Audit 299541

FY End
2023-06-30
Total Expended
$14.36M
Findings
32
Programs
8
Organization: Georgian Court University (NJ)
Year: 2023 Accepted: 2024-03-28
Auditor: Bdo USA PC

Organization Exclusion Status:

Checking exclusion status...

Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
387353 2023-001 - - P
387354 2023-002 - - C
387355 2023-003 Significant Deficiency - E
387356 2023-003 Significant Deficiency - E
387357 2023-003 Significant Deficiency - E
387358 2023-003 Significant Deficiency - E
387359 2023-004 Significant Deficiency - L
387360 2023-004 Significant Deficiency - L
387361 2023-005 - - L
387362 2023-005 - - L
387363 2023-006 - - N
387364 2023-006 - - N
387365 2023-006 - - N
387366 2023-007 - Yes N
387367 2023-007 - Yes N
387368 2023-007 - Yes N
963795 2023-001 - - P
963796 2023-002 - - C
963797 2023-003 Significant Deficiency - E
963798 2023-003 Significant Deficiency - E
963799 2023-003 Significant Deficiency - E
963800 2023-003 Significant Deficiency - E
963801 2023-004 Significant Deficiency - L
963802 2023-004 Significant Deficiency - L
963803 2023-005 - - L
963804 2023-005 - - L
963805 2023-006 - - N
963806 2023-006 - - N
963807 2023-006 - - N
963808 2023-007 - Yes N
963809 2023-007 - Yes N
963810 2023-007 - Yes N

Contacts

Name Title Type
VYLLX7R97538 Ketan Gandhi Auditee
7329872484 Lashaun King Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Title: Basis of Presentation Accounting Policies: Expenditures reported on the Schedule are reported on the accrual basis of accounting. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance and State Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The University has elected not to use the 10 percent de minimis indirect cost rate allowed under the Uniform Guidance. The accompanying schedule of expenditures of federal and state awards (the Schedule) includes the federal and state award activity of Georgian Court University (the University) under programs of the federal and state governments for the year ended June 30, 2023. The information in the Schedule is presented in accordance with the requirements of Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) and the New Jersey Office of Management and Budget (State Guidance). Because the Schedule presents only a selected portion of the operations of the University, it is not intended to and does not present the financial position, changes in net assets or cash flows of the University. All of the University’s federal and state awards were in the form of cash assistance during the year ended June 30, 2023.
Title: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Accounting Policies: Expenditures reported on the Schedule are reported on the accrual basis of accounting. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance and State Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The University has elected not to use the 10 percent de minimis indirect cost rate allowed under the Uniform Guidance. Expenditures reported on the Schedule are reported on the accrual basis of accounting. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance and State Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement.
Title: Indirect Cost Rate Accounting Policies: Expenditures reported on the Schedule are reported on the accrual basis of accounting. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance and State Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The University has elected not to use the 10 percent de minimis indirect cost rate allowed under the Uniform Guidance. The University has elected not to use the 10percent de minimis indirect cost rate allowed under the Uniform Guidance.
Title: Federal Direct Student Loans Accounting Policies: Expenditures reported on the Schedule are reported on the accrual basis of accounting. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance and State Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The University has elected not to use the 10 percent de minimis indirect cost rate allowed under the Uniform Guidance. The University is responsible only for the performance of certain administrative duties with respect to its Federal Direct Student Loan programs and, accordingly, these loans are not included in the University’s financial statements. It is not practicable to determine the balance of loans outstanding to students and former students of the University under these programs as of June 30, 2023. Loan advances during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 have been reflected in the Schedule.
Title: Contingency Accounting Policies: Expenditures reported on the Schedule are reported on the accrual basis of accounting. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance and State Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The University has elected not to use the 10 percent de minimis indirect cost rate allowed under the Uniform Guidance. The grant revenue amounts received are subject to audit and adjustment. If any expenditures are disallowed by the grantor agencies as a result of such an audit, any claim for reimbursement to the grantor agencies would become a liability of the University. In the opinion of management, and with the exception of certain findings presented in the accompanying schedule of findings and questioned costs, all grant expenditures are in compliance with the terms of the grant agreements and applicable federal and state laws and regulations.

Finding Details

Federal Program Information: Transition Program for Students with Intellectual Disabilities into Higher Education Grant (ALN: 84.407A). Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): The auditee must prepare a schedule of expenditures of Federal awards (“SEFA”) for the period covered by the auditee's financial statements which must include the total Federal awards expended as determined in accordance with § 200.502. At a minimum, the schedule must: (1) List individual Federal programs by Federal agency. For a cluster of programs, provide the cluster name, list individual Federal programs within the cluster of programs, and provide the applicable Federal agency name. For R&D, total Federal awards expended must be shown either by individual Federal award or by Federal agency and major subdivision within the Federal agency. (2) For Federal awards received as a subrecipient, the name of the pass-through entity and identifying number assigned by the pass-through entity must be included. (3) Provide total Federal awards expended for each individual Federal program and the Assistance Listings Number or other identifying number when the Assistance Listings information is not available. For a cluster of programs also provide the total for the cluster. (4) Include the total amount provided to subrecipients from each Federal program. (5) For loan or loan guarantee programs described in § 200.502(b), identify in the notes to the schedule the balances outstanding at the end of the audit period. This is in addition to including the total Federal awards expended for loan or loan guarantee programs in the schedule. (6) Include notes that describe that significant accounting policies used in preparing the schedule, and note whether or not the auditee elected to use the 10% de minimis cost rate as covered in § 200.414 (2 CFR section 200.510(b)). Condition: For certain Federal grant programs presented on the SEFA, the total amount provided to subrecipients during the year was not included. Cause: Administrative oversight with respect to SEFA preparation. Effect or Potential Effect: The University was not in compliance with SEFA presentation and disclosure requirements. Questioned Costs: None. Context: The University did not properly present and disclose approximately $162,000 of funds passed to subrecipients under the Transition Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities into Higher Education grant (ALN 84.407A) on the SEFA for the year ended June 30, 2023. Identification as a Repeat Finding: No similar findings noted in the prior year. Recommendation: We recommend the University enhance its policies and procedures to ensure that the SEFA has been prepared in accordance with the required guidelines and that it contains all minimum required elements that must be presented and disclosed, in accordance with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: The University Finance department has updated their policies and procedures to ensure that the SEFA is being prepared in accordance with required guidelines. We will work closely with our grants department to ensure all required elements are properly identified and disclosed.
Federal Program Information: Federal Direct Loan Program (ALN: 84.268) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): C. Cash Management - Institutions are permitted to draw down Title IV funds prior to disbursing funds to eligible students and parents. The institution’s request must not exceed the amount immediately needed to disburse funds to students or parents. A disbursement of funds occurs on the date an institution credits a student’s account or pays a student or parent directly with either student financial aid funds or institutional funds. The institution must make the disbursements as soon as administratively feasible, but no later than 3 business days following the receipt of funds. Any amounts not disbursed by the end of the third business day are considered to be excess cash and generally are required to be promptly returned to the U.S. Department of Education (the “ED”) (34 CFR section 668.166(a)(1)). Excess cash includes any funds received from the ED that are deposited or transferred to the institution’s Federal account as a result of an award adjustment, cancellation, or recovery. However, an excess cash balance is allowed and considered tolerable if that balance: (1) is less than one percent of its prior-year drawdowns; and (2) is eliminated within the next 7 calendar days (34 CFR sections 668.166(a) and (b)). Condition: An instance was identified during the year in which funds drawn were held in excess of the allowable time frame. Cause: Administrative oversight with respect to Cash Management compliance requirements. Effect or Potential Effect: The University was not in compliance with Cash Management compliance requirements. Questioned Costs: None. Context: During our testing, we identified 1 instance of cash held in excess of allowable time frames for the Federal Direct Loan Program, as noted below: Date of Excess Cash 6/13/23 Drawdown Amount $ 4,665 Days in Excess 25 Identification of Repeat Finding: No similar findings noted in the prior year. Recommendation: We recommend the University enhance its procedures over to ensure that excess cash is returned timely, in accordance with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: A turnover in personnel led to inconsistent refund processing for the Summer 2023 semester. There are multiple terms within the summer semester and the new personnel did not run refund files during the first term but ran them during the 2nd term. This is when the loan disbursement was realized and returned. Policies have been set in place outlining disbursement dates that coincide with refund processing dates.
Federal Program Information: Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (ALN: 84.007), Federal Work-Study Program (ALN: 84.033), Federal Pell Grant Program (ALN: 84.063), Federal Direct Student Loans (ALN: 84.268) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): E. Eligibility – Calculation of Benefits – Awards must be coordinated among the various programs and with other federal and nonfederal aid (need and non-need based aid) to ensure that total aid is not awarded in excess of the student’s financial need or cost of attendance (“COA”) (34 CFR 668.42, FWS, and FSEOG, 34 CFR 673.5 and 673.6; Direct Loan, 34 CFR 685.301). For Title IV programs, the COA is generally the sum of the following: tuition and fees; an allowance for books, supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses; an allowance for room and board; when applicable, allowances for costs for dependent care; costs associated with study abroad and cooperative education; costs related to disabilities; and fees charged for student loans. Condition: For certain students identified through our testing, the University did not properly calculate the student’s COA. Cause: Administrative oversight and lack of sufficient internal controls with respect to Title IV aid award eligibility. Effect or Potential Effect: The University is not in compliance with aid awarding criteria under the eligibility requirements. Failure to properly determine students’ COAs and calculate eligible award amounts could result in improper disbursements of Title IV funds. Questioned Costs: None. Context: For 16 of 25 students selected for testing, the University either did not properly calculate the student’s COA or was unable to support the components of the student’s COA that was used for awarding and disbursing Title IV aid. For all students noted with COA issues, we determined that there were no overawards of federal and nonfederal aid. Identification as a Repeat Finding: No similar findings noted in the prior year. Recommendation: We recommend that the University enhance its policies, procedures and internal controls to ensure that Title IV aid is properly calculated, awarded and disbursed, consistent with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: For the 2023-2024 academic year Cost of Attendance Budgets were reviewed and tested to correct any miscalculations and omissions. Pell Budgets were updated to correctly differentiate program tuition and fees. Testing for 2024-2025 academic year has been updated and reviewed to accurately calculate Cost of Attendance Budgets. In some of the findings it was later found that due to changes made in the student’s record, the record should have run through the dynamic redetermination process to update the budget. The staff has been retrained in this process. The process for summer periods of enrollment has been reviewed and revised to flag students who initially applied and or registered for summer classes and subsequently did not register or dropped the classes during the add/drop period and the summer period of enrollment remained, thereby calculating a Cost of Attendance for summer.
