Student Financial Assistant Cluster ALN 84.268 Federal Direct Student Loan Programs U.S. Department of Education Program Year 2021 ? 2022 Criteria or Specific Requirement ? Special Tests and Provisions: Disbursements to or on Behalf of Students, 34 CFR 668.165 Condition ? Eleven students with direct loans were not notified of the date and amount of disbursement and that they have the right to cancel all or a portion of the disbursement. Questioned Costs ? None Context ? Out of the population of 1,527 students who received federal direct student loans, a sample of 27 students was selected for testing. Eleven of the tested students were not correctly notified of the date and disbursement of their direct loans or of the fact that they have the right to cancel all or a portion of the disbursement. Our sample was not and was not intended to be a statically valid sample. Effect ? Eleven students did not receive notifications regarding their direct loans, as required. Cause ? An algorithm in the University?s system was not updated, causing direct loan notifications not to occur for any student not receiving any aid other than direct loans. Identification as a Repeat Finding ? N/A Recommendation ? The University should review its procedures for ensuring that algorithms established in the system are reviewed and updated to ensure all notifications are occurring in compliance with Department of Education guidelines. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions ? Management agrees with the finding and will ensure that all algorithms are reviewed and updated in the future.
COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund, Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund ? Student Aid Portion, ALN 84.425E Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund ? Institutional Aid Portion, ALN 84.425F U.S. Department of Education, Award Year 2022 Criteria or Specific Requirement ? Reporting ? Section 18004(a)(1) Student Aid Portion Quarterly Public Reporting and Institutional Aid Portion Quarterly Public Reporting ? 85 FR 53082 Condition ? One of the University?s required public reports for Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) III student aid portion dollars disbursed during the Fall 2021 term and one of the University?s required public reports for HEERF II institutional aid portion dollars were not publicly posted in a timely manner. Questioned Costs ? None Context ? Out of the population of five required quarterly public reports for HEERF I, II, and III student aid portion dollars, one was selected for testing. Out of four required quarterly reports for HEERF I, II, and III institutional aid portion dollars, one was selected for testing. Neither report tested was publicly posted by the stated Department of Education deadline. Our sample was not and was not intended to be a statically valid sample. Effect ? Information required to be made publicly available was not done so in a timely manner, which could result in a loss of funding. Cause ? This was a newer federal program with evolving compliance requirements and, due to turnover in the financial accounting services department in the prior year, current employees were not aware of the requirement. Identification as a Repeat Finding ? 2021-001 Recommendation ? The University should review its processes and controls to ensure awareness of compliance requirements. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions ? Management agrees with the finding and, once made aware, timely filed all required reports.
COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund, Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund ? Institutional Aid Portion, ALN 84.425F U.S. Department of Education, Award Year 2022 Criteria or Specific Requirement ? Procurement and Suspension and Debarment ? Section 18004(a)(1) Institutional Aid Portion ? 2 CFR 200.318-326 Condition ? The University does not have a procurement policy as required under federal guidelines. No support exists to show that vendors are reviewed for suspension or debarment. No support is maintained for sole source purchases. Questioned Costs ? None Context ? The University does not have a procurement policy in place to meet the Uniform Guidance procurement requirements. No errors were specifically found in testing of purchases against federal procurement requirements, but support could not be provided to show University procedures to check suspension or debarment. While none were selected for testing, it was additionally noted that no support was maintained for sole source purchases. Effect ? It is possible that purchases may be made that are not in accordance with federal procurement requirements that could lead to material noncompliance with federal grant agreements. Cause ? The University does not have a procurement policy in accordance with Uniform Guidance in place as is required under federal guidelines. Identification as a Repeat Finding ? N/A Recommendation ? The University should draft and approve a procurement policy that covers all aspects of federal procurement requirements. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions ? Management agrees with the finding and implemented a procurement policy after year-end.
COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund, Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund ? Student Aid Portion, ALN 84.425E Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund ? Institutional Aid Portion, ALN 84.425F U.S. Department of Education, Award Year 2022 Criteria or Specific Requirement ? Reporting ? Section 18004(a)(1) Student Aid Portion Quarterly Public Reporting and Institutional Aid Portion Quarterly Public Reporting ? 85 FR 53082 Condition ? One of the University?s required public reports for Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) III student aid portion dollars disbursed during the Fall 2021 term and one of the University?s required public reports for HEERF II institutional aid portion dollars were not publicly posted in a timely manner. Questioned Costs ? None Context ? Out of the population of five required quarterly public reports for HEERF I, II, and III student aid portion dollars, one was selected for testing. Out of four required quarterly reports for HEERF I, II, and III institutional aid portion dollars, one was selected for testing. Neither report tested was publicly posted by the stated Department of Education deadline. Our sample was not and was not intended to be a statically valid sample. Effect ? Information required to be made publicly available was not done so in a timely manner, which could result in a loss of funding. Cause ? This was a newer federal program with evolving compliance requirements and, due to turnover in the financial accounting services department in the prior year, current employees were not aware of the requirement. Identification as a Repeat Finding ? 2021-001 Recommendation ? The University should review its processes and controls to ensure awareness of compliance requirements. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions ? Management agrees with the finding and, once made aware, timely filed all required reports.
