Audit 328114

FY End
2022-06-30
Total Expended
$31.95M
Findings
4
Programs
12
Organization: Saint Augustine's University (NC)
Year: 2022 Accepted: 2024-11-12

Organization Exclusion Status:

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Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
505405 2022-009 Material Weakness - N
505406 2022-010 Material Weakness - L
1081847 2022-009 Material Weakness - N
1081848 2022-010 Material Weakness - L

Contacts

Name Title Type
MATKQHRN8EB3 Mark Yates Auditee
9195164000 Jeffrey White, Sr. Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Title: Note 1 - 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, 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 allowaed under the Uniform Guidance. The accompanying schedule of expenditures of federal awards (the "Schedule") includes the federal award activity of Saint Augustine's University (the "University"), under programs of the federal government for the year ended June 30, 2022. 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"). Bevause 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 awards were in the form of cash assistance and no federal funds were disbursed to subrecipients during the year ended June 30, 2022.
Title: Note 2- 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, 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 allowaed 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, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursment.
Title: Note 3 - 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, 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 allowaed under the Uniform Guidance. The University has elected not to use the 10-percent de minimis indirect cost rate alloward under the Uniform Guidance.
Title: Note 4- 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, 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 allowaed under the Uniform Guidance. The University is responsible only for the performance of certain administrative duties with respect to its Federal Direct Student Loan Program and, accordingly, these loans are not included in the University's financial statements. It is not practicable to determine the balance of loans outstanding from current and former students of the University under these progams as of June 30, 2022. Loan advances during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022 have been reflected in the Schedule.
Title: Note 5- Federal Perkins Loan Program 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, 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 allowaed under the Uniform Guidance. The Federal Perkins Loan Program (the "FPL Program") is partially administered by a third-party service provider and balances and transactions relating to the program are included in the University's financial statements. The balance of loans outstanding under the FPL Program (ALN 84.038) was $-0- as of June 30, 2022. The federal government has terminated this program and now new loans may be warded to students. the Univerisity continues to service the loan portfolio and rmeit collection to the federal government.
Title: Note 6- State Awards 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, 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 allowaed under the Uniform Guidance. During the year ended June 30, 2022, the University awarded $2,794,816 in North Carolina Need Based Scholarships, which is funding received from the State of North Carolina. Such funds were considered direct and material to the University.
Title: Note 7- 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, 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 allowaed under the Uniform Guidance. The grant amounts received are subject to audit and adjustment. If any expenditures are disallowed by the grantor agencies because 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 except for certain findings presented in the accompanying schedule of findings and questioned costs, all grant expenditures are in compliance with the terms of the grant agreemetns and applicable federal laws and regulations.

