Audit 305043

FY End
2023-07-31
Total Expended
$31.90M
Findings
2
Programs
14
Year: 2023 Accepted: 2024-04-30
Auditor: Crowe Pr Psc

Organization Exclusion Status:

Checking exclusion status...

Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
395118 2023-001 Significant Deficiency - L
971560 2023-001 Significant Deficiency - L

Programs

ALN Program Spent Major Findings
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $11.20M Yes 0
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $11.13M Yes 0
84.031 Higher Education_institutional Aid $353,528 Yes 0
84.042 Trio_student Support Services - Regular $346,204 - 0
47.076 Education and Human Resources $346,130 Yes 0
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $338,520 Yes 0
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $274,274 Yes 0
84.042 Trio_student Support Services - Esl $267,708 - 0
84.042 Trio_student Support Services - Stem $255,553 - 0
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $109,623 Yes 0
12.903 Gencyber Grants Program $76,131 Yes 0
12.902 Information Security Grants $65,194 Yes 0
12.905 Cybersecurity Core Curriculum $50,167 Yes 0
11.307 Economic Adjustment Assistance $3,539 - 0

Contacts

Name Title Type
D1G7HV5SKPA4 Pablo J. Salom Portela Auditee
7876228000 Jose Penabaz Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Title: BASIS OF PRESENTATION Accounting Policies: Expenditures as presented on the Schedule are reported using the accrual basis of accounting. The financial transactions are recorded by the University in accordance with the terms and conditions of the grants, which are consistent with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The University receives funding from federal government agencies for sponsored research under federal grants and contracts. These grants and contracts provide for reimbursement of indirect costs based on rates negotiated with the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), the University's cognizant federal agency. The University's indirect cost reimbursements are based on fixed rates with carryforward of under or over recoveries. The University has negotiated fixed rates for indirect costs through July 31, 2023. Accordingly, the University has elected not to use the 10-percent de minimis indirect cost rate as allowed under the Uniform Guidance. The accompanying Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (the Schedule) includes the federal grant and contract activity of Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, Inc. (the University) for the year ended July 31, 2023. The information in this Schedule is presented in accordance with the requirements of Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (the Uniform Guidance). Therefore, some amounts presented in the Schedule may differ from amounts presented in the financial statements of the University. The Schedule presents only a selected portion of the fiscal activities of the University. Therefore, it is not intended to and does not present the financial position, changes in net assets, or cash flows of the University.
Title: SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES OF THE SCHEDULE Accounting Policies: Expenditures as presented on the Schedule are reported using the accrual basis of accounting. The financial transactions are recorded by the University in accordance with the terms and conditions of the grants, which are consistent with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The University receives funding from federal government agencies for sponsored research under federal grants and contracts. These grants and contracts provide for reimbursement of indirect costs based on rates negotiated with the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), the University's cognizant federal agency. The University's indirect cost reimbursements are based on fixed rates with carryforward of under or over recoveries. The University has negotiated fixed rates for indirect costs through July 31, 2023. Accordingly, the University has elected not to use the 10-percent de minimis indirect cost rate as allowed under the Uniform Guidance. Expenditures as presented on the Schedule are reported using the accrual basis of accounting. The financial transactions are recorded by the University in accordance with the terms and conditions of the grants, which are consistent with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement.
Title: INDIRECT COSTS Accounting Policies: Expenditures as presented on the Schedule are reported using the accrual basis of accounting. The financial transactions are recorded by the University in accordance with the terms and conditions of the grants, which are consistent with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The University receives funding from federal government agencies for sponsored research under federal grants and contracts. These grants and contracts provide for reimbursement of indirect costs based on rates negotiated with the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), the University's cognizant federal agency. The University's indirect cost reimbursements are based on fixed rates with carryforward of under or over recoveries. The University has negotiated fixed rates for indirect costs through July 31, 2023. Accordingly, the University has elected not to use the 10-percent de minimis indirect cost rate as allowed under the Uniform Guidance. The University receives funding from federal government agencies for sponsored research under federal grants and contracts. These grants and contracts provide for reimbursement of indirect costs based on rates negotiated with the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), the University's cognizant federal agency. The University's indirect cost reimbursements are based on fixed rates with carryforward of under or over recoveries. The University has negotiated fixed rates for indirect costs through July 31, 2023. Accordingly, the University has elected not to use the 10-percent de minimis indirect cost rate as allowed under the Uniform Guidance.
Title: CLUSTER PROGRAMS Accounting Policies: Expenditures as presented on the Schedule are reported using the accrual basis of accounting. The financial transactions are recorded by the University in accordance with the terms and conditions of the grants, which are consistent with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The University receives funding from federal government agencies for sponsored research under federal grants and contracts. These grants and contracts provide for reimbursement of indirect costs based on rates negotiated with the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), the University's cognizant federal agency. The University's indirect cost reimbursements are based on fixed rates with carryforward of under or over recoveries. The University has negotiated fixed rates for indirect costs through July 31, 2023. Accordingly, the University has elected not to use the 10-percent de minimis indirect cost rate as allowed under the Uniform Guidance. The Uniform Guidance defines a cluster of programs as a group of closely related programs that share common compliance requirements. According to this definition, the Federal Student Financial Assistance Programs (SFA), Research and Development Programs (R&D), and TRIO Student Support Services Programs were deemed to be cluster programs.
