award Number: P007A224069, P033A224069, P063P212290, P063P222290, P268K222290, P268K232290, P379T222290, P379T232290
Award Year: 2022-2023
Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material
Noncompliance
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions – Disbursements to or on Behalf of Students Criteria: Per 34 CFR 668.164(h), a Title IV credit balance occurs whenever the amount of
Title IV program funds credited to a student’s ledger account for a payment
period exceeds the amount assessed the student for allowable charges associated with that payment period. Credit balances must be paid directly to the student or parent as soon as possible, but no later than fourteen days after the balance occurred if the credit balance occurred after the first day of class.
If the University retains the credit balance on the student account, the University must obtain the student or parent’s authorization prior to retaining the credit balance.
Condition: We tested a sample of 60 students who received Title IV funds during the year. We noted four students with Title IV credit balances on their account, and no parent or student authorization of the retained credit balance.
Cause: Student Financial Aid office policy did not require obtaining an authorization for retaining a credit balance on student accounts. Accordingly, staff did not obtain authorization for credit balances retained beyond fourteen days.
Effect: In conjunction with the missing notifications in finding 2023-003, certain students may have been temporarily unaware that they had Title IV funds applied to their account and available for their use.
Questioned Costs: None reported.
Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 60 students who received $686,202 in Title IV Aid, out of a population of 953 students who received $9,993,184 in Title IV aid. 4 of the students had unauthorized credit balances on their accounts. These students received $53,279 in Title IV aid.
Repeat Finding from
Prior Year: No
Recommendation: We recommend the University update its Student Financial Aid and Business Office policy to require monitoring for Title IV credit balances and require authorization for credit balance retention to be signed for all students intending to leave Title IV aid balances on their accounts.
View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-002
Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Education Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster
ALN: 84.268 and 84.063
Federal Award Number: P268K222290, P268K232290, P063P212290, P063P222290
Award Year: 2022-2023
Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material
Noncompliance
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions – Return of Title IV Funds
Criteria: Per 34 CFR 668.22(a), the University is required to have procedures in place to ensure unearned Title IV funds are correctly calculated and returned timely to the Department of Education.
For unofficial withdrawals, the University is required to determine the student’s official date of withdrawal within 30 days of the student’s last date of attendance.
According to volume 5 of the Federal Student Aid Handbook, for credit hour programs, institutionally scheduled breaks of five or more consecutive days are excluded from the R2T4 calculation as periods of nonattendance. They do not affect the calculation of the amount of Title IV aid earned. If a scheduled break occurs prior to a student’s withdrawal, all days between the last scheduled day of classes before a scheduled break and the first day classes resume are excluded from both the numerator and denominator in calculating the percentage of the term completed. If the withdrawal occurs prior to a scheduled break, the days in the break are excluded only from the denominator.
Additionally, the University is required to return unearned funds for which it is responsible as soon as possible, but no later than 45 days after the date of determination of a student’s withdrawal.
Condition: Out of a sample of 15 students who received Title IV funds and withdrew during the award year, 5 students had errors in their calculations. In the 5 student calculations, we noted one late determination of withdrawal date, three returns completed more than 45 days after the withdrawal date, two incorrect percentage of aid earned calculations, and an overpayment of $9 to the Department of Education.
Cause: Due to turnover in student financial aid department staff, individuals responsible for Return to Title IV calculations were not able to complete certain calculations timely or accurately. The review control in place did not catch the related errors.
Effect: The University may have temporarily kept funds that should have been returned to the Department of Education.
Questioned Costs: $0
Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 15 students who received $98,738 in Title IV Aid and withdrew from the University, out of a population of 73 students who received
$638,982 in Title IV aid and withdrew from the University. 5 of the students had errors in loan disbursement notification. These 5 students received $30,480 in Title IV aid (prior to the returns).
Repeat Finding from
Prior Year: No
Recommendation: We recommend the University perform refresher training with all staff assigned to perform return to Title IV calculations.
View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-003
Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Education Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster
ALN: 84.268
Federal Award Number: P268K222290, P268K232290 Award Year: 2022-2023
Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material
Noncompliance
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions – Disbursements to or on Behalf of Students Criteria: Per 34 CFR 668.165(a), if an institution credits a student ledger account with
Direct Loan, Federal Perkins Loan, or TEACH Grant program funds, the
institution must notify the student or parent of the anticipated date and amount of the disbursement, the student or parent’s right to cancel all or a portion of the loan, and the procedures by which the institution must be notified if he or she wishes to cancel the loan.
McMurry does not require students to provide affirmative confirmation of Title IV award amounts. Per 34 CFR 668.165(a), institutions that do not obtain affirmative confirmation of the accepted loan amounts must provide the aforementioned disbursement notice in writing no earlier than 30 days before, and no later than 7 days after, crediting the student's institutional account.