Federal Program Information: Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (ALN: 84.007), Federal Work-Study Program (ALN: 84.033), Federal Pell Grant Program (ALN: 84.063), Federal Direct Student Loans (ALN: 84.268) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): E. Eligibility – Calculation of Benefits – Awards must be coordinated among the various programs and with other federal and nonfederal aid (need and non-need based aid) to ensure that total aid is not awarded in excess of the student’s financial need or cost of attendance (“COA”) (34 CFR 668.42, FWS, and FSEOG, 34 CFR 673.5 and 673.6; Direct Loan, 34 CFR 685.301). For Title IV programs, the COA is generally the sum of the following: tuition and fees; an allowance for books, supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses; an allowance for room and board; when applicable, allowances for costs for dependent care; costs associated with study abroad and cooperative education; costs related to disabilities; and fees charged for student loans. Condition: For certain students identified through our testing, the University did not properly calculate the student’s COA. Cause: Administrative oversight and lack of sufficient internal controls with respect to Title IV aid award eligibility. Effect or Potential Effect: The University is not in compliance with aid awarding criteria under the eligibility requirements. Failure to properly determine students’ COAs and calculate eligible award amounts could result in improper disbursements of Title IV funds. Questioned Costs: None. Context: For 16 of 25 students selected for testing, the University either did not properly calculate the student’s COA or was unable to support the components of the student’s COA that was used for awarding and disbursing Title IV aid. For all students noted with COA issues, we determined that there were no overawards of federal and nonfederal aid. Identification as a Repeat Finding: No similar findings noted in the prior year. Recommendation: We recommend that the University enhance its policies, procedures and internal controls to ensure that Title IV aid is properly calculated, awarded and disbursed, consistent with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: For the 2023-2024 academic year Cost of Attendance Budgets were reviewed and tested to correct any miscalculations and omissions. Pell Budgets were updated to correctly differentiate program tuition and fees. Testing for 2024-2025 academic year has been updated and reviewed to accurately calculate Cost of Attendance Budgets. In some of the findings it was later found that due to changes made in the student’s record, the record should have run through the dynamic redetermination process to update the budget. The staff has been retrained in this process. The process for summer periods of enrollment has been reviewed and revised to flag students who initially applied and or registered for summer classes and subsequently did not register or dropped the classes during the add/drop period and the summer period of enrollment remained, thereby calculating a Cost of Attendance for summer.
Federal Program Information: Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (ALN: 84.007), Federal Work-Study Program (ALN: 84.033), Federal Pell Grant Program (ALN: 84.063), Federal Direct Student Loans (ALN: 84.268) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): E. Eligibility – Calculation of Benefits – Awards must be coordinated among the various programs and with other federal and nonfederal aid (need and non-need based aid) to ensure that total aid is not awarded in excess of the student’s financial need or cost of attendance (“COA”) (34 CFR 668.42, FWS, and FSEOG, 34 CFR 673.5 and 673.6; Direct Loan, 34 CFR 685.301). For Title IV programs, the COA is generally the sum of the following: tuition and fees; an allowance for books, supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses; an allowance for room and board; when applicable, allowances for costs for dependent care; costs associated with study abroad and cooperative education; costs related to disabilities; and fees charged for student loans. Condition: For certain students identified through our testing, the University did not properly calculate the student’s COA. Cause: Administrative oversight and lack of sufficient internal controls with respect to Title IV aid award eligibility. Effect or Potential Effect: The University is not in compliance with aid awarding criteria under the eligibility requirements. Failure to properly determine students’ COAs and calculate eligible award amounts could result in improper disbursements of Title IV funds. Questioned Costs: None. Context: For 16 of 25 students selected for testing, the University either did not properly calculate the student’s COA or was unable to support the components of the student’s COA that was used for awarding and disbursing Title IV aid. For all students noted with COA issues, we determined that there were no overawards of federal and nonfederal aid. Identification as a Repeat Finding: No similar findings noted in the prior year. Recommendation: We recommend that the University enhance its policies, procedures and internal controls to ensure that Title IV aid is properly calculated, awarded and disbursed, consistent with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: For the 2023-2024 academic year Cost of Attendance Budgets were reviewed and tested to correct any miscalculations and omissions. Pell Budgets were updated to correctly differentiate program tuition and fees. Testing for 2024-2025 academic year has been updated and reviewed to accurately calculate Cost of Attendance Budgets. In some of the findings it was later found that due to changes made in the student’s record, the record should have run through the dynamic redetermination process to update the budget. The staff has been retrained in this process. The process for summer periods of enrollment has been reviewed and revised to flag students who initially applied and or registered for summer classes and subsequently did not register or dropped the classes during the add/drop period and the summer period of enrollment remained, thereby calculating a Cost of Attendance for summer.
Federal Program Information: Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (ALN: 84.007), Federal Work-Study Program (ALN: 84.033), Federal Pell Grant Program (ALN: 84.063), Federal Direct Student Loans (ALN: 84.268) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): E. Eligibility – Calculation of Benefits – Awards must be coordinated among the various programs and with other federal and nonfederal aid (need and non-need based aid) to ensure that total aid is not awarded in excess of the student’s financial need or cost of attendance (“COA”) (34 CFR 668.42, FWS, and FSEOG, 34 CFR 673.5 and 673.6; Direct Loan, 34 CFR 685.301). For Title IV programs, the COA is generally the sum of the following: tuition and fees; an allowance for books, supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses; an allowance for room and board; when applicable, allowances for costs for dependent care; costs associated with study abroad and cooperative education; costs related to disabilities; and fees charged for student loans. Condition: For certain students identified through our testing, the University did not properly calculate the student’s COA. Cause: Administrative oversight and lack of sufficient internal controls with respect to Title IV aid award eligibility. Effect or Potential Effect: The University is not in compliance with aid awarding criteria under the eligibility requirements. Failure to properly determine students’ COAs and calculate eligible award amounts could result in improper disbursements of Title IV funds. Questioned Costs: None. Context: For 16 of 25 students selected for testing, the University either did not properly calculate the student’s COA or was unable to support the components of the student’s COA that was used for awarding and disbursing Title IV aid. For all students noted with COA issues, we determined that there were no overawards of federal and nonfederal aid. Identification as a Repeat Finding: No similar findings noted in the prior year. Recommendation: We recommend that the University enhance its policies, procedures and internal controls to ensure that Title IV aid is properly calculated, awarded and disbursed, consistent with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: For the 2023-2024 academic year Cost of Attendance Budgets were reviewed and tested to correct any miscalculations and omissions. Pell Budgets were updated to correctly differentiate program tuition and fees. Testing for 2024-2025 academic year has been updated and reviewed to accurately calculate Cost of Attendance Budgets. In some of the findings it was later found that due to changes made in the student’s record, the record should have run through the dynamic redetermination process to update the budget. The staff has been retrained in this process. The process for summer periods of enrollment has been reviewed and revised to flag students who initially applied and or registered for summer classes and subsequently did not register or dropped the classes during the add/drop period and the summer period of enrollment remained, thereby calculating a Cost of Attendance for summer.
Federal Program Information: Federal Pell Grant Program (ALN: 84.063) and Federal Direct Loan Program (ALN: 84.268) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): L. Reporting – Financial Reporting – Federal regulations require that the University submit origination and disbursement records for students to the Common Origination and Disbursement (“COD”) system. Items considered key in student origination records, if applicable, are: Social Security number, award amount, enrollment date, verification status code (when the applicate is selected for verification), transaction number, COA, and the “Academic Start Date” and “Academic End Date”. Condition: For certain students identified through our testing, errors were identified in key items reported to the COD in student origination records. Cause: Administrative oversight and lack of sufficient internal controls with respect to accurate reporting of federal award information. Effect or Potential Effect: The University was not in compliance with COD reporting requirements. Questioned Costs: None. Context: We noted the following exceptions: • For 18 of 25 students selected for testing, the student’s COA was inaccurately reported within the COD system. • For 2 of 25 students selected for testing, the enrollment date or “Academic Start Date” was inaccurately reported. • For 1 of 25 students selected for testing, the transaction number was inaccurately reported. Identification as a Repeat Finding: No similar findings noted in the prior year. Recommendation: We recommend that the University enhance its policies, procedures, and internal controls to ensure origination records are accurately reported to the COD for Federal Direct Loan Program and Federal Pell Grant Program recipients, in accordance with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Corrective action has been taken to ensure that when students have a spring start date in the prior academic year, the enrollment start date is updated to the correct enrollment start date. A cross check with a selection set has been added to capture any incorrect records and adjust accordingly.