Title: FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN PROGRAM AND LOAN GUARANTEES Accounting Policies: Expenditures as presented on the Schedule are reported using the accrual basis of accounting. The financial transactions are recorded by the University in accordance with the terms and conditions of the grants, which are consistent with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The University receives funding from federal government agencies for sponsored research under federal grants and contracts. These grants and contracts provide for reimbursement of indirect costs based on rates negotiated with the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), the University's cognizant federal agency. The University's indirect cost reimbursements are based on fixed rates with carryforward of under or over recoveries. The University has negotiated fixed rates for indirect costs through July 31, 2023. Accordingly, the University has elected not to use the 10-percent de minimis indirect cost rate as allowed under the Uniform Guidance. The University participates in the Federal Direct Student Loan Program (Direct Loan) of the USDE. The federal student loan program is not administered directly by the University, and balances and transactions relating to this program are not included in the University's basic financial statements. Loans granted during the year are included as federal expenditures within the Schedule. However, Direct Loans are considered a component of the student financial assistance programs of the University, as such, new loans processed during the year ended July 31, 2023, were included in the Schedule. Federal expenditures for Direct Loans are determined when loans are expended to students; accordingly, the balance of Direct Loans from previous years is not considered federal expenditures of the current year.
Title: RELATIONSHIP TO FEDERAL FINANCIAL REPORTS Accounting Policies: Expenditures as presented on the Schedule are reported using the accrual basis of accounting. The financial transactions are recorded by the University in accordance with the terms and conditions of the grants, which are consistent with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The University receives funding from federal government agencies for sponsored research under federal grants and contracts. These grants and contracts provide for reimbursement of indirect costs based on rates negotiated with the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), the University's cognizant federal agency. The University's indirect cost reimbursements are based on fixed rates with carryforward of under or over recoveries. The University has negotiated fixed rates for indirect costs through July 31, 2023. Accordingly, the University has elected not to use the 10-percent de minimis indirect cost rate as allowed under the Uniform Guidance. The regulations and guidelines governing the preparation of federal financial reports vary by federal agency and among programs administered by the same agency. Accordingly, the amounts reported in the federal financial reports do not necessarily agree with the amounts reported in the Schedule, which is prepared on the basis of accounting explained in Note 2. The Uniform Guidance requires that federal financial reports for claims for advances and reimbursements contain information that is supported by the books and records from which the basic financial statements have been prepared. The University prepares the federal financial reports and claims for reimbursements primarily based on information from the internal accounting records of the University.
Title: ENDOWMENT FUND Accounting Policies: Expenditures as presented on the Schedule are reported using the accrual basis of accounting. The financial transactions are recorded by the University in accordance with the terms and conditions of the grants, which are consistent with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The University receives funding from federal government agencies for sponsored research under federal grants and contracts. These grants and contracts provide for reimbursement of indirect costs based on rates negotiated with the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), the University's cognizant federal agency. The University's indirect cost reimbursements are based on fixed rates with carryforward of under or over recoveries. The University has negotiated fixed rates for indirect costs through July 31, 2023. Accordingly, the University has elected not to use the 10-percent de minimis indirect cost rate as allowed under the Uniform Guidance. The University budgeted $250,000 for an endowment to support the continuation of stipends for Hispanic and low-income students' participation in undergraduate research in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The Endowment Fund's balance as of July 31, 2023, was $1,754,730, including $250,000 in University contributions that were transferred from the programs' inception through July 31, 2021, the last year the University made the required matching contribution. As of the date the Schedule was issued, the University has not used said funds.
Title: CONTINGENCIES Accounting Policies: Expenditures as presented on the Schedule are reported using the accrual basis of accounting. The financial transactions are recorded by the University in accordance with the terms and conditions of the grants, which are consistent with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The University receives funding from federal government agencies for sponsored research under federal grants and contracts. These grants and contracts provide for reimbursement of indirect costs based on rates negotiated with the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), the University's cognizant federal agency. The University's indirect cost reimbursements are based on fixed rates with carryforward of under or over recoveries. The University has negotiated fixed rates for indirect costs through July 31, 2023. Accordingly, the University has elected not to use the 10-percent de minimis indirect cost rate as allowed under the Uniform Guidance. The University receives funds under various federal grant programs and contracts, and such awards are to be expended in accordance with the provisions of each grant. Compliance with each grant is subject to audit by various government agencies, which may impose sanctions in the event of non-compliance. Management believes that it has complied with all aspects of grants provisions and the results of adjustments, if any, relating to such audits would not have a material impact on the programs nor the accompanying Schedule.
Title: SUBSEQUENT EVENTS Accounting Policies: Expenditures as presented on the Schedule are reported using the accrual basis of accounting. The financial transactions are recorded by the University in accordance with the terms and conditions of the grants, which are consistent with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The University receives funding from federal government agencies for sponsored research under federal grants and contracts. These grants and contracts provide for reimbursement of indirect costs based on rates negotiated with the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), the University's cognizant federal agency. The University's indirect cost reimbursements are based on fixed rates with carryforward of under or over recoveries. The University has negotiated fixed rates for indirect costs through July 31, 2023. Accordingly, the University has elected not to use the 10-percent de minimis indirect cost rate as allowed under the Uniform Guidance. Subsequent to July 31, 2023, the University: 1. Received a no-cost extension for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds through the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. As of July 31, 2023, the outstanding balance in the extension amounted to $4,245,424. 2. Received from the National Security Agency (NSA) a cyber scholarship grant amounting to $213,055 effective from September 12, 2023, through December 11, 2024. 3. Received an NSA program as a subawardee from the Rochester Institute of Technology amounting to $175,495 effective from July 17, 2023, through June 30, 2025.