Condition: We tested a sample of 60 students who received Title IV funds during the year. Of those students, we tested disbursement notification records for the students who received Direct Loans during the year.
We noted errors in 39 student files. Students were either notified of Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 Direct Loan disbursements more than 7 days after their student accounts were credited with the disbursements, or received no notification of the student loan disbursement.
Cause: Loan disbursement notifications are provided to a list of students following each round of aid disbursements. The list of students who require notification comes from a financial aid software report. Financial aid staff provide notifications based on the generated list.
The University hired a new loan coordinator during the year under audit. The change in staffing resulted in missed and late student loan notifications.
Effect: Certain students may have been temporarily unaware that they had Title IV funds applied to their account and available for their use.
Questioned Costs: None reported.
Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 60 students who received $686,202 in Title IV Aid, out of a population of 953 students who received $9,993,184 in Title IV aid. 39 of the students had errors in loan disbursement notification. These students received $495,936 in Title IV aid.
Repeat Finding from
Prior Year: No
Recommendation: We recommend the University perform refresher training with all staff assigned to perform loan disbursement notification procedures.
View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-004
Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Education Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster
ALN: 84.007, 84.033, 84.063, 84.268 and 84.379
Federal Award Number: P007A224069, P033A224069, P063P212290, P063P222290, P268K222290, P268K232290, P379T222290, P379T232290
Award Year: 2022-2023
Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material
Noncompliance
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions – Disbursements to or on Behalf of Students Criteria: Per 34 CFR 668.164(h), a Title IV credit balance occurs whenever the amount of
Title IV program funds credited to a student’s ledger account for a payment
period exceeds the amount assessed the student for allowable charges associated with that payment period. Credit balances must be paid directly to the student or parent as soon as possible, but no later than fourteen days after the balance occurred if the credit balance occurred after the first day of class.
If the University retains the credit balance on the student account, the University must obtain the student or parent’s authorization prior to retaining the credit balance.
Condition: We tested a sample of 60 students who received Title IV funds during the year. We noted four students with Title IV credit balances on their account, and no parent or student authorization of the retained credit balance.
Cause: Student Financial Aid office policy did not require obtaining an authorization for retaining a credit balance on student accounts. Accordingly, staff did not obtain authorization for credit balances retained beyond fourteen days.
Effect: In conjunction with the missing notifications in finding 2023-003, certain students may have been temporarily unaware that they had Title IV funds applied to their account and available for their use.
Questioned Costs: None reported.
Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 60 students who received $686,202 in Title IV Aid, out of a population of 953 students who received $9,993,184 in Title IV aid. 4 of the students had unauthorized credit balances on their accounts. These students received $53,279 in Title IV aid.
Repeat Finding from
Prior Year: No
Recommendation: We recommend the University update its Student Financial Aid and Business Office policy to require monitoring for Title IV credit balances and require authorization for credit balance retention to be signed for all students intending to leave Title IV aid balances on their accounts.
View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-004
Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Education Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster
ALN: 84.007, 84.033, 84.063, 84.268 and 84.379
Federal Award Number: P007A224069, P033A224069, P063P212290, P063P222290, P268K222290, P268K232290, P379T222290, P379T232290
Award Year: 2022-2023
Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material
Noncompliance
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions – Disbursements to or on Behalf of Students Criteria: Per 34 CFR 668.164(h), a Title IV credit balance occurs whenever the amount of
Title IV program funds credited to a student’s ledger account for a payment
period exceeds the amount assessed the student for allowable charges associated with that payment period. Credit balances must be paid directly to the student or parent as soon as possible, but no later than fourteen days after the balance occurred if the credit balance occurred after the first day of class.
If the University retains the credit balance on the student account, the University must obtain the student or parent’s authorization prior to retaining the credit balance.
Condition: We tested a sample of 60 students who received Title IV funds during the year. We noted four students with Title IV credit balances on their account, and no parent or student authorization of the retained credit balance.
Cause: Student Financial Aid office policy did not require obtaining an authorization for retaining a credit balance on student accounts. Accordingly, staff did not obtain authorization for credit balances retained beyond fourteen days.
Effect: In conjunction with the missing notifications in finding 2023-003, certain students may have been temporarily unaware that they had Title IV funds applied to their account and available for their use.
Questioned Costs: None reported.
Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 60 students who received $686,202 in Title IV Aid, out of a population of 953 students who received $9,993,184 in Title IV aid. 4 of the students had unauthorized credit balances on their accounts. These students received $53,279 in Title IV aid.
Repeat Finding from
Prior Year: No
Recommendation: We recommend the University update its Student Financial Aid and Business Office policy to require monitoring for Title IV credit balances and require authorization for credit balance retention to be signed for all students intending to leave Title IV aid balances on their accounts.