Federal Program Information: Federal Pell Grant Program (ALN: 84.063) and Federal Direct Loan Program (ALN: 84.268) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): L. Reporting – Financial Reporting – Federal regulations require that the University submit origination and disbursement records for students to the Common Origination and Disbursement (“COD”) system. Items considered key in student origination records, if applicable, are: Social Security number, award amount, enrollment date, verification status code (when the applicate is selected for verification), transaction number, COA, and the “Academic Start Date” and “Academic End Date”. Condition: For certain students identified through our testing, errors were identified in key items reported to the COD in student origination records. Cause: Administrative oversight and lack of sufficient internal controls with respect to accurate reporting of federal award information. Effect or Potential Effect: The University was not in compliance with COD reporting requirements. Questioned Costs: None. Context: We noted the following exceptions: • For 18 of 25 students selected for testing, the student’s COA was inaccurately reported within the COD system. • For 2 of 25 students selected for testing, the enrollment date or “Academic Start Date” was inaccurately reported. • For 1 of 25 students selected for testing, the transaction number was inaccurately reported. Identification as a Repeat Finding: No similar findings noted in the prior year. Recommendation: We recommend that the University enhance its policies, procedures, and internal controls to ensure origination records are accurately reported to the COD for Federal Direct Loan Program and Federal Pell Grant Program recipients, in accordance with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Corrective action has been taken to ensure that when students have a spring start date in the prior academic year, the enrollment start date is updated to the correct enrollment start date. A cross check with a selection set has been added to capture any incorrect records and adjust accordingly.
Federal Program Information: Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (ALN: 84.007) and Federal Work-Study Program (ALN: 84.033) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): L. Reporting – Special Reporting – The Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate (“FISAP”) is an electronic report submitted annual to receive funds for the campus-based programs. The institution uses the Fiscal Operations Report portion to report its expenditures in the previous award year and the Application to Participate portion to apply for the following year. Key line items containing critical information include: Part I, Identifying Information, Certification, and Warning; Part II, Application to Participate (selected sections); Part III, Fiscal Operations Report, Part IV, Fiscal Operations Report Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (“FSEOG”) Program; Part V, Fiscal Operations Report Federal Work-Study (“FWS”) Program; and Part VI, Program Summary for Award Year. Condition: Through our testing, certain errors in key line items of the University’s FISAP were identified. Cause: Administrative oversight with respect to FISAP reporting. Effect or Potential Effect: The University is not in compliance with FISAP reporting requirements. Failure to report accurate records of expenditures for the previous award year could impact future availability of Title IV aid. Questioned Costs: None. Context: The University incorrectly reported certain required line items disclosing the uses of FWS funds during the year in Part V of the FISAP. Additionally, the total of less-than-full-time students was not properly reported in Part VI of the FISAP. Identification of Repeat Finding: No similar findings noted in the prior year. Recommendation: We recommend the University enhance its policies and procedures to ensure that key line items containing critical information are properly reported in the FISAP, in accordance with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Corrections to the FISAP were made prior to the correction submission deadline date. A review in the Detail Reporting process in Powerfaids was conducted and determined that the process in Powerfaids initially reported that students who should have been included as full time were reverted to part time status if the last period of enrollment was less than fulltime. We have worked with Powerfaids to resolve this issue. Corrections were made to all Part V errors prior to the correction submission date. Payroll has been apprised that only ten percent of the JDL administrator salary can be attributed to and or drawn down from Federal Work Study funds.
Federal Program Information: Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (ALN: 84.007) and Federal Work-Study Program (ALN: 84.033) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): L. Reporting – Special Reporting – The Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate (“FISAP”) is an electronic report submitted annual to receive funds for the campus-based programs. The institution uses the Fiscal Operations Report portion to report its expenditures in the previous award year and the Application to Participate portion to apply for the following year. Key line items containing critical information include: Part I, Identifying Information, Certification, and Warning; Part II, Application to Participate (selected sections); Part III, Fiscal Operations Report, Part IV, Fiscal Operations Report Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (“FSEOG”) Program; Part V, Fiscal Operations Report Federal Work-Study (“FWS”) Program; and Part VI, Program Summary for Award Year. Condition: Through our testing, certain errors in key line items of the University’s FISAP were identified. Cause: Administrative oversight with respect to FISAP reporting. Effect or Potential Effect: The University is not in compliance with FISAP reporting requirements. Failure to report accurate records of expenditures for the previous award year could impact future availability of Title IV aid. Questioned Costs: None. Context: The University incorrectly reported certain required line items disclosing the uses of FWS funds during the year in Part V of the FISAP. Additionally, the total of less-than-full-time students was not properly reported in Part VI of the FISAP. Identification of Repeat Finding: No similar findings noted in the prior year. Recommendation: We recommend the University enhance its policies and procedures to ensure that key line items containing critical information are properly reported in the FISAP, in accordance with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Corrections to the FISAP were made prior to the correction submission deadline date. A review in the Detail Reporting process in Powerfaids was conducted and determined that the process in Powerfaids initially reported that students who should have been included as full time were reverted to part time status if the last period of enrollment was less than fulltime. We have worked with Powerfaids to resolve this issue. Corrections were made to all Part V errors prior to the correction submission date. Payroll has been apprised that only ten percent of the JDL administrator salary can be attributed to and or drawn down from Federal Work Study funds.
Federal Program Information: Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (ALN: 84.007), Federal Pell Grant Program (ALN: 84.063), Federal Direct Student Loans (ALN: 84.268) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): N. Special Tests and Provisions – Return of Title IV Funds: The amount of earned Title IV grant or loan assistance is calculated by determining the percentage of Title IV grant or loan assistance that has been earned by the student and applying that percentage to the total amount of Title IV grant or loan assistance that was or could have been disbursed to the student for the payment period or period of enrollment as of the student’s withdrawal date. A student earns 100 percent if his or her withdrawal date is after the completion of 60 percent of (1) the calendar days in the payment period or period of enrollment for a program measured in credit hours, or (2) the clock hours scheduled to be completed for the payment period or period of enrollment for a program measured in clock hours (34 CFR 668.22(e)(2)). Otherwise, the percentage earned by the student is equal to the percentage (60 percent or less) of the payment period or period of enrollment that was completed as of the student’s withdrawal date. The percentage of Title IV grant or loan assistance that has not been earned by the student is the complement of one of these calculations. Standard termbased institutions must always use the payment period as the basis for the determination. The unearned amount of Title IV assistance to be returned is calculated by subtracting the amount of Title IV assistance earned by the student from the amount of Title IV aid that was disbursed to the student as of the date of the institution’s determination that the student withdrew (34 CFR 668.22(e)). Condition: For certain students identified through our testing, the University did not properly calculate the amounts to be returned to the ED. Cause: Administrative oversight with respect to return of Title IV fund calculations. Effect or Potential Effect: The University is not in compliance with the return of Title IV funds requirements. Questioned Costs: None. Context: For 1 of 2 students selected for testing, the University did not properly calculate the amount of Title IV aid to be returned to the ED. The amount returned to the ED was greater than the amount owed based upon the student’s withdrawal date. Identification of Repeat Finding: No similar findings noted in the prior year. Recommendation: We recommend the University enhance its procedures over the return of Title IV fund calculations to ensure that returns of funds are calculated accurately, in accordance with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: The issue has been addressed and reviewed. Going forward the Director of Financial Aid will set up and review all periods of enrollment and dates in the return of funds calculation on COD prior to the start of the academic year.
Federal Program Information: Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (ALN: 84.007), Federal Pell Grant Program (ALN: 84.063), Federal Direct Student Loans (ALN: 84.268) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): N. Special Tests and Provisions – Return of Title IV Funds: The amount of earned Title IV grant or loan assistance is calculated by determining the percentage of Title IV grant or loan assistance that has been earned by the student and applying that percentage to the total amount of Title IV grant or loan assistance that was or could have been disbursed to the student for the payment period or period of enrollment as of the student’s withdrawal date. A student earns 100 percent if his or her withdrawal date is after the completion of 60 percent of (1) the calendar days in the payment period or period of enrollment for a program measured in credit hours, or (2) the clock hours scheduled to be completed for the payment period or period of enrollment for a program measured in clock hours (34 CFR 668.22(e)(2)). Otherwise, the percentage earned by the student is equal to the percentage (60 percent or less) of the payment period or period of enrollment that was completed as of the student’s withdrawal date. The percentage of Title IV grant or loan assistance that has not been earned by the student is the complement of one of these calculations. Standard termbased institutions must always use the payment period as the basis for the determination. The unearned amount of Title IV assistance to be returned is calculated by subtracting the amount of Title IV assistance earned by the student from the amount of Title IV aid that was disbursed to the student as of the date of the institution’s determination that the student withdrew (34 CFR 668.22(e)). Condition: For certain students identified through our testing, the University did not properly calculate the amounts to be returned to the ED. Cause: Administrative oversight with respect to return of Title IV fund calculations. Effect or Potential Effect: The University is not in compliance with the return of Title IV funds requirements. Questioned Costs: None. Context: For 1 of 2 students selected for testing, the University did not properly calculate the amount of Title IV aid to be returned to the ED. The amount returned to the ED was greater than the amount owed based upon the student’s withdrawal date. Identification of Repeat Finding: No similar findings noted in the prior year. Recommendation: We recommend the University enhance its procedures over the return of Title IV fund calculations to ensure that returns of funds are calculated accurately, in accordance with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: The issue has been addressed and reviewed. Going forward the Director of Financial Aid will set up and review all periods of enrollment and dates in the return of funds calculation on COD prior to the start of the academic year.
