Audit 310937

FY End
2023-06-30
Total Expended
$18.93M
Findings
12
Programs
16
Organization: Bucks County Community College (PA)
Year: 2023 Accepted: 2024-06-28

Organization Exclusion Status:

Checking exclusion status...

Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
404146 2023-002 Material Weakness - N
404147 2023-002 Material Weakness - N
404148 2023-002 Material Weakness - N
404149 2023-002 Material Weakness - N
404150 2023-003 Material Weakness - L
404151 2023-003 Material Weakness - L
980588 2023-002 Material Weakness - N
980589 2023-002 Material Weakness - N
980590 2023-002 Material Weakness - N
980591 2023-002 Material Weakness - N
980592 2023-003 Material Weakness - L
980593 2023-003 Material Weakness - L

Contacts

Name Title Type
ZPEDVZQ2E4Z5 Niels Christensen Auditee
2159688368 Lisa A. Ritter 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, as applicable, the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. Pass-through entity identifying numbers are presented where available. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The College has not elected to use the 10-percent de minimis indirect cost rate. The accompanying schedule of expenditures of federal awards (Schedule) includes the federal award activity of Bucks County Community College (College) under programs of the federal government for the year ended June 30, 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 (Uniform Guidance). Because the Schedule presents only a selected portion of the operations of the College, it is not intended to and does not present the financial position, changes in net assets, or cash flows of the College.
Title: Governor's Emergency Education Relief Fund (ALN 84.425C) Accounting Policies: Expenditures reported on the Schedule are reported on the accrual basis of accounting. Such expenditures are recognized following, as applicable, the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. Pass-through entity identifying numbers are presented where available. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The College has not elected to use the 10-percent de minimis indirect cost rate. The College did not include $1,000,491 of expenditures for the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief fund on the Schedule of Federal Awards (SEFA) for the year ended June 30, 2022. The College reported those expenditures on the SEFA for the year ended June 30, 2023, and these expenditures were tested as part of the major program.