View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-004
Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Education Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster
ALN: 84.007, 84.033, 84.063, 84.268 and 84.379
Federal Award Number: P007A224069, P033A224069, P063P212290, P063P222290, P268K222290, P268K232290, P379T222290, P379T232290
Award Year: 2022-2023
Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material
Noncompliance
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions – Disbursements to or on Behalf of Students Criteria: Per 34 CFR 668.164(h), a Title IV credit balance occurs whenever the amount of
Title IV program funds credited to a student’s ledger account for a payment
period exceeds the amount assessed the student for allowable charges associated with that payment period. Credit balances must be paid directly to the student or parent as soon as possible, but no later than fourteen days after the balance occurred if the credit balance occurred after the first day of class.
If the University retains the credit balance on the student account, the University must obtain the student or parent’s authorization prior to retaining the credit balance.
Condition: We tested a sample of 60 students who received Title IV funds during the year. We noted four students with Title IV credit balances on their account, and no parent or student authorization of the retained credit balance.
Cause: Student Financial Aid office policy did not require obtaining an authorization for retaining a credit balance on student accounts. Accordingly, staff did not obtain authorization for credit balances retained beyond fourteen days.
Effect: In conjunction with the missing notifications in finding 2023-003, certain students may have been temporarily unaware that they had Title IV funds applied to their account and available for their use.
Questioned Costs: None reported.
Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 60 students who received $686,202 in Title IV Aid, out of a population of 953 students who received $9,993,184 in Title IV aid. 4 of the students had unauthorized credit balances on their accounts. These students received $53,279 in Title IV aid.
Repeat Finding from
Prior Year: No
Recommendation: We recommend the University update its Student Financial Aid and Business Office policy to require monitoring for Title IV credit balances and require authorization for credit balance retention to be signed for all students intending to leave Title IV aid balances on their accounts.
View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-004
Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Education Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster
ALN: 84.007, 84.033, 84.063, 84.268 and 84.379
Federal Award Number: P007A224069, P033A224069, P063P212290, P063P222290, P268K222290, P268K232290, P379T222290, P379T232290
Award Year: 2022-2023
Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material
Noncompliance
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions – Disbursements to or on Behalf of Students Criteria: Per 34 CFR 668.164(h), a Title IV credit balance occurs whenever the amount of
Title IV program funds credited to a student’s ledger account for a payment
period exceeds the amount assessed the student for allowable charges associated with that payment period. Credit balances must be paid directly to the student or parent as soon as possible, but no later than fourteen days after the balance occurred if the credit balance occurred after the first day of class.
If the University retains the credit balance on the student account, the University must obtain the student or parent’s authorization prior to retaining the credit balance.
Condition: We tested a sample of 60 students who received Title IV funds during the year. We noted four students with Title IV credit balances on their account, and no parent or student authorization of the retained credit balance.
Cause: Student Financial Aid office policy did not require obtaining an authorization for retaining a credit balance on student accounts. Accordingly, staff did not obtain authorization for credit balances retained beyond fourteen days.
Effect: In conjunction with the missing notifications in finding 2023-003, certain students may have been temporarily unaware that they had Title IV funds applied to their account and available for their use.
Questioned Costs: None reported.
Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 60 students who received $686,202 in Title IV Aid, out of a population of 953 students who received $9,993,184 in Title IV aid. 4 of the students had unauthorized credit balances on their accounts. These students received $53,279 in Title IV aid.
Repeat Finding from
Prior Year: No
Recommendation: We recommend the University update its Student Financial Aid and Business Office policy to require monitoring for Title IV credit balances and require authorization for credit balance retention to be signed for all students intending to leave Title IV aid balances on their accounts.
View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-004
Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Education Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster
ALN: 84.007, 84.033, 84.063, 84.268 and 84.379
Federal Award Number: P007A224069, P033A224069, P063P212290, P063P222290, P268K222290, P268K232290, P379T222290, P379T232290
Award Year: 2022-2023
Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material
Noncompliance
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions – Disbursements to or on Behalf of Students Criteria: Per 34 CFR 668.164(h), a Title IV credit balance occurs whenever the amount of
Title IV program funds credited to a student’s ledger account for a payment
period exceeds the amount assessed the student for allowable charges associated with that payment period. Credit balances must be paid directly to the student or parent as soon as possible, but no later than fourteen days after the balance occurred if the credit balance occurred after the first day of class.
If the University retains the credit balance on the student account, the University must obtain the student or parent’s authorization prior to retaining the credit balance.
Condition: We tested a sample of 60 students who received Title IV funds during the year. We noted four students with Title IV credit balances on their account, and no parent or student authorization of the retained credit balance.
Cause: Student Financial Aid office policy did not require obtaining an authorization for retaining a credit balance on student accounts. Accordingly, staff did not obtain authorization for credit balances retained beyond fourteen days.
Effect: In conjunction with the missing notifications in finding 2023-003, certain students may have been temporarily unaware that they had Title IV funds applied to their account and available for their use.
Questioned Costs: None reported.
Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 60 students who received $686,202 in Title IV Aid, out of a population of 953 students who received $9,993,184 in Title IV aid. 4 of the students had unauthorized credit balances on their accounts. These students received $53,279 in Title IV aid.
Repeat Finding from
Prior Year: No
Recommendation: We recommend the University update its Student Financial Aid and Business Office policy to require monitoring for Title IV credit balances and require authorization for credit balance retention to be signed for all students intending to leave Title IV aid balances on their accounts.
View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-002
Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Education Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster
ALN: 84.268 and 84.063
Federal Award Number: P268K222290, P268K232290, P063P212290, P063P222290
Award Year: 2022-2023
Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material
Noncompliance
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions – Return of Title IV Funds
Criteria: Per 34 CFR 668.22(a), the University is required to have procedures in place to ensure unearned Title IV funds are correctly calculated and returned timely to the Department of Education.
For unofficial withdrawals, the University is required to determine the student’s official date of withdrawal within 30 days of the student’s last date of attendance.
According to volume 5 of the Federal Student Aid Handbook, for credit hour programs, institutionally scheduled breaks of five or more consecutive days are excluded from the R2T4 calculation as periods of nonattendance. They do not affect the calculation of the amount of Title IV aid earned. If a scheduled break occurs prior to a student’s withdrawal, all days between the last scheduled day of classes before a scheduled break and the first day classes resume are excluded from both the numerator and denominator in calculating the percentage of the term completed. If the withdrawal occurs prior to a scheduled break, the days in the break are excluded only from the denominator.
Additionally, the University is required to return unearned funds for which it is responsible as soon as possible, but no later than 45 days after the date of determination of a student’s withdrawal.
Condition: Out of a sample of 15 students who received Title IV funds and withdrew during the award year, 5 students had errors in their calculations. In the 5 student calculations, we noted one late determination of withdrawal date, three returns completed more than 45 days after the withdrawal date, two incorrect percentage of aid earned calculations, and an overpayment of $9 to the Department of Education.
Cause: Due to turnover in student financial aid department staff, individuals responsible for Return to Title IV calculations were not able to complete certain calculations timely or accurately. The review control in place did not catch the related errors.
Effect: The University may have temporarily kept funds that should have been returned to the Department of Education.
Questioned Costs: $0
Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 15 students who received $98,738 in Title IV Aid and withdrew from the University, out of a population of 73 students who received
$638,982 in Title IV aid and withdrew from the University. 5 of the students had errors in loan disbursement notification. These 5 students received $30,480 in Title IV aid (prior to the returns).
Repeat Finding from
Prior Year: No
Recommendation: We recommend the University perform refresher training with all staff assigned to perform return to Title IV calculations.
View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-004
Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Education Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster
ALN: 84.007, 84.033, 84.063, 84.268 and 84.379
Federal Award Number: P007A224069, P033A224069, P063P212290, P063P222290, P268K222290, P268K232290, P379T222290, P379T232290
Award Year: 2022-2023
Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material
Noncompliance
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions – Disbursements to or on Behalf of Students Criteria: Per 34 CFR 668.164(h), a Title IV credit balance occurs whenever the amount of
Title IV program funds credited to a student’s ledger account for a payment
period exceeds the amount assessed the student for allowable charges associated with that payment period. Credit balances must be paid directly to the student or parent as soon as possible, but no later than fourteen days after the balance occurred if the credit balance occurred after the first day of class.
If the University retains the credit balance on the student account, the University must obtain the student or parent’s authorization prior to retaining the credit balance.
Condition: We tested a sample of 60 students who received Title IV funds during the year. We noted four students with Title IV credit balances on their account, and no parent or student authorization of the retained credit balance.
Cause: Student Financial Aid office policy did not require obtaining an authorization for retaining a credit balance on student accounts. Accordingly, staff did not obtain authorization for credit balances retained beyond fourteen days.
Effect: In conjunction with the missing notifications in finding 2023-003, certain students may have been temporarily unaware that they had Title IV funds applied to their account and available for their use.
Questioned Costs: None reported.
Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 60 students who received $686,202 in Title IV Aid, out of a population of 953 students who received $9,993,184 in Title IV aid. 4 of the students had unauthorized credit balances on their accounts. These students received $53,279 in Title IV aid.
Repeat Finding from
Prior Year: No
Recommendation: We recommend the University update its Student Financial Aid and Business Office policy to require monitoring for Title IV credit balances and require authorization for credit balance retention to be signed for all students intending to leave Title IV aid balances on their accounts.
View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-002
Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Education Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster
ALN: 84.268 and 84.063
Federal Award Number: P268K222290, P268K232290, P063P212290, P063P222290
Award Year: 2022-2023
Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material
Noncompliance
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions – Return of Title IV Funds
Criteria: Per 34 CFR 668.22(a), the University is required to have procedures in place to ensure unearned Title IV funds are correctly calculated and returned timely to the Department of Education.