Federal Program Information: Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (ALN: 84.007), Federal Pell Grant Program (ALN: 84.063), Federal Direct Student Loans (ALN: 84.268) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): N. Special Tests and Provisions – Return of Title IV Funds: The amount of earned Title IV grant or loan assistance is calculated by determining the percentage of Title IV grant or loan assistance that has been earned by the student and applying that percentage to the total amount of Title IV grant or loan assistance that was or could have been disbursed to the student for the payment period or period of enrollment as of the student’s withdrawal date. A student earns 100 percent if his or her withdrawal date is after the completion of 60 percent of (1) the calendar days in the payment period or period of enrollment for a program measured in credit hours, or (2) the clock hours scheduled to be completed for the payment period or period of enrollment for a program measured in clock hours (34 CFR 668.22(e)(2)). Otherwise, the percentage earned by the student is equal to the percentage (60 percent or less) of the payment period or period of enrollment that was completed as of the student’s withdrawal date. The percentage of Title IV grant or loan assistance that has not been earned by the student is the complement of one of these calculations. Standard termbased institutions must always use the payment period as the basis for the determination. The unearned amount of Title IV assistance to be returned is calculated by subtracting the amount of Title IV assistance earned by the student from the amount of Title IV aid that was disbursed to the student as of the date of the institution’s determination that the student withdrew (34 CFR 668.22(e)). Condition: For certain students identified through our testing, the University did not properly calculate the amounts to be returned to the ED. Cause: Administrative oversight with respect to return of Title IV fund calculations. Effect or Potential Effect: The University is not in compliance with the return of Title IV funds requirements. Questioned Costs: None. Context: For 1 of 2 students selected for testing, the University did not properly calculate the amount of Title IV aid to be returned to the ED. The amount returned to the ED was greater than the amount owed based upon the student’s withdrawal date. Identification of Repeat Finding: No similar findings noted in the prior year. Recommendation: We recommend the University enhance its procedures over the return of Title IV fund calculations to ensure that returns of funds are calculated accurately, in accordance with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: The issue has been addressed and reviewed. Going forward the Director of Financial Aid will set up and review all periods of enrollment and dates in the return of funds calculation on COD prior to the start of the academic year.
Federal Program Information: Federal Pell Grant Program (ALN: 84.063), Federal Direct Student Loans (ALN: 84.268), Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants (ALN: 84.379) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): N. Special Tests and Provisions - Enrollment Reporting: The University is required to update students’ statuses on the National Student Loans Data System (“NSLDS”) website if they graduate, withdraw or have an increase/decrease in attendance level during the year within 60 days of the date the University becomes aware of the change in enrollment status. There are two categories of enrollment information; “Campus Level” and “Program Level,” both of which need to be reported accurately and have separate record types. Institutions are responsible for accurately reporting the significant data elements under the Campus-Level Record and Program-Level Record that ED considers high risk. Additionally, institutions are responsible for timely reporting, whether they report directly or via a third-party servicer. As with any school/servicer arrangement for the administration of the Title IV programs, if the school uses a third party to meet the NSLDS enrollment reporting requirements it is the school that must ensure that enrollment information is submitted timely, accurately, and completely. Per the Federal Student Aid Handbook, schools are required to certify enrollment for all students who are included on their roster file scheduled at least every two months, and within 15 days of the date that NSLDS sends a roster file to the school or its third-party servicer. Any errors identified and returned by NSLDS in an Error/Acknowledgement file should be corrected and resubmitted within 10 days. Condition: The University did not submit an accurate status change notification or timely notification to the NSLDS website for certain students who graduated, withdrew, or had an increase/decrease in attendance level during the year. Additionally, the University’s fiscal year SCHER1 report included multiple instances in which error records were not corrected within the required timeframe. Cause: Administrative oversight with respect to enrollment reporting compliance requirements. Effect or Potential Effect: The University is not in compliance with enrollment reporting compliance requirements. Failure to promptly report accurate and timely changes in enrollment status may adversely impact the repayment status for student loan borrowers. Questioned Costs: None. Context: We noted the following exceptions as a result of our procedures: • For 1 of 40 students sampled whose status changed during the year, the University failed to accurately report all significant data elements under the Campus- Level Record in a timely notification to the NSLDS website. • For 4 of 25 students sampled whose status changed during the year, the University failed to accurately report all significant data elements under the Program-Level Record in a timely notification to the NSLDS website. • For 5 of 6 Error Reports tested, error records identified in Error/Acknowledgment files were not corrected within the required timeframe. Identification of Repeat Finding: This is a repeat finding from prior year. This was reported as Finding 2022-003 in the prior year schedule of findings and questioned costs. Recommendation: We recommend that the University properly follow its policies and procedures over enrollment reporting to ensure that all status changes are submitted to the NSLDS website within the required timeframe and that error records are corrected and submitted timely, consistent with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: With regards to Error #2023-007, some of the findings were related to incorrect reporting of graduation status, graduation date, and program begin date. We identified that some dates had not been correctly entered. We are working with our student information system software consultants and National Student Clearinghouse personnel to ensure that all staff understand reporting requirements, and we have taken steps to correct errors before we submit reports. Another finding was that error records were not corrected within the required timeframe. There has been a change in staffing in the office since the time periods of the audit findings, so a different person is now correcting error records. That individual has been made aware of the audit findings and has committed to work with office personnel and National Student Clearinghouse on correcting reported errors promptly.
Federal Program Information: Federal Pell Grant Program (ALN: 84.063), Federal Direct Student Loans (ALN: 84.268), Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants (ALN: 84.379) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): N. Special Tests and Provisions - Enrollment Reporting: The University is required to update students’ statuses on the National Student Loans Data System (“NSLDS”) website if they graduate, withdraw or have an increase/decrease in attendance level during the year within 60 days of the date the University becomes aware of the change in enrollment status. There are two categories of enrollment information; “Campus Level” and “Program Level,” both of which need to be reported accurately and have separate record types. Institutions are responsible for accurately reporting the significant data elements under the Campus-Level Record and Program-Level Record that ED considers high risk. Additionally, institutions are responsible for timely reporting, whether they report directly or via a third-party servicer. As with any school/servicer arrangement for the administration of the Title IV programs, if the school uses a third party to meet the NSLDS enrollment reporting requirements it is the school that must ensure that enrollment information is submitted timely, accurately, and completely. Per the Federal Student Aid Handbook, schools are required to certify enrollment for all students who are included on their roster file scheduled at least every two months, and within 15 days of the date that NSLDS sends a roster file to the school or its third-party servicer. Any errors identified and returned by NSLDS in an Error/Acknowledgement file should be corrected and resubmitted within 10 days. Condition: The University did not submit an accurate status change notification or timely notification to the NSLDS website for certain students who graduated, withdrew, or had an increase/decrease in attendance level during the year. Additionally, the University’s fiscal year SCHER1 report included multiple instances in which error records were not corrected within the required timeframe. Cause: Administrative oversight with respect to enrollment reporting compliance requirements. Effect or Potential Effect: The University is not in compliance with enrollment reporting compliance requirements. Failure to promptly report accurate and timely changes in enrollment status may adversely impact the repayment status for student loan borrowers. Questioned Costs: None. Context: We noted the following exceptions as a result of our procedures: • For 1 of 40 students sampled whose status changed during the year, the University failed to accurately report all significant data elements under the Campus- Level Record in a timely notification to the NSLDS website. • For 4 of 25 students sampled whose status changed during the year, the University failed to accurately report all significant data elements under the Program-Level Record in a timely notification to the NSLDS website. • For 5 of 6 Error Reports tested, error records identified in Error/Acknowledgment files were not corrected within the required timeframe. Identification of Repeat Finding: This is a repeat finding from prior year. This was reported as Finding 2022-003 in the prior year schedule of findings and questioned costs. Recommendation: We recommend that the University properly follow its policies and procedures over enrollment reporting to ensure that all status changes are submitted to the NSLDS website within the required timeframe and that error records are corrected and submitted timely, consistent with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: With regards to Error #2023-007, some of the findings were related to incorrect reporting of graduation status, graduation date, and program begin date. We identified that some dates had not been correctly entered. We are working with our student information system software consultants and National Student Clearinghouse personnel to ensure that all staff understand reporting requirements, and we have taken steps to correct errors before we submit reports. Another finding was that error records were not corrected within the required timeframe. There has been a change in staffing in the office since the time periods of the audit findings, so a different person is now correcting error records. That individual has been made aware of the audit findings and has committed to work with office personnel and National Student Clearinghouse on correcting reported errors promptly.