Finding Details

Condition: During our audit, we noted the following for certain students selected for testing that withdrew during the fiscal year: 1) no documentation was provided that indicated when the student was reimbursed, 2) no date of withdrawal was provided. Criteria: When a recipient of Title IV grant or loan assistance withdraws from an institution during a payment period or period of enrollment in which the receipient began attendance, the institution must determine the amount of Title IV aid earned by the student as of his/her withdrawal date. If the total amount of the Title IV assitance earned by the student is less than the amount disbursed as of the date of withdrawal, the difference must be returned to the Title IV programs with no additional disbursements made to the student for the payment period/period of enrollment. If the amount earned is greater than the amount disbursed, the differene mudt be treated as as post-withdrawal disbursement (34 CFR section 668.22(a)(1) through (a)(5)). Cause: Administrative oversight and lack of staff completion. Effect: The Univeristy is not in compliance with withdrawal reportin requirements. Failure to promptly report accurate and timely changes in enrollment status may adversly impact students receeiving refunds. Recommendation: We recommend that for all students that withdrew and are issued a refund, the University ensure that procedures are in place to clearly document the date of withdrawal, date of disburse,ent and amount of reimbursement, if any. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: The Univeristy implemented a comprehensive ERP software tool, Ellucian Colleague in FY2021 and FY2022 and hired more staff. The built- in internal control structure which includes access to enrollment reports and data coupled with a complete reconciliation process with the Office of Financial Aid, Office of the Registrar and Studen tAccounts will prevent this from recurring.
Condition: During our audit, we noted that for certain students selected for testing, there was no clear indication as to whether Federal Direct Student Loan ("FDSL") funds had been disbursed to the students within an acceptable period of time, or that documentation required prior to loan disbursement had been obtained. We also noted that for certain students, there was no documentation of the amount of loan funds dibursed. Criteria: Institutions are required to retain repayment records, including cancellation and deferment requests for at least three years from the date on which a loan is assigned to the secretary, cancelled, or repaid. An institution is required to retain disbursement and electronic authentication and signature records for each laon made using a Master Promissory Note for at least three years from the date the loan is cancelled, repaid, or otherwise satisfied. Cause: Adminstrative oversight and lack of staff completion. Effect: The Univeristy is not in compliance with FDSL reporting requirements. Failure to promptly report accurate and timely changes in disbursement staus for FDSLs may adversely impact student recipients. Recommendations: We recommend that the University implement procedures to ensure FDSLs are awarded/disbursed in accordance with federal guidelines. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: The financial aid department has developed a Direct Loan workflow process in accordance with federal guidelines. Utilizing Colleague's software, the finanial aid office can now accurately assess students' aid eligiility to ensure they are appropriately awarded. Colleague has Award Eligibility Cirteria (AEC) rules invoked at transmittal to determine if the student is eligible to receive loan funds.
Condition: During our audit, we noted the following for certain students selected for testing that withdrew during the fiscal year: 1) no documentation was provided that indicated when the student was reimbursed, 2) no date of withdrawal was provided. Criteria: When a recipient of Title IV grant or loan assistance withdraws from an institution during a payment period or period of enrollment in which the receipient began attendance, the institution must determine the amount of Title IV aid earned by the student as of his/her withdrawal date. If the total amount of the Title IV assitance earned by the student is less than the amount disbursed as of the date of withdrawal, the difference must be returned to the Title IV programs with no additional disbursements made to the student for the payment period/period of enrollment. If the amount earned is greater than the amount disbursed, the differene mudt be treated as as post-withdrawal disbursement (34 CFR section 668.22(a)(1) through (a)(5)). Cause: Administrative oversight and lack of staff completion. Effect: The Univeristy is not in compliance with withdrawal reportin requirements. Failure to promptly report accurate and timely changes in enrollment status may adversly impact students receeiving refunds. Recommendation: We recommend that for all students that withdrew and are issued a refund, the University ensure that procedures are in place to clearly document the date of withdrawal, date of disburse,ent and amount of reimbursement, if any. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: The Univeristy implemented a comprehensive ERP software tool, Ellucian Colleague in FY2021 and FY2022 and hired more staff. The built- in internal control structure which includes access to enrollment reports and data coupled with a complete reconciliation process with the Office of Financial Aid, Office of the Registrar and Studen tAccounts will prevent this from recurring.
Condition: During our audit, we noted that for certain students selected for testing, there was no clear indication as to whether Federal Direct Student Loan ("FDSL") funds had been disbursed to the students within an acceptable period of time, or that documentation required prior to loan disbursement had been obtained. We also noted that for certain students, there was no documentation of the amount of loan funds dibursed. Criteria: Institutions are required to retain repayment records, including cancellation and deferment requests for at least three years from the date on which a loan is assigned to the secretary, cancelled, or repaid. An institution is required to retain disbursement and electronic authentication and signature records for each laon made using a Master Promissory Note for at least three years from the date the loan is cancelled, repaid, or otherwise satisfied. Cause: Adminstrative oversight and lack of staff completion. Effect: The Univeristy is not in compliance with FDSL reporting requirements. Failure to promptly report accurate and timely changes in disbursement staus for FDSLs may adversely impact student recipients. Recommendations: We recommend that the University implement procedures to ensure FDSLs are awarded/disbursed in accordance with federal guidelines. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: The financial aid department has developed a Direct Loan workflow process in accordance with federal guidelines. Utilizing Colleague's software, the finanial aid office can now accurately assess students' aid eligiility to ensure they are appropriately awarded. Colleague has Award Eligibility Cirteria (AEC) rules invoked at transmittal to determine if the student is eligible to receive loan funds.