For unofficial withdrawals, the University is required to determine the student’s official date of withdrawal within 30 days of the student’s last date of attendance.
According to volume 5 of the Federal Student Aid Handbook, for credit hour programs, institutionally scheduled breaks of five or more consecutive days are excluded from the R2T4 calculation as periods of nonattendance. They do not affect the calculation of the amount of Title IV aid earned. If a scheduled break occurs prior to a student’s withdrawal, all days between the last scheduled day of classes before a scheduled break and the first day classes resume are excluded from both the numerator and denominator in calculating the percentage of the term completed. If the withdrawal occurs prior to a scheduled break, the days in the break are excluded only from the denominator.
Additionally, the University is required to return unearned funds for which it is responsible as soon as possible, but no later than 45 days after the date of determination of a student’s withdrawal.
Condition: Out of a sample of 15 students who received Title IV funds and withdrew during the award year, 5 students had errors in their calculations. In the 5 student calculations, we noted one late determination of withdrawal date, three returns completed more than 45 days after the withdrawal date, two incorrect percentage of aid earned calculations, and an overpayment of $9 to the Department of Education.
Cause: Due to turnover in student financial aid department staff, individuals responsible for Return to Title IV calculations were not able to complete certain calculations timely or accurately. The review control in place did not catch the related errors.
Effect: The University may have temporarily kept funds that should have been returned to the Department of Education.
Questioned Costs: $0
Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 15 students who received $98,738 in Title IV Aid and withdrew from the University, out of a population of 73 students who received
$638,982 in Title IV aid and withdrew from the University. 5 of the students had errors in loan disbursement notification. These 5 students received $30,480 in Title IV aid (prior to the returns).
Repeat Finding from
Prior Year: No
Recommendation: We recommend the University perform refresher training with all staff assigned to perform return to Title IV calculations.
View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-004
Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Education Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster
ALN: 84.007, 84.033, 84.063, 84.268 and 84.379
Federal Award Number: P007A224069, P033A224069, P063P212290, P063P222290, P268K222290, P268K232290, P379T222290, P379T232290
Award Year: 2022-2023
Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material
Noncompliance
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions – Disbursements to or on Behalf of Students Criteria: Per 34 CFR 668.164(h), a Title IV credit balance occurs whenever the amount of
Title IV program funds credited to a student’s ledger account for a payment
period exceeds the amount assessed the student for allowable charges associated with that payment period. Credit balances must be paid directly to the student or parent as soon as possible, but no later than fourteen days after the balance occurred if the credit balance occurred after the first day of class.
If the University retains the credit balance on the student account, the University must obtain the student or parent’s authorization prior to retaining the credit balance.
Condition: We tested a sample of 60 students who received Title IV funds during the year. We noted four students with Title IV credit balances on their account, and no parent or student authorization of the retained credit balance.
Cause: Student Financial Aid office policy did not require obtaining an authorization for retaining a credit balance on student accounts. Accordingly, staff did not obtain authorization for credit balances retained beyond fourteen days.
Effect: In conjunction with the missing notifications in finding 2023-003, certain students may have been temporarily unaware that they had Title IV funds applied to their account and available for their use.
Questioned Costs: None reported.
Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 60 students who received $686,202 in Title IV Aid, out of a population of 953 students who received $9,993,184 in Title IV aid. 4 of the students had unauthorized credit balances on their accounts. These students received $53,279 in Title IV aid.
Repeat Finding from
Prior Year: No
Recommendation: We recommend the University update its Student Financial Aid and Business Office policy to require monitoring for Title IV credit balances and require authorization for credit balance retention to be signed for all students intending to leave Title IV aid balances on their accounts.
View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-002
Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Education Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster
ALN: 84.268 and 84.063
Federal Award Number: P268K222290, P268K232290, P063P212290, P063P222290
Award Year: 2022-2023
Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material
Noncompliance
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions – Return of Title IV Funds
Criteria: Per 34 CFR 668.22(a), the University is required to have procedures in place to ensure unearned Title IV funds are correctly calculated and returned timely to the Department of Education.
For unofficial withdrawals, the University is required to determine the student’s official date of withdrawal within 30 days of the student’s last date of attendance.
According to volume 5 of the Federal Student Aid Handbook, for credit hour programs, institutionally scheduled breaks of five or more consecutive days are excluded from the R2T4 calculation as periods of nonattendance. They do not affect the calculation of the amount of Title IV aid earned. If a scheduled break occurs prior to a student’s withdrawal, all days between the last scheduled day of classes before a scheduled break and the first day classes resume are excluded from both the numerator and denominator in calculating the percentage of the term completed. If the withdrawal occurs prior to a scheduled break, the days in the break are excluded only from the denominator.
Additionally, the University is required to return unearned funds for which it is responsible as soon as possible, but no later than 45 days after the date of determination of a student’s withdrawal.