Federal Program Information: Federal Pell Grant Program (ALN: 84.063), Federal Direct Student Loans (ALN: 84.268), Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants (ALN: 84.379) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): N. Special Tests and Provisions - Enrollment Reporting: The University is required to update students’ statuses on the National Student Loans Data System (“NSLDS”) website if they graduate, withdraw or have an increase/decrease in attendance level during the year within 60 days of the date the University becomes aware of the change in enrollment status. There are two categories of enrollment information; “Campus Level” and “Program Level,” both of which need to be reported accurately and have separate record types. Institutions are responsible for accurately reporting the significant data elements under the Campus-Level Record and Program-Level Record that ED considers high risk. Additionally, institutions are responsible for timely reporting, whether they report directly or via a third-party servicer. As with any school/servicer arrangement for the administration of the Title IV programs, if the school uses a third party to meet the NSLDS enrollment reporting requirements it is the school that must ensure that enrollment information is submitted timely, accurately, and completely. Per the Federal Student Aid Handbook, schools are required to certify enrollment for all students who are included on their roster file scheduled at least every two months, and within 15 days of the date that NSLDS sends a roster file to the school or its third-party servicer. Any errors identified and returned by NSLDS in an Error/Acknowledgement file should be corrected and resubmitted within 10 days. Condition: The University did not submit an accurate status change notification or timely notification to the NSLDS website for certain students who graduated, withdrew, or had an increase/decrease in attendance level during the year. Additionally, the University’s fiscal year SCHER1 report included multiple instances in which error records were not corrected within the required timeframe. Cause: Administrative oversight with respect to enrollment reporting compliance requirements. Effect or Potential Effect: The University is not in compliance with enrollment reporting compliance requirements. Failure to promptly report accurate and timely changes in enrollment status may adversely impact the repayment status for student loan borrowers. Questioned Costs: None. Context: We noted the following exceptions as a result of our procedures: • For 1 of 40 students sampled whose status changed during the year, the University failed to accurately report all significant data elements under the Campus- Level Record in a timely notification to the NSLDS website. • For 4 of 25 students sampled whose status changed during the year, the University failed to accurately report all significant data elements under the Program-Level Record in a timely notification to the NSLDS website. • For 5 of 6 Error Reports tested, error records identified in Error/Acknowledgment files were not corrected within the required timeframe. Identification of Repeat Finding: This is a repeat finding from prior year. This was reported as Finding 2022-003 in the prior year schedule of findings and questioned costs. Recommendation: We recommend that the University properly follow its policies and procedures over enrollment reporting to ensure that all status changes are submitted to the NSLDS website within the required timeframe and that error records are corrected and submitted timely, consistent with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: With regards to Error #2023-007, some of the findings were related to incorrect reporting of graduation status, graduation date, and program begin date. We identified that some dates had not been correctly entered. We are working with our student information system software consultants and National Student Clearinghouse personnel to ensure that all staff understand reporting requirements, and we have taken steps to correct errors before we submit reports. Another finding was that error records were not corrected within the required timeframe. There has been a change in staffing in the office since the time periods of the audit findings, so a different person is now correcting error records. That individual has been made aware of the audit findings and has committed to work with office personnel and National Student Clearinghouse on correcting reported errors promptly.
Federal Program Information: Transition Program for Students with Intellectual Disabilities into Higher Education Grant (ALN: 84.407A). Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): The auditee must prepare a schedule of expenditures of Federal awards (“SEFA”) for the period covered by the auditee's financial statements which must include the total Federal awards expended as determined in accordance with § 200.502. At a minimum, the schedule must: (1) List individual Federal programs by Federal agency. For a cluster of programs, provide the cluster name, list individual Federal programs within the cluster of programs, and provide the applicable Federal agency name. For R&D, total Federal awards expended must be shown either by individual Federal award or by Federal agency and major subdivision within the Federal agency. (2) For Federal awards received as a subrecipient, the name of the pass-through entity and identifying number assigned by the pass-through entity must be included. (3) Provide total Federal awards expended for each individual Federal program and the Assistance Listings Number or other identifying number when the Assistance Listings information is not available. For a cluster of programs also provide the total for the cluster. (4) Include the total amount provided to subrecipients from each Federal program. (5) For loan or loan guarantee programs described in § 200.502(b), identify in the notes to the schedule the balances outstanding at the end of the audit period. This is in addition to including the total Federal awards expended for loan or loan guarantee programs in the schedule. (6) Include notes that describe that significant accounting policies used in preparing the schedule, and note whether or not the auditee elected to use the 10% de minimis cost rate as covered in § 200.414 (2 CFR section 200.510(b)). Condition: For certain Federal grant programs presented on the SEFA, the total amount provided to subrecipients during the year was not included. Cause: Administrative oversight with respect to SEFA preparation. Effect or Potential Effect: The University was not in compliance with SEFA presentation and disclosure requirements. Questioned Costs: None. Context: The University did not properly present and disclose approximately $162,000 of funds passed to subrecipients under the Transition Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities into Higher Education grant (ALN 84.407A) on the SEFA for the year ended June 30, 2023. Identification as a Repeat Finding: No similar findings noted in the prior year. Recommendation: We recommend the University enhance its policies and procedures to ensure that the SEFA has been prepared in accordance with the required guidelines and that it contains all minimum required elements that must be presented and disclosed, in accordance with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: The University Finance department has updated their policies and procedures to ensure that the SEFA is being prepared in accordance with required guidelines. We will work closely with our grants department to ensure all required elements are properly identified and disclosed.
Federal Program Information: Federal Direct Loan Program (ALN: 84.268) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): C. Cash Management - Institutions are permitted to draw down Title IV funds prior to disbursing funds to eligible students and parents. The institution’s request must not exceed the amount immediately needed to disburse funds to students or parents. A disbursement of funds occurs on the date an institution credits a student’s account or pays a student or parent directly with either student financial aid funds or institutional funds. The institution must make the disbursements as soon as administratively feasible, but no later than 3 business days following the receipt of funds. Any amounts not disbursed by the end of the third business day are considered to be excess cash and generally are required to be promptly returned to the U.S. Department of Education (the “ED”) (34 CFR section 668.166(a)(1)). Excess cash includes any funds received from the ED that are deposited or transferred to the institution’s Federal account as a result of an award adjustment, cancellation, or recovery. However, an excess cash balance is allowed and considered tolerable if that balance: (1) is less than one percent of its prior-year drawdowns; and (2) is eliminated within the next 7 calendar days (34 CFR sections 668.166(a) and (b)). Condition: An instance was identified during the year in which funds drawn were held in excess of the allowable time frame. Cause: Administrative oversight with respect to Cash Management compliance requirements. Effect or Potential Effect: The University was not in compliance with Cash Management compliance requirements. Questioned Costs: None. Context: During our testing, we identified 1 instance of cash held in excess of allowable time frames for the Federal Direct Loan Program, as noted below: Date of Excess Cash 6/13/23 Drawdown Amount $ 4,665 Days in Excess 25 Identification of Repeat Finding: No similar findings noted in the prior year. Recommendation: We recommend the University enhance its procedures over to ensure that excess cash is returned timely, in accordance with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: A turnover in personnel led to inconsistent refund processing for the Summer 2023 semester. There are multiple terms within the summer semester and the new personnel did not run refund files during the first term but ran them during the 2nd term. This is when the loan disbursement was realized and returned. Policies have been set in place outlining disbursement dates that coincide with refund processing dates.
Federal Program Information: Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (ALN: 84.007), Federal Work-Study Program (ALN: 84.033), Federal Pell Grant Program (ALN: 84.063), Federal Direct Student Loans (ALN: 84.268) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): E. Eligibility – Calculation of Benefits – Awards must be coordinated among the various programs and with other federal and nonfederal aid (need and non-need based aid) to ensure that total aid is not awarded in excess of the student’s financial need or cost of attendance (“COA”) (34 CFR 668.42, FWS, and FSEOG, 34 CFR 673.5 and 673.6; Direct Loan, 34 CFR 685.301). For Title IV programs, the COA is generally the sum of the following: tuition and fees; an allowance for books, supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses; an allowance for room and board; when applicable, allowances for costs for dependent care; costs associated with study abroad and cooperative education; costs related to disabilities; and fees charged for student loans. Condition: For certain students identified through our testing, the University did not properly calculate the student’s COA. Cause: Administrative oversight and lack of sufficient internal controls with respect to Title IV aid award eligibility. Effect or Potential Effect: The University is not in compliance with aid awarding criteria under the eligibility requirements. Failure to properly determine students’ COAs and calculate eligible award amounts could result in improper disbursements of Title IV funds. Questioned Costs: None. Context: For 16 of 25 students selected for testing, the University either did not properly calculate the student’s COA or was unable to support the components of the student’s COA that was used for awarding and disbursing Title IV aid. For all students noted with COA issues, we determined that there were no overawards of federal and nonfederal aid. Identification as a Repeat Finding: No similar findings noted in the prior year. Recommendation: We recommend that the University enhance its policies, procedures and internal controls to ensure that Title IV aid is properly calculated, awarded and disbursed, consistent with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: For the 2023-2024 academic year Cost of Attendance Budgets were reviewed and tested to correct any miscalculations and omissions. Pell Budgets were updated to correctly differentiate program tuition and fees. Testing for 2024-2025 academic year has been updated and reviewed to accurately calculate Cost of Attendance Budgets. In some of the findings it was later found that due to changes made in the student’s record, the record should have run through the dynamic redetermination process to update the budget. The staff has been retrained in this process. The process for summer periods of enrollment has been reviewed and revised to flag students who initially applied and or registered for summer classes and subsequently did not register or dropped the classes during the add/drop period and the summer period of enrollment remained, thereby calculating a Cost of Attendance for summer.