Student Financial Assistant Cluster ALN 84.268 Federal Direct Student Loan Programs U.S. Department of Education Program Year 2021 ? 2022 Criteria or Specific Requirement ? Special Tests and Provisions: Disbursements to or on Behalf of Students, 34 CFR 668.165 Condition ? Eleven students with direct loans were not notified of the date and amount of disbursement and that they have the right to cancel all or a portion of the disbursement. Questioned Costs ? None Context ? Out of the population of 1,527 students who received federal direct student loans, a sample of 27 students was selected for testing. Eleven of the tested students were not correctly notified of the date and disbursement of their direct loans or of the fact that they have the right to cancel all or a portion of the disbursement. Our sample was not and was not intended to be a statically valid sample. Effect ? Eleven students did not receive notifications regarding their direct loans, as required. Cause ? An algorithm in the University?s system was not updated, causing direct loan notifications not to occur for any student not receiving any aid other than direct loans. Identification as a Repeat Finding ? N/A Recommendation ? The University should review its procedures for ensuring that algorithms established in the system are reviewed and updated to ensure all notifications are occurring in compliance with Department of Education guidelines. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions ? Management agrees with the finding and will ensure that all algorithms are reviewed and updated in the future.
COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund, Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund ? Student Aid Portion, ALN 84.425E Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund ? Institutional Aid Portion, ALN 84.425F U.S. Department of Education, Award Year 2022 Criteria or Specific Requirement ? Reporting ? Section 18004(a)(1) Student Aid Portion Quarterly Public Reporting and Institutional Aid Portion Quarterly Public Reporting ? 85 FR 53082 Condition ? One of the University?s required public reports for Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) III student aid portion dollars disbursed during the Fall 2021 term and one of the University?s required public reports for HEERF II institutional aid portion dollars were not publicly posted in a timely manner. Questioned Costs ? None Context ? Out of the population of five required quarterly public reports for HEERF I, II, and III student aid portion dollars, one was selected for testing. Out of four required quarterly reports for HEERF I, II, and III institutional aid portion dollars, one was selected for testing. Neither report tested was publicly posted by the stated Department of Education deadline. Our sample was not and was not intended to be a statically valid sample. Effect ? Information required to be made publicly available was not done so in a timely manner, which could result in a loss of funding. Cause ? This was a newer federal program with evolving compliance requirements and, due to turnover in the financial accounting services department in the prior year, current employees were not aware of the requirement. Identification as a Repeat Finding ? 2021-001 Recommendation ? The University should review its processes and controls to ensure awareness of compliance requirements. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions ? Management agrees with the finding and, once made aware, timely filed all required reports.
COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund, Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund ? Institutional Aid Portion, ALN 84.425F U.S. Department of Education, Award Year 2022 Criteria or Specific Requirement ? Procurement and Suspension and Debarment ? Section 18004(a)(1) Institutional Aid Portion ? 2 CFR 200.318-326 Condition ? The University does not have a procurement policy as required under federal guidelines. No support exists to show that vendors are reviewed for suspension or debarment. No support is maintained for sole source purchases. Questioned Costs ? None Context ? The University does not have a procurement policy in place to meet the Uniform Guidance procurement requirements. No errors were specifically found in testing of purchases against federal procurement requirements, but support could not be provided to show University procedures to check suspension or debarment. While none were selected for testing, it was additionally noted that no support was maintained for sole source purchases. Effect ? It is possible that purchases may be made that are not in accordance with federal procurement requirements that could lead to material noncompliance with federal grant agreements. Cause ? The University does not have a procurement policy in accordance with Uniform Guidance in place as is required under federal guidelines. Identification as a Repeat Finding ? N/A Recommendation ? The University should draft and approve a procurement policy that covers all aspects of federal procurement requirements. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions ? Management agrees with the finding and implemented a procurement policy after year-end.
COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund, Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund ? Student Aid Portion, ALN 84.425E Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund ? Institutional Aid Portion, ALN 84.425F U.S. Department of Education, Award Year 2022 Criteria or Specific Requirement ? Reporting ? Section 18004(a)(1) Student Aid Portion Quarterly Public Reporting and Institutional Aid Portion Quarterly Public Reporting ? 85 FR 53082 Condition ? One of the University?s required public reports for Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) III student aid portion dollars disbursed during the Fall 2021 term and one of the University?s required public reports for HEERF II institutional aid portion dollars were not publicly posted in a timely manner. Questioned Costs ? None Context ? Out of the population of five required quarterly public reports for HEERF I, II, and III student aid portion dollars, one was selected for testing. Out of four required quarterly reports for HEERF I, II, and III institutional aid portion dollars, one was selected for testing. Neither report tested was publicly posted by the stated Department of Education deadline. Our sample was not and was not intended to be a statically valid sample. Effect ? Information required to be made publicly available was not done so in a timely manner, which could result in a loss of funding. Cause ? This was a newer federal program with evolving compliance requirements and, due to turnover in the financial accounting services department in the prior year, current employees were not aware of the requirement. Identification as a Repeat Finding ? 2021-001 Recommendation ? The University should review its processes and controls to ensure awareness of compliance requirements. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions ? Management agrees with the finding and, once made aware, timely filed all required reports.