Condition: Out of a sample of 15 students who received Title IV funds and withdrew during the award year, 5 students had errors in their calculations. In the 5 student calculations, we noted one late determination of withdrawal date, three returns completed more than 45 days after the withdrawal date, two incorrect percentage of aid earned calculations, and an overpayment of $9 to the Department of Education.
Cause: Due to turnover in student financial aid department staff, individuals responsible for Return to Title IV calculations were not able to complete certain calculations timely or accurately. The review control in place did not catch the related errors.
Effect: The University may have temporarily kept funds that should have been returned to the Department of Education.
Questioned Costs: $0
Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 15 students who received $98,738 in Title IV Aid and withdrew from the University, out of a population of 73 students who received
$638,982 in Title IV aid and withdrew from the University. 5 of the students had errors in loan disbursement notification. These 5 students received $30,480 in Title IV aid (prior to the returns).
Repeat Finding from
Prior Year: No
Recommendation: We recommend the University perform refresher training with all staff assigned to perform return to Title IV calculations.
View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-003
Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Education Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster
ALN: 84.268
Federal Award Number: P268K222290, P268K232290 Award Year: 2022-2023
Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material
Noncompliance
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions – Disbursements to or on Behalf of Students Criteria: Per 34 CFR 668.165(a), if an institution credits a student ledger account with
Direct Loan, Federal Perkins Loan, or TEACH Grant program funds, the
institution must notify the student or parent of the anticipated date and amount of the disbursement, the student or parent’s right to cancel all or a portion of the loan, and the procedures by which the institution must be notified if he or she wishes to cancel the loan.
McMurry does not require students to provide affirmative confirmation of Title IV award amounts. Per 34 CFR 668.165(a), institutions that do not obtain affirmative confirmation of the accepted loan amounts must provide the aforementioned disbursement notice in writing no earlier than 30 days before, and no later than 7 days after, crediting the student's institutional account.
Condition: We tested a sample of 60 students who received Title IV funds during the year. Of those students, we tested disbursement notification records for the students who received Direct Loans during the year.
We noted errors in 39 student files. Students were either notified of Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 Direct Loan disbursements more than 7 days after their student accounts were credited with the disbursements, or received no notification of the student loan disbursement.
Cause: Loan disbursement notifications are provided to a list of students following each round of aid disbursements. The list of students who require notification comes from a financial aid software report. Financial aid staff provide notifications based on the generated list.
The University hired a new loan coordinator during the year under audit. The change in staffing resulted in missed and late student loan notifications.
Effect: Certain students may have been temporarily unaware that they had Title IV funds applied to their account and available for their use.
Questioned Costs: None reported.
Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 60 students who received $686,202 in Title IV Aid, out of a population of 953 students who received $9,993,184 in Title IV aid. 39 of the students had errors in loan disbursement notification. These students received $495,936 in Title IV aid.
Repeat Finding from
Prior Year: No
Recommendation: We recommend the University perform refresher training with all staff assigned to perform loan disbursement notification procedures.
View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-004
Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Education Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster
ALN: 84.007, 84.033, 84.063, 84.268 and 84.379
Federal Award Number: P007A224069, P033A224069, P063P212290, P063P222290, P268K222290, P268K232290, P379T222290, P379T232290
Award Year: 2022-2023
Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material
Noncompliance
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions – Disbursements to or on Behalf of Students Criteria: Per 34 CFR 668.164(h), a Title IV credit balance occurs whenever the amount of
Title IV program funds credited to a student’s ledger account for a payment
period exceeds the amount assessed the student for allowable charges associated with that payment period. Credit balances must be paid directly to the student or parent as soon as possible, but no later than fourteen days after the balance occurred if the credit balance occurred after the first day of class.
If the University retains the credit balance on the student account, the University must obtain the student or parent’s authorization prior to retaining the credit balance.
Condition: We tested a sample of 60 students who received Title IV funds during the year. We noted four students with Title IV credit balances on their account, and no parent or student authorization of the retained credit balance.
Cause: Student Financial Aid office policy did not require obtaining an authorization for retaining a credit balance on student accounts. Accordingly, staff did not obtain authorization for credit balances retained beyond fourteen days.
Effect: In conjunction with the missing notifications in finding 2023-003, certain students may have been temporarily unaware that they had Title IV funds applied to their account and available for their use.
Questioned Costs: None reported.
Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 60 students who received $686,202 in Title IV Aid, out of a population of 953 students who received $9,993,184 in Title IV aid. 4 of the students had unauthorized credit balances on their accounts. These students received $53,279 in Title IV aid.
Repeat Finding from
Prior Year: No
Recommendation: We recommend the University update its Student Financial Aid and Business Office policy to require monitoring for Title IV credit balances and require authorization for credit balance retention to be signed for all students intending to leave Title IV aid balances on their accounts.