Federal Program Information: Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (ALN: 84.007), Federal Work-Study Program (ALN: 84.033), Federal Pell Grant Program (ALN: 84.063), Federal Direct Student Loans (ALN: 84.268) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): E. Eligibility – Calculation of Benefits – Awards must be coordinated among the various programs and with other federal and nonfederal aid (need and non-need based aid) to ensure that total aid is not awarded in excess of the student’s financial need or cost of attendance (“COA”) (34 CFR 668.42, FWS, and FSEOG, 34 CFR 673.5 and 673.6; Direct Loan, 34 CFR 685.301). For Title IV programs, the COA is generally the sum of the following: tuition and fees; an allowance for books, supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses; an allowance for room and board; when applicable, allowances for costs for dependent care; costs associated with study abroad and cooperative education; costs related to disabilities; and fees charged for student loans. Condition: For certain students identified through our testing, the University did not properly calculate the student’s COA. Cause: Administrative oversight and lack of sufficient internal controls with respect to Title IV aid award eligibility. Effect or Potential Effect: The University is not in compliance with aid awarding criteria under the eligibility requirements. Failure to properly determine students’ COAs and calculate eligible award amounts could result in improper disbursements of Title IV funds. Questioned Costs: None. Context: For 16 of 25 students selected for testing, the University either did not properly calculate the student’s COA or was unable to support the components of the student’s COA that was used for awarding and disbursing Title IV aid. For all students noted with COA issues, we determined that there were no overawards of federal and nonfederal aid. Identification as a Repeat Finding: No similar findings noted in the prior year. Recommendation: We recommend that the University enhance its policies, procedures and internal controls to ensure that Title IV aid is properly calculated, awarded and disbursed, consistent with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: For the 2023-2024 academic year Cost of Attendance Budgets were reviewed and tested to correct any miscalculations and omissions. Pell Budgets were updated to correctly differentiate program tuition and fees. Testing for 2024-2025 academic year has been updated and reviewed to accurately calculate Cost of Attendance Budgets. In some of the findings it was later found that due to changes made in the student’s record, the record should have run through the dynamic redetermination process to update the budget. The staff has been retrained in this process. The process for summer periods of enrollment has been reviewed and revised to flag students who initially applied and or registered for summer classes and subsequently did not register or dropped the classes during the add/drop period and the summer period of enrollment remained, thereby calculating a Cost of Attendance for summer.
Federal Program Information: Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (ALN: 84.007), Federal Work-Study Program (ALN: 84.033), Federal Pell Grant Program (ALN: 84.063), Federal Direct Student Loans (ALN: 84.268) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): E. Eligibility – Calculation of Benefits – Awards must be coordinated among the various programs and with other federal and nonfederal aid (need and non-need based aid) to ensure that total aid is not awarded in excess of the student’s financial need or cost of attendance (“COA”) (34 CFR 668.42, FWS, and FSEOG, 34 CFR 673.5 and 673.6; Direct Loan, 34 CFR 685.301). For Title IV programs, the COA is generally the sum of the following: tuition and fees; an allowance for books, supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses; an allowance for room and board; when applicable, allowances for costs for dependent care; costs associated with study abroad and cooperative education; costs related to disabilities; and fees charged for student loans. Condition: For certain students identified through our testing, the University did not properly calculate the student’s COA. Cause: Administrative oversight and lack of sufficient internal controls with respect to Title IV aid award eligibility. Effect or Potential Effect: The University is not in compliance with aid awarding criteria under the eligibility requirements. Failure to properly determine students’ COAs and calculate eligible award amounts could result in improper disbursements of Title IV funds. Questioned Costs: None. Context: For 16 of 25 students selected for testing, the University either did not properly calculate the student’s COA or was unable to support the components of the student’s COA that was used for awarding and disbursing Title IV aid. For all students noted with COA issues, we determined that there were no overawards of federal and nonfederal aid. Identification as a Repeat Finding: No similar findings noted in the prior year. Recommendation: We recommend that the University enhance its policies, procedures and internal controls to ensure that Title IV aid is properly calculated, awarded and disbursed, consistent with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: For the 2023-2024 academic year Cost of Attendance Budgets were reviewed and tested to correct any miscalculations and omissions. Pell Budgets were updated to correctly differentiate program tuition and fees. Testing for 2024-2025 academic year has been updated and reviewed to accurately calculate Cost of Attendance Budgets. In some of the findings it was later found that due to changes made in the student’s record, the record should have run through the dynamic redetermination process to update the budget. The staff has been retrained in this process. The process for summer periods of enrollment has been reviewed and revised to flag students who initially applied and or registered for summer classes and subsequently did not register or dropped the classes during the add/drop period and the summer period of enrollment remained, thereby calculating a Cost of Attendance for summer.
Federal Program Information: Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (ALN: 84.007), Federal Work-Study Program (ALN: 84.033), Federal Pell Grant Program (ALN: 84.063), Federal Direct Student Loans (ALN: 84.268) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): E. Eligibility – Calculation of Benefits – Awards must be coordinated among the various programs and with other federal and nonfederal aid (need and non-need based aid) to ensure that total aid is not awarded in excess of the student’s financial need or cost of attendance (“COA”) (34 CFR 668.42, FWS, and FSEOG, 34 CFR 673.5 and 673.6; Direct Loan, 34 CFR 685.301). For Title IV programs, the COA is generally the sum of the following: tuition and fees; an allowance for books, supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses; an allowance for room and board; when applicable, allowances for costs for dependent care; costs associated with study abroad and cooperative education; costs related to disabilities; and fees charged for student loans. Condition: For certain students identified through our testing, the University did not properly calculate the student’s COA. Cause: Administrative oversight and lack of sufficient internal controls with respect to Title IV aid award eligibility. Effect or Potential Effect: The University is not in compliance with aid awarding criteria under the eligibility requirements. Failure to properly determine students’ COAs and calculate eligible award amounts could result in improper disbursements of Title IV funds. Questioned Costs: None. Context: For 16 of 25 students selected for testing, the University either did not properly calculate the student’s COA or was unable to support the components of the student’s COA that was used for awarding and disbursing Title IV aid. For all students noted with COA issues, we determined that there were no overawards of federal and nonfederal aid. Identification as a Repeat Finding: No similar findings noted in the prior year. Recommendation: We recommend that the University enhance its policies, procedures and internal controls to ensure that Title IV aid is properly calculated, awarded and disbursed, consistent with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: For the 2023-2024 academic year Cost of Attendance Budgets were reviewed and tested to correct any miscalculations and omissions. Pell Budgets were updated to correctly differentiate program tuition and fees. Testing for 2024-2025 academic year has been updated and reviewed to accurately calculate Cost of Attendance Budgets. In some of the findings it was later found that due to changes made in the student’s record, the record should have run through the dynamic redetermination process to update the budget. The staff has been retrained in this process. The process for summer periods of enrollment has been reviewed and revised to flag students who initially applied and or registered for summer classes and subsequently did not register or dropped the classes during the add/drop period and the summer period of enrollment remained, thereby calculating a Cost of Attendance for summer.
Federal Program Information: Federal Pell Grant Program (ALN: 84.063) and Federal Direct Loan Program (ALN: 84.268) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): L. Reporting – Financial Reporting – Federal regulations require that the University submit origination and disbursement records for students to the Common Origination and Disbursement (“COD”) system. Items considered key in student origination records, if applicable, are: Social Security number, award amount, enrollment date, verification status code (when the applicate is selected for verification), transaction number, COA, and the “Academic Start Date” and “Academic End Date”. Condition: For certain students identified through our testing, errors were identified in key items reported to the COD in student origination records. Cause: Administrative oversight and lack of sufficient internal controls with respect to accurate reporting of federal award information. Effect or Potential Effect: The University was not in compliance with COD reporting requirements. Questioned Costs: None. Context: We noted the following exceptions: • For 18 of 25 students selected for testing, the student’s COA was inaccurately reported within the COD system. • For 2 of 25 students selected for testing, the enrollment date or “Academic Start Date” was inaccurately reported. • For 1 of 25 students selected for testing, the transaction number was inaccurately reported. Identification as a Repeat Finding: No similar findings noted in the prior year. Recommendation: We recommend that the University enhance its policies, procedures, and internal controls to ensure origination records are accurately reported to the COD for Federal Direct Loan Program and Federal Pell Grant Program recipients, in accordance with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Corrective action has been taken to ensure that when students have a spring start date in the prior academic year, the enrollment start date is updated to the correct enrollment start date. A cross check with a selection set has been added to capture any incorrect records and adjust accordingly.
Federal Program Information: Federal Pell Grant Program (ALN: 84.063) and Federal Direct Loan Program (ALN: 84.268) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): L. Reporting – Financial Reporting – Federal regulations require that the University submit origination and disbursement records for students to the Common Origination and Disbursement (“COD”) system. Items considered key in student origination records, if applicable, are: Social Security number, award amount, enrollment date, verification status code (when the applicate is selected for verification), transaction number, COA, and the “Academic Start Date” and “Academic End Date”. Condition: For certain students identified through our testing, errors were identified in key items reported to the COD in student origination records. Cause: Administrative oversight and lack of sufficient internal controls with respect to accurate reporting of federal award information. Effect or Potential Effect: The University was not in compliance with COD reporting requirements. Questioned Costs: None. Context: We noted the following exceptions: • For 18 of 25 students selected for testing, the student’s COA was inaccurately reported within the COD system. • For 2 of 25 students selected for testing, the enrollment date or “Academic Start Date” was inaccurately reported. • For 1 of 25 students selected for testing, the transaction number was inaccurately reported. Identification as a Repeat Finding: No similar findings noted in the prior year. Recommendation: We recommend that the University enhance its policies, procedures, and internal controls to ensure origination records are accurately reported to the COD for Federal Direct Loan Program and Federal Pell Grant Program recipients, in accordance with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Corrective action has been taken to ensure that when students have a spring start date in the prior academic year, the enrollment start date is updated to the correct enrollment start date. A cross check with a selection set has been added to capture any incorrect records and adjust accordingly.