Finding Details

Criteria On May 13, 2021, the Department published an additional notice for student aid public reporting under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriation Act of 2021 (CRRSAA) and American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), which requires that institutions publicly post certain information on their website. Institutions must publicly post their report as soon as possible but no later than thirty days after the publication of the notice or thirty days after the date the Department first obligated funds under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) I, II, or III to the institution for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students, whichever comes later. The report must be updated no later than ten days after the end of each calendar quarter (September 30, December 31, March 31, and June 30). Condition The University failed to upload the financial report related to the quarter that ended on March 31, 2023, within the ten days provided by the Department. Cause The University administration did not properly oversee the website's administrator's compliance process, which failed to meet the required guidelines and regulations by the scheduled deadline. This lack of oversight led to non-compliance and consequences for the University. Effect Failure to upload required information resulted in additional review procedures of fund requests by the Department. Questioned Costs None. Recommendation We recommend that the University follow up with all service providers to ensure compliance with federal compliance requirements, the University ultimately retains the responsibility to comply with the federal awarding agency's requirements. Views of Responsible Officials Refer to Unaudited Corrective Action Plan
Criteria On May 13, 2021, the Department published an additional notice for student aid public reporting under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriation Act of 2021 (CRRSAA) and American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), which requires that institutions publicly post certain information on their website. Institutions must publicly post their report as soon as possible but no later than thirty days after the publication of the notice or thirty days after the date the Department first obligated funds under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) I, II, or III to the institution for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students, whichever comes later. The report must be updated no later than ten days after the end of each calendar quarter (September 30, December 31, March 31, and June 30). Condition The University failed to upload the financial report related to the quarter that ended on March 31, 2023, within the ten days provided by the Department. Cause The University administration did not properly oversee the website's administrator's compliance process, which failed to meet the required guidelines and regulations by the scheduled deadline. This lack of oversight led to non-compliance and consequences for the University. Effect Failure to upload required information resulted in additional review procedures of fund requests by the Department. Questioned Costs None. Recommendation We recommend that the University follow up with all service providers to ensure compliance with federal compliance requirements, the University ultimately retains the responsibility to comply with the federal awarding agency's requirements. Views of Responsible Officials Refer to Unaudited Corrective Action Plan