View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-002
Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Education Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster
ALN: 84.268 and 84.063
Federal Award Number: P268K222290, P268K232290, P063P212290, P063P222290
Award Year: 2022-2023
Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material
Noncompliance
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions – Return of Title IV Funds
Criteria: Per 34 CFR 668.22(a), the University is required to have procedures in place to ensure unearned Title IV funds are correctly calculated and returned timely to the Department of Education.
For unofficial withdrawals, the University is required to determine the student’s official date of withdrawal within 30 days of the student’s last date of attendance.
According to volume 5 of the Federal Student Aid Handbook, for credit hour programs, institutionally scheduled breaks of five or more consecutive days are excluded from the R2T4 calculation as periods of nonattendance. They do not affect the calculation of the amount of Title IV aid earned. If a scheduled break occurs prior to a student’s withdrawal, all days between the last scheduled day of classes before a scheduled break and the first day classes resume are excluded from both the numerator and denominator in calculating the percentage of the term completed. If the withdrawal occurs prior to a scheduled break, the days in the break are excluded only from the denominator.
Additionally, the University is required to return unearned funds for which it is responsible as soon as possible, but no later than 45 days after the date of determination of a student’s withdrawal.
Condition: Out of a sample of 15 students who received Title IV funds and withdrew during the award year, 5 students had errors in their calculations. In the 5 student calculations, we noted one late determination of withdrawal date, three returns completed more than 45 days after the withdrawal date, two incorrect percentage of aid earned calculations, and an overpayment of $9 to the Department of Education.
Cause: Due to turnover in student financial aid department staff, individuals responsible for Return to Title IV calculations were not able to complete certain calculations timely or accurately. The review control in place did not catch the related errors.
Effect: The University may have temporarily kept funds that should have been returned to the Department of Education.
Questioned Costs: $0
Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 15 students who received $98,738 in Title IV Aid and withdrew from the University, out of a population of 73 students who received
$638,982 in Title IV aid and withdrew from the University. 5 of the students had errors in loan disbursement notification. These 5 students received $30,480 in Title IV aid (prior to the returns).
Repeat Finding from
Prior Year: No
Recommendation: We recommend the University perform refresher training with all staff assigned to perform return to Title IV calculations.
View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-003
Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Education Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster
ALN: 84.268
Federal Award Number: P268K222290, P268K232290 Award Year: 2022-2023
Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material
Noncompliance
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions – Disbursements to or on Behalf of Students Criteria: Per 34 CFR 668.165(a), if an institution credits a student ledger account with
Direct Loan, Federal Perkins Loan, or TEACH Grant program funds, the
institution must notify the student or parent of the anticipated date and amount of the disbursement, the student or parent’s right to cancel all or a portion of the loan, and the procedures by which the institution must be notified if he or she wishes to cancel the loan.
McMurry does not require students to provide affirmative confirmation of Title IV award amounts. Per 34 CFR 668.165(a), institutions that do not obtain affirmative confirmation of the accepted loan amounts must provide the aforementioned disbursement notice in writing no earlier than 30 days before, and no later than 7 days after, crediting the student's institutional account.
Condition: We tested a sample of 60 students who received Title IV funds during the year. Of those students, we tested disbursement notification records for the students who received Direct Loans during the year.
We noted errors in 39 student files. Students were either notified of Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 Direct Loan disbursements more than 7 days after their student accounts were credited with the disbursements, or received no notification of the student loan disbursement.
Cause: Loan disbursement notifications are provided to a list of students following each round of aid disbursements. The list of students who require notification comes from a financial aid software report. Financial aid staff provide notifications based on the generated list.
The University hired a new loan coordinator during the year under audit. The change in staffing resulted in missed and late student loan notifications.
Effect: Certain students may have been temporarily unaware that they had Title IV funds applied to their account and available for their use.
Questioned Costs: None reported.
Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 60 students who received $686,202 in Title IV Aid, out of a population of 953 students who received $9,993,184 in Title IV aid. 39 of the students had errors in loan disbursement notification. These students received $495,936 in Title IV aid.
Repeat Finding from
Prior Year: No
Recommendation: We recommend the University perform refresher training with all staff assigned to perform loan disbursement notification procedures.
View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-004
Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Education Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster
ALN: 84.007, 84.033, 84.063, 84.268 and 84.379
Federal Award Number: P007A224069, P033A224069, P063P212290, P063P222290, P268K222290, P268K232290, P379T222290, P379T232290
Award Year: 2022-2023
Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material
Noncompliance
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions – Disbursements to or on Behalf of Students Criteria: Per 34 CFR 668.164(h), a Title IV credit balance occurs whenever the amount of
Title IV program funds credited to a student’s ledger account for a payment
period exceeds the amount assessed the student for allowable charges associated with that payment period. Credit balances must be paid directly to the student or parent as soon as possible, but no later than fourteen days after the balance occurred if the credit balance occurred after the first day of class.