Federal Program Information: Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (ALN: 84.007) and Federal Work-Study Program (ALN: 84.033) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): L. Reporting – Special Reporting – The Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate (“FISAP”) is an electronic report submitted annual to receive funds for the campus-based programs. The institution uses the Fiscal Operations Report portion to report its expenditures in the previous award year and the Application to Participate portion to apply for the following year. Key line items containing critical information include: Part I, Identifying Information, Certification, and Warning; Part II, Application to Participate (selected sections); Part III, Fiscal Operations Report, Part IV, Fiscal Operations Report Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (“FSEOG”) Program; Part V, Fiscal Operations Report Federal Work-Study (“FWS”) Program; and Part VI, Program Summary for Award Year. Condition: Through our testing, certain errors in key line items of the University’s FISAP were identified. Cause: Administrative oversight with respect to FISAP reporting. Effect or Potential Effect: The University is not in compliance with FISAP reporting requirements. Failure to report accurate records of expenditures for the previous award year could impact future availability of Title IV aid. Questioned Costs: None. Context: The University incorrectly reported certain required line items disclosing the uses of FWS funds during the year in Part V of the FISAP. Additionally, the total of less-than-full-time students was not properly reported in Part VI of the FISAP. Identification of Repeat Finding: No similar findings noted in the prior year. Recommendation: We recommend the University enhance its policies and procedures to ensure that key line items containing critical information are properly reported in the FISAP, in accordance with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Corrections to the FISAP were made prior to the correction submission deadline date. A review in the Detail Reporting process in Powerfaids was conducted and determined that the process in Powerfaids initially reported that students who should have been included as full time were reverted to part time status if the last period of enrollment was less than fulltime. We have worked with Powerfaids to resolve this issue. Corrections were made to all Part V errors prior to the correction submission date. Payroll has been apprised that only ten percent of the JDL administrator salary can be attributed to and or drawn down from Federal Work Study funds.
Federal Program Information: Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (ALN: 84.007) and Federal Work-Study Program (ALN: 84.033) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): L. Reporting – Special Reporting – The Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate (“FISAP”) is an electronic report submitted annual to receive funds for the campus-based programs. The institution uses the Fiscal Operations Report portion to report its expenditures in the previous award year and the Application to Participate portion to apply for the following year. Key line items containing critical information include: Part I, Identifying Information, Certification, and Warning; Part II, Application to Participate (selected sections); Part III, Fiscal Operations Report, Part IV, Fiscal Operations Report Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (“FSEOG”) Program; Part V, Fiscal Operations Report Federal Work-Study (“FWS”) Program; and Part VI, Program Summary for Award Year. Condition: Through our testing, certain errors in key line items of the University’s FISAP were identified. Cause: Administrative oversight with respect to FISAP reporting. Effect or Potential Effect: The University is not in compliance with FISAP reporting requirements. Failure to report accurate records of expenditures for the previous award year could impact future availability of Title IV aid. Questioned Costs: None. Context: The University incorrectly reported certain required line items disclosing the uses of FWS funds during the year in Part V of the FISAP. Additionally, the total of less-than-full-time students was not properly reported in Part VI of the FISAP. Identification of Repeat Finding: No similar findings noted in the prior year. Recommendation: We recommend the University enhance its policies and procedures to ensure that key line items containing critical information are properly reported in the FISAP, in accordance with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Corrections to the FISAP were made prior to the correction submission deadline date. A review in the Detail Reporting process in Powerfaids was conducted and determined that the process in Powerfaids initially reported that students who should have been included as full time were reverted to part time status if the last period of enrollment was less than fulltime. We have worked with Powerfaids to resolve this issue. Corrections were made to all Part V errors prior to the correction submission date. Payroll has been apprised that only ten percent of the JDL administrator salary can be attributed to and or drawn down from Federal Work Study funds.
Federal Program Information: Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (ALN: 84.007), Federal Pell Grant Program (ALN: 84.063), Federal Direct Student Loans (ALN: 84.268) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): N. Special Tests and Provisions – Return of Title IV Funds: The amount of earned Title IV grant or loan assistance is calculated by determining the percentage of Title IV grant or loan assistance that has been earned by the student and applying that percentage to the total amount of Title IV grant or loan assistance that was or could have been disbursed to the student for the payment period or period of enrollment as of the student’s withdrawal date. A student earns 100 percent if his or her withdrawal date is after the completion of 60 percent of (1) the calendar days in the payment period or period of enrollment for a program measured in credit hours, or (2) the clock hours scheduled to be completed for the payment period or period of enrollment for a program measured in clock hours (34 CFR 668.22(e)(2)). Otherwise, the percentage earned by the student is equal to the percentage (60 percent or less) of the payment period or period of enrollment that was completed as of the student’s withdrawal date. The percentage of Title IV grant or loan assistance that has not been earned by the student is the complement of one of these calculations. Standard termbased institutions must always use the payment period as the basis for the determination. The unearned amount of Title IV assistance to be returned is calculated by subtracting the amount of Title IV assistance earned by the student from the amount of Title IV aid that was disbursed to the student as of the date of the institution’s determination that the student withdrew (34 CFR 668.22(e)). Condition: For certain students identified through our testing, the University did not properly calculate the amounts to be returned to the ED. Cause: Administrative oversight with respect to return of Title IV fund calculations. Effect or Potential Effect: The University is not in compliance with the return of Title IV funds requirements. Questioned Costs: None. Context: For 1 of 2 students selected for testing, the University did not properly calculate the amount of Title IV aid to be returned to the ED. The amount returned to the ED was greater than the amount owed based upon the student’s withdrawal date. Identification of Repeat Finding: No similar findings noted in the prior year. Recommendation: We recommend the University enhance its procedures over the return of Title IV fund calculations to ensure that returns of funds are calculated accurately, in accordance with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: The issue has been addressed and reviewed. Going forward the Director of Financial Aid will set up and review all periods of enrollment and dates in the return of funds calculation on COD prior to the start of the academic year.
Federal Program Information: Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (ALN: 84.007), Federal Pell Grant Program (ALN: 84.063), Federal Direct Student Loans (ALN: 84.268) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): N. Special Tests and Provisions – Return of Title IV Funds: The amount of earned Title IV grant or loan assistance is calculated by determining the percentage of Title IV grant or loan assistance that has been earned by the student and applying that percentage to the total amount of Title IV grant or loan assistance that was or could have been disbursed to the student for the payment period or period of enrollment as of the student’s withdrawal date. A student earns 100 percent if his or her withdrawal date is after the completion of 60 percent of (1) the calendar days in the payment period or period of enrollment for a program measured in credit hours, or (2) the clock hours scheduled to be completed for the payment period or period of enrollment for a program measured in clock hours (34 CFR 668.22(e)(2)). Otherwise, the percentage earned by the student is equal to the percentage (60 percent or less) of the payment period or period of enrollment that was completed as of the student’s withdrawal date. The percentage of Title IV grant or loan assistance that has not been earned by the student is the complement of one of these calculations. Standard termbased institutions must always use the payment period as the basis for the determination. The unearned amount of Title IV assistance to be returned is calculated by subtracting the amount of Title IV assistance earned by the student from the amount of Title IV aid that was disbursed to the student as of the date of the institution’s determination that the student withdrew (34 CFR 668.22(e)). Condition: For certain students identified through our testing, the University did not properly calculate the amounts to be returned to the ED. Cause: Administrative oversight with respect to return of Title IV fund calculations. Effect or Potential Effect: The University is not in compliance with the return of Title IV funds requirements. Questioned Costs: None. Context: For 1 of 2 students selected for testing, the University did not properly calculate the amount of Title IV aid to be returned to the ED. The amount returned to the ED was greater than the amount owed based upon the student’s withdrawal date. Identification of Repeat Finding: No similar findings noted in the prior year. Recommendation: We recommend the University enhance its procedures over the return of Title IV fund calculations to ensure that returns of funds are calculated accurately, in accordance with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: The issue has been addressed and reviewed. Going forward the Director of Financial Aid will set up and review all periods of enrollment and dates in the return of funds calculation on COD prior to the start of the academic year.
Federal Program Information: Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (ALN: 84.007), Federal Pell Grant Program (ALN: 84.063), Federal Direct Student Loans (ALN: 84.268) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): N. Special Tests and Provisions – Return of Title IV Funds: The amount of earned Title IV grant or loan assistance is calculated by determining the percentage of Title IV grant or loan assistance that has been earned by the student and applying that percentage to the total amount of Title IV grant or loan assistance that was or could have been disbursed to the student for the payment period or period of enrollment as of the student’s withdrawal date. A student earns 100 percent if his or her withdrawal date is after the completion of 60 percent of (1) the calendar days in the payment period or period of enrollment for a program measured in credit hours, or (2) the clock hours scheduled to be completed for the payment period or period of enrollment for a program measured in clock hours (34 CFR 668.22(e)(2)). Otherwise, the percentage earned by the student is equal to the percentage (60 percent or less) of the payment period or period of enrollment that was completed as of the student’s withdrawal date. The percentage of Title IV grant or loan assistance that has not been earned by the student is the complement of one of these calculations. Standard termbased institutions must always use the payment period as the basis for the determination. The unearned amount of Title IV assistance to be returned is calculated by subtracting the amount of Title IV assistance earned by the student from the amount of Title IV aid that was disbursed to the student as of the date of the institution’s determination that the student withdrew (34 CFR 668.22(e)). Condition: For certain students identified through our testing, the University did not properly calculate the amounts to be returned to the ED. Cause: Administrative oversight with respect to return of Title IV fund calculations. Effect or Potential Effect: The University is not in compliance with the return of Title IV funds requirements. Questioned Costs: None. Context: For 1 of 2 students selected for testing, the University did not properly calculate the amount of Title IV aid to be returned to the ED. The amount returned to the ED was greater than the amount owed based upon the student’s withdrawal date. Identification of Repeat Finding: No similar findings noted in the prior year. Recommendation: We recommend the University enhance its procedures over the return of Title IV fund calculations to ensure that returns of funds are calculated accurately, in accordance with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: The issue has been addressed and reviewed. Going forward the Director of Financial Aid will set up and review all periods of enrollment and dates in the return of funds calculation on COD prior to the start of the academic year.