Finding Details

Finding 2023-002: Special Tests and Provisions (Material Weakness) U.S. Department of Education – Student Financial Assistance Cluster Statement of Condition: The College has approximately 140 student financial assistance checks that were outstanding at year end that were over 240 days old and they have not been returned to the federal government. The College has also escheated uncashed student financial assistance checks to the state of Pennsylvania. Criteria: As outlined under 34 CFR 668.164 (1), an institution must have a process that ensures student financial assistance funds outstanding are returned to the federal government within 240 days. They may not be escheated to a state or revert to the institution or any other third party. Cause: The College did not have a process in place to monitor outstanding student financial assistance checks or to prevent these funds from escheating to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Effect: The College is not following required Federal Student Assistance regulations in maintaining an appropriate administrative capability to administer funds. Questioned Costs: The amount of questioned costs could not be determined. Repeat Finding: This is not considered a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that the College immediately create a process and procedures to ensure monitoring of outstanding student financial assistance checks and to ensure that those checks are treated in accordance with Federal Student Assistance regulations. View of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: Management agrees with the finding, see corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-002: Special Tests and Provisions (Material Weakness) U.S. Department of Education – Student Financial Assistance Cluster Statement of Condition: The College has approximately 140 student financial assistance checks that were outstanding at year end that were over 240 days old and they have not been returned to the federal government. The College has also escheated uncashed student financial assistance checks to the state of Pennsylvania. Criteria: As outlined under 34 CFR 668.164 (1), an institution must have a process that ensures student financial assistance funds outstanding are returned to the federal government within 240 days. They may not be escheated to a state or revert to the institution or any other third party. Cause: The College did not have a process in place to monitor outstanding student financial assistance checks or to prevent these funds from escheating to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Effect: The College is not following required Federal Student Assistance regulations in maintaining an appropriate administrative capability to administer funds. Questioned Costs: The amount of questioned costs could not be determined. Repeat Finding: This is not considered a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that the College immediately create a process and procedures to ensure monitoring of outstanding student financial assistance checks and to ensure that those checks are treated in accordance with Federal Student Assistance regulations. View of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: Management agrees with the finding, see corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-002: Special Tests and Provisions (Material Weakness) U.S. Department of Education – Student Financial Assistance Cluster Statement of Condition: The College has approximately 140 student financial assistance checks that were outstanding at year end that were over 240 days old and they have not been returned to the federal government. The College has also escheated uncashed student financial assistance checks to the state of Pennsylvania. Criteria: As outlined under 34 CFR 668.164 (1), an institution must have a process that ensures student financial assistance funds outstanding are returned to the federal government within 240 days. They may not be escheated to a state or revert to the institution or any other third party. Cause: The College did not have a process in place to monitor outstanding student financial assistance checks or to prevent these funds from escheating to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Effect: The College is not following required Federal Student Assistance regulations in maintaining an appropriate administrative capability to administer funds. Questioned Costs: The amount of questioned costs could not be determined. Repeat Finding: This is not considered a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that the College immediately create a process and procedures to ensure monitoring of outstanding student financial assistance checks and to ensure that those checks are treated in accordance with Federal Student Assistance regulations. View of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: Management agrees with the finding, see corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-002: Special Tests and Provisions (Material Weakness) U.S. Department of Education – Student Financial Assistance Cluster Statement of Condition: The College has approximately 140 student financial assistance checks that were outstanding at year end that were over 240 days old and they have not been returned to the federal government. The College has also escheated uncashed student financial assistance checks to the state of Pennsylvania. Criteria: As outlined under 34 CFR 668.164 (1), an institution must have a process that ensures student financial assistance funds outstanding are returned to the federal government within 240 days. They may not be escheated to a state or revert to the institution or any other third party. Cause: The College did not have a process in place to monitor outstanding student financial assistance checks or to prevent these funds from escheating to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Effect: The College is not following required Federal Student Assistance regulations in maintaining an appropriate administrative capability to administer funds. Questioned Costs: The amount of questioned costs could not be determined. Repeat Finding: This is not considered a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that the College immediately create a process and procedures to ensure monitoring of outstanding student financial assistance checks and to ensure that those checks are treated in accordance with Federal Student Assistance regulations. View of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: Management agrees with the finding, see corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-003: Reporting (Material Weakness) U.S. Department of Education – COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund (ALN 84.425 E&F) Statement of Condition: The College’s publicly available Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds reports for the institutional and student expenditures overstated the total amount of expenditures the College incurred during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. The College overstated the total amount of student expenditures by $3,301,290 and overstated institutional expenditures by $1,127,289. Criteria: As described under Section 314 (e) of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (CRRSAA), Public Law 116-260, and defined by the United States Education Department, an institution shall submit a quarterly expense report documenting the expenditures for both the student portion of HEERF money as well as institutional use of the HEERF money. These reports should be posted to the College’s website in a timely and accurate manner for the previously ended quarter. Cause: The College did not reconcile the reports posted to their publicly facing website with the underlying accounting records including the schedule of expenditures of federal awards. Effect: Failure to comply with HEERF reporting requirements could jeopardize future federal funding. Questioned Costs: This finding does not result in questioned costs. Repeat Finding: This is not considered a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that the College review and reconcile reports to the underlying accounting records including the schedule of expenditures of federal awards to ensure that the reports finalized reflect the activity occurred during the reporting period. View of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: Management agrees with the finding, see corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-003: Reporting (Material Weakness) U.S. Department of Education – COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund (ALN 84.425 E&F) Statement of Condition: The College’s publicly available Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds reports for the institutional and student expenditures overstated the total amount of expenditures the College incurred during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. The College overstated the total amount of student expenditures by $3,301,290 and overstated institutional expenditures by $1,127,289. Criteria: As described under Section 314 (e) of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (CRRSAA), Public Law 116-260, and defined by the United States Education Department, an institution shall submit a quarterly expense report documenting the expenditures for both the student portion of HEERF money as well as institutional use of the HEERF money. These reports should be posted to the College’s website in a timely and accurate manner for the previously ended quarter. Cause: The College did not reconcile the reports posted to their publicly facing website with the underlying accounting records including the schedule of expenditures of federal awards. Effect: Failure to comply with HEERF reporting requirements could jeopardize future federal funding. Questioned Costs: This finding does not result in questioned costs. Repeat Finding: This is not considered a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that the College review and reconcile reports to the underlying accounting records including the schedule of expenditures of federal awards to ensure that the reports finalized reflect the activity occurred during the reporting period. View of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: Management agrees with the finding, see corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-002: Special Tests and Provisions (Material Weakness) U.S. Department of Education – Student Financial Assistance Cluster Statement of Condition: The College has approximately 140 student financial assistance checks that were outstanding at year end that were over 240 days old and they have not been returned to the federal government. The College has also escheated uncashed student financial assistance checks to the state of Pennsylvania. Criteria: As outlined under 34 CFR 668.164 (1), an institution must have a process that ensures student financial assistance funds outstanding are returned to the federal government within 240 days. They may not be escheated to a state or revert to the institution or any other third party. Cause: The College did not have a process in place to monitor outstanding student financial assistance checks or to prevent these funds from escheating to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Effect: The College is not following required Federal Student Assistance regulations in maintaining an appropriate administrative capability to administer funds. Questioned Costs: The amount of questioned costs could not be determined. Repeat Finding: This is not considered a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that the College immediately create a process and procedures to ensure monitoring of outstanding student financial assistance checks and to ensure that those checks are treated in accordance with Federal Student Assistance regulations. View of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: Management agrees with the finding, see corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-002: Special Tests and Provisions (Material Weakness) U.S. Department of Education – Student Financial Assistance Cluster Statement of Condition: The College has approximately 140 student financial assistance checks that were outstanding at year end that were over 240 days old and they have not been returned to the federal government. The College has also escheated uncashed student financial assistance checks to the state of Pennsylvania. Criteria: As outlined under 34 CFR 668.164 (1), an institution must have a process that ensures student financial assistance funds outstanding are returned to the federal government within 240 days. They may not be escheated to a state or revert to the institution or any other third party. Cause: The College did not have a process in place to monitor outstanding student financial assistance checks or to prevent these funds from escheating to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Effect: The College is not following required Federal Student Assistance regulations in maintaining an appropriate administrative capability to administer funds. Questioned Costs: The amount of questioned costs could not be determined. Repeat Finding: This is not considered a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that the College immediately create a process and procedures to ensure monitoring of outstanding student financial assistance checks and to ensure that those checks are treated in accordance with Federal Student Assistance regulations. View of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: Management agrees with the finding, see corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-002: Special Tests and Provisions (Material Weakness) U.S. Department of Education – Student Financial Assistance Cluster Statement of Condition: The College has approximately 140 student financial assistance checks that were outstanding at year end that were over 240 days old and they have not been returned to the federal government. The College has also escheated uncashed student financial assistance checks to the state of Pennsylvania. Criteria: As outlined under 34 CFR 668.164 (1), an institution must have a process that ensures student financial assistance funds outstanding are returned to the federal government within 240 days. They may not be escheated to a state or revert to the institution or any other third party. Cause: The College did not have a process in place to monitor outstanding student financial assistance checks or to prevent these funds from escheating to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Effect: The College is not following required Federal Student Assistance regulations in maintaining an appropriate administrative capability to administer funds. Questioned Costs: The amount of questioned costs could not be determined. Repeat Finding: This is not considered a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that the College immediately create a process and procedures to ensure monitoring of outstanding student financial assistance checks and to ensure that those checks are treated in accordance with Federal Student Assistance regulations. View of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: Management agrees with the finding, see corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-002: Special Tests and Provisions (Material Weakness) U.S. Department of Education – Student Financial Assistance Cluster Statement of Condition: The College has approximately 140 student financial assistance checks that were outstanding at year end that were over 240 days old and they have not been returned to the federal government. The College has also escheated uncashed student financial assistance checks to the state of Pennsylvania. Criteria: As outlined under 34 CFR 668.164 (1), an institution must have a process that ensures student financial assistance funds outstanding are returned to the federal government within 240 days. They may not be escheated to a state or revert to the institution or any other third party. Cause: The College did not have a process in place to monitor outstanding student financial assistance checks or to prevent these funds from escheating to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Effect: The College is not following required Federal Student Assistance regulations in maintaining an appropriate administrative capability to administer funds. Questioned Costs: The amount of questioned costs could not be determined. Repeat Finding: This is not considered a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that the College immediately create a process and procedures to ensure monitoring of outstanding student financial assistance checks and to ensure that those checks are treated in accordance with Federal Student Assistance regulations. View of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: Management agrees with the finding, see corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-003: Reporting (Material Weakness) U.S. Department of Education – COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund (ALN 84.425 E&F) Statement of Condition: The College’s publicly available Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds reports for the institutional and student expenditures overstated the total amount of expenditures the College incurred during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. The College overstated the total amount of student expenditures by $3,301,290 and overstated institutional expenditures by $1,127,289. Criteria: As described under Section 314 (e) of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (CRRSAA), Public Law 116-260, and defined by the United States Education Department, an institution shall submit a quarterly expense report documenting the expenditures for both the student portion of HEERF money as well as institutional use of the HEERF money. These reports should be posted to the College’s website in a timely and accurate manner for the previously ended quarter. Cause: The College did not reconcile the reports posted to their publicly facing website with the underlying accounting records including the schedule of expenditures of federal awards. Effect: Failure to comply with HEERF reporting requirements could jeopardize future federal funding. Questioned Costs: This finding does not result in questioned costs. Repeat Finding: This is not considered a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that the College review and reconcile reports to the underlying accounting records including the schedule of expenditures of federal awards to ensure that the reports finalized reflect the activity occurred during the reporting period. View of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: Management agrees with the finding, see corrective action plan.
Finding 2023-003: Reporting (Material Weakness) U.S. Department of Education – COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund (ALN 84.425 E&F) Statement of Condition: The College’s publicly available Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds reports for the institutional and student expenditures overstated the total amount of expenditures the College incurred during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. The College overstated the total amount of student expenditures by $3,301,290 and overstated institutional expenditures by $1,127,289. Criteria: As described under Section 314 (e) of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (CRRSAA), Public Law 116-260, and defined by the United States Education Department, an institution shall submit a quarterly expense report documenting the expenditures for both the student portion of HEERF money as well as institutional use of the HEERF money. These reports should be posted to the College’s website in a timely and accurate manner for the previously ended quarter. Cause: The College did not reconcile the reports posted to their publicly facing website with the underlying accounting records including the schedule of expenditures of federal awards. Effect: Failure to comply with HEERF reporting requirements could jeopardize future federal funding. Questioned Costs: This finding does not result in questioned costs. Repeat Finding: This is not considered a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that the College review and reconcile reports to the underlying accounting records including the schedule of expenditures of federal awards to ensure that the reports finalized reflect the activity occurred during the reporting period. View of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: Management agrees with the finding, see corrective action plan.