If the University retains the credit balance on the student account, the University must obtain the student or parent’s authorization prior to retaining the credit balance.
Condition: We tested a sample of 60 students who received Title IV funds during the year. We noted four students with Title IV credit balances on their account, and no parent or student authorization of the retained credit balance.
Cause: Student Financial Aid office policy did not require obtaining an authorization for retaining a credit balance on student accounts. Accordingly, staff did not obtain authorization for credit balances retained beyond fourteen days.
Effect: In conjunction with the missing notifications in finding 2023-003, certain students may have been temporarily unaware that they had Title IV funds applied to their account and available for their use.
Questioned Costs: None reported.
Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 60 students who received $686,202 in Title IV Aid, out of a population of 953 students who received $9,993,184 in Title IV aid. 4 of the students had unauthorized credit balances on their accounts. These students received $53,279 in Title IV aid.
Repeat Finding from
Prior Year: No
Recommendation: We recommend the University update its Student Financial Aid and Business Office policy to require monitoring for Title IV credit balances and require authorization for credit balance retention to be signed for all students intending to leave Title IV aid balances on their accounts.
View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-004
Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Education Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster
ALN: 84.007, 84.033, 84.063, 84.268 and 84.379
Federal Award Number: P007A224069, P033A224069, P063P212290, P063P222290, P268K222290, P268K232290, P379T222290, P379T232290
Award Year: 2022-2023
Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material
Noncompliance
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions – Disbursements to or on Behalf of Students Criteria: Per 34 CFR 668.164(h), a Title IV credit balance occurs whenever the amount of
Title IV program funds credited to a student’s ledger account for a payment
period exceeds the amount assessed the student for allowable charges associated with that payment period. Credit balances must be paid directly to the student or parent as soon as possible, but no later than fourteen days after the balance occurred if the credit balance occurred after the first day of class.
If the University retains the credit balance on the student account, the University must obtain the student or parent’s authorization prior to retaining the credit balance.
Condition: We tested a sample of 60 students who received Title IV funds during the year. We noted four students with Title IV credit balances on their account, and no parent or student authorization of the retained credit balance.
Cause: Student Financial Aid office policy did not require obtaining an authorization for retaining a credit balance on student accounts. Accordingly, staff did not obtain authorization for credit balances retained beyond fourteen days.
Effect: In conjunction with the missing notifications in finding 2023-003, certain students may have been temporarily unaware that they had Title IV funds applied to their account and available for their use.
Questioned Costs: None reported.
Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 60 students who received $686,202 in Title IV Aid, out of a population of 953 students who received $9,993,184 in Title IV aid. 4 of the students had unauthorized credit balances on their accounts. These students received $53,279 in Title IV aid.
Repeat Finding from
Prior Year: No
Recommendation: We recommend the University update its Student Financial Aid and Business Office policy to require monitoring for Title IV credit balances and require authorization for credit balance retention to be signed for all students intending to leave Title IV aid balances on their accounts.
View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-004
Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Education Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster
ALN: 84.007, 84.033, 84.063, 84.268 and 84.379
Federal Award Number: P007A224069, P033A224069, P063P212290, P063P222290, P268K222290, P268K232290, P379T222290, P379T232290
Award Year: 2022-2023
Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Material
Noncompliance
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions – Disbursements to or on Behalf of Students Criteria: Per 34 CFR 668.164(h), a Title IV credit balance occurs whenever the amount of
Title IV program funds credited to a student’s ledger account for a payment
period exceeds the amount assessed the student for allowable charges associated with that payment period. Credit balances must be paid directly to the student or parent as soon as possible, but no later than fourteen days after the balance occurred if the credit balance occurred after the first day of class.
If the University retains the credit balance on the student account, the University must obtain the student or parent’s authorization prior to retaining the credit balance.
Condition: We tested a sample of 60 students who received Title IV funds during the year. We noted four students with Title IV credit balances on their account, and no parent or student authorization of the retained credit balance.
Cause: Student Financial Aid office policy did not require obtaining an authorization for retaining a credit balance on student accounts. Accordingly, staff did not obtain authorization for credit balances retained beyond fourteen days.
Effect: In conjunction with the missing notifications in finding 2023-003, certain students may have been temporarily unaware that they had Title IV funds applied to their account and available for their use.
Questioned Costs: None reported.
Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 60 students who received $686,202 in Title IV Aid, out of a population of 953 students who received $9,993,184 in Title IV aid. 4 of the students had unauthorized credit balances on their accounts. These students received $53,279 in Title IV aid.
Repeat Finding from
Prior Year: No
Recommendation: We recommend the University update its Student Financial Aid and Business Office policy to require monitoring for Title IV credit balances and require authorization for credit balance retention to be signed for all students intending to leave Title IV aid balances on their accounts.
View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective action plan.