Federal Program Information: Federal Pell Grant Program (ALN: 84.063), Federal Direct Student Loans (ALN: 84.268), Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants (ALN: 84.379) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): N. Special Tests and Provisions - Enrollment Reporting: The University is required to update students’ statuses on the National Student Loans Data System (“NSLDS”) website if they graduate, withdraw or have an increase/decrease in attendance level during the year within 60 days of the date the University becomes aware of the change in enrollment status. There are two categories of enrollment information; “Campus Level” and “Program Level,” both of which need to be reported accurately and have separate record types. Institutions are responsible for accurately reporting the significant data elements under the Campus-Level Record and Program-Level Record that ED considers high risk. Additionally, institutions are responsible for timely reporting, whether they report directly or via a third-party servicer. As with any school/servicer arrangement for the administration of the Title IV programs, if the school uses a third party to meet the NSLDS enrollment reporting requirements it is the school that must ensure that enrollment information is submitted timely, accurately, and completely. Per the Federal Student Aid Handbook, schools are required to certify enrollment for all students who are included on their roster file scheduled at least every two months, and within 15 days of the date that NSLDS sends a roster file to the school or its third-party servicer. Any errors identified and returned by NSLDS in an Error/Acknowledgement file should be corrected and resubmitted within 10 days. Condition: The University did not submit an accurate status change notification or timely notification to the NSLDS website for certain students who graduated, withdrew, or had an increase/decrease in attendance level during the year. Additionally, the University’s fiscal year SCHER1 report included multiple instances in which error records were not corrected within the required timeframe. Cause: Administrative oversight with respect to enrollment reporting compliance requirements. Effect or Potential Effect: The University is not in compliance with enrollment reporting compliance requirements. Failure to promptly report accurate and timely changes in enrollment status may adversely impact the repayment status for student loan borrowers. Questioned Costs: None. Context: We noted the following exceptions as a result of our procedures: • For 1 of 40 students sampled whose status changed during the year, the University failed to accurately report all significant data elements under the Campus- Level Record in a timely notification to the NSLDS website. • For 4 of 25 students sampled whose status changed during the year, the University failed to accurately report all significant data elements under the Program-Level Record in a timely notification to the NSLDS website. • For 5 of 6 Error Reports tested, error records identified in Error/Acknowledgment files were not corrected within the required timeframe. Identification of Repeat Finding: This is a repeat finding from prior year. This was reported as Finding 2022-003 in the prior year schedule of findings and questioned costs. Recommendation: We recommend that the University properly follow its policies and procedures over enrollment reporting to ensure that all status changes are submitted to the NSLDS website within the required timeframe and that error records are corrected and submitted timely, consistent with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: With regards to Error #2023-007, some of the findings were related to incorrect reporting of graduation status, graduation date, and program begin date. We identified that some dates had not been correctly entered. We are working with our student information system software consultants and National Student Clearinghouse personnel to ensure that all staff understand reporting requirements, and we have taken steps to correct errors before we submit reports. Another finding was that error records were not corrected within the required timeframe. There has been a change in staffing in the office since the time periods of the audit findings, so a different person is now correcting error records. That individual has been made aware of the audit findings and has committed to work with office personnel and National Student Clearinghouse on correcting reported errors promptly.
Federal Program Information: Federal Pell Grant Program (ALN: 84.063), Federal Direct Student Loans (ALN: 84.268), Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants (ALN: 84.379) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): N. Special Tests and Provisions - Enrollment Reporting: The University is required to update students’ statuses on the National Student Loans Data System (“NSLDS”) website if they graduate, withdraw or have an increase/decrease in attendance level during the year within 60 days of the date the University becomes aware of the change in enrollment status. There are two categories of enrollment information; “Campus Level” and “Program Level,” both of which need to be reported accurately and have separate record types. Institutions are responsible for accurately reporting the significant data elements under the Campus-Level Record and Program-Level Record that ED considers high risk. Additionally, institutions are responsible for timely reporting, whether they report directly or via a third-party servicer. As with any school/servicer arrangement for the administration of the Title IV programs, if the school uses a third party to meet the NSLDS enrollment reporting requirements it is the school that must ensure that enrollment information is submitted timely, accurately, and completely. Per the Federal Student Aid Handbook, schools are required to certify enrollment for all students who are included on their roster file scheduled at least every two months, and within 15 days of the date that NSLDS sends a roster file to the school or its third-party servicer. Any errors identified and returned by NSLDS in an Error/Acknowledgement file should be corrected and resubmitted within 10 days. Condition: The University did not submit an accurate status change notification or timely notification to the NSLDS website for certain students who graduated, withdrew, or had an increase/decrease in attendance level during the year. Additionally, the University’s fiscal year SCHER1 report included multiple instances in which error records were not corrected within the required timeframe. Cause: Administrative oversight with respect to enrollment reporting compliance requirements. Effect or Potential Effect: The University is not in compliance with enrollment reporting compliance requirements. Failure to promptly report accurate and timely changes in enrollment status may adversely impact the repayment status for student loan borrowers. Questioned Costs: None. Context: We noted the following exceptions as a result of our procedures: • For 1 of 40 students sampled whose status changed during the year, the University failed to accurately report all significant data elements under the Campus- Level Record in a timely notification to the NSLDS website. • For 4 of 25 students sampled whose status changed during the year, the University failed to accurately report all significant data elements under the Program-Level Record in a timely notification to the NSLDS website. • For 5 of 6 Error Reports tested, error records identified in Error/Acknowledgment files were not corrected within the required timeframe. Identification of Repeat Finding: This is a repeat finding from prior year. This was reported as Finding 2022-003 in the prior year schedule of findings and questioned costs. Recommendation: We recommend that the University properly follow its policies and procedures over enrollment reporting to ensure that all status changes are submitted to the NSLDS website within the required timeframe and that error records are corrected and submitted timely, consistent with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: With regards to Error #2023-007, some of the findings were related to incorrect reporting of graduation status, graduation date, and program begin date. We identified that some dates had not been correctly entered. We are working with our student information system software consultants and National Student Clearinghouse personnel to ensure that all staff understand reporting requirements, and we have taken steps to correct errors before we submit reports. Another finding was that error records were not corrected within the required timeframe. There has been a change in staffing in the office since the time periods of the audit findings, so a different person is now correcting error records. That individual has been made aware of the audit findings and has committed to work with office personnel and National Student Clearinghouse on correcting reported errors promptly.
Federal Program Information: Federal Pell Grant Program (ALN: 84.063), Federal Direct Student Loans (ALN: 84.268), Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants (ALN: 84.379) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): N. Special Tests and Provisions - Enrollment Reporting: The University is required to update students’ statuses on the National Student Loans Data System (“NSLDS”) website if they graduate, withdraw or have an increase/decrease in attendance level during the year within 60 days of the date the University becomes aware of the change in enrollment status. There are two categories of enrollment information; “Campus Level” and “Program Level,” both of which need to be reported accurately and have separate record types. Institutions are responsible for accurately reporting the significant data elements under the Campus-Level Record and Program-Level Record that ED considers high risk. Additionally, institutions are responsible for timely reporting, whether they report directly or via a third-party servicer. As with any school/servicer arrangement for the administration of the Title IV programs, if the school uses a third party to meet the NSLDS enrollment reporting requirements it is the school that must ensure that enrollment information is submitted timely, accurately, and completely. Per the Federal Student Aid Handbook, schools are required to certify enrollment for all students who are included on their roster file scheduled at least every two months, and within 15 days of the date that NSLDS sends a roster file to the school or its third-party servicer. Any errors identified and returned by NSLDS in an Error/Acknowledgement file should be corrected and resubmitted within 10 days. Condition: The University did not submit an accurate status change notification or timely notification to the NSLDS website for certain students who graduated, withdrew, or had an increase/decrease in attendance level during the year. Additionally, the University’s fiscal year SCHER1 report included multiple instances in which error records were not corrected within the required timeframe. Cause: Administrative oversight with respect to enrollment reporting compliance requirements. Effect or Potential Effect: The University is not in compliance with enrollment reporting compliance requirements. Failure to promptly report accurate and timely changes in enrollment status may adversely impact the repayment status for student loan borrowers. Questioned Costs: None. Context: We noted the following exceptions as a result of our procedures: • For 1 of 40 students sampled whose status changed during the year, the University failed to accurately report all significant data elements under the Campus- Level Record in a timely notification to the NSLDS website. • For 4 of 25 students sampled whose status changed during the year, the University failed to accurately report all significant data elements under the Program-Level Record in a timely notification to the NSLDS website. • For 5 of 6 Error Reports tested, error records identified in Error/Acknowledgment files were not corrected within the required timeframe. Identification of Repeat Finding: This is a repeat finding from prior year. This was reported as Finding 2022-003 in the prior year schedule of findings and questioned costs. Recommendation: We recommend that the University properly follow its policies and procedures over enrollment reporting to ensure that all status changes are submitted to the NSLDS website within the required timeframe and that error records are corrected and submitted timely, consistent with federal regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: With regards to Error #2023-007, some of the findings were related to incorrect reporting of graduation status, graduation date, and program begin date. We identified that some dates had not been correctly entered. We are working with our student information system software consultants and National Student Clearinghouse personnel to ensure that all staff understand reporting requirements, and we have taken steps to correct errors before we submit reports. Another finding was that error records were not corrected within the required timeframe. There has been a change in staffing in the office since the time periods of the audit findings, so a different person is now correcting error records. That individual has been made aware of the audit findings and has committed to work with office personnel and National Student Clearinghouse on correcting reported errors promptly.