Audit 345558

FY End
2024-06-30
Total Expended
$160.24M
Findings
2
Programs
87
Organization: American University (DC)
Year: 2024 Accepted: 2025-03-11

Organization Exclusion Status:

Checking exclusion status...

Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
526581 2024-001 - - N
1103023 2024-001 - - N

Programs

ALN Program Spent Major Findings
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $130.05M Yes 1
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $6.28M Yes 0
47.041 Engineering $2.31M Yes 0
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $1.37M Yes 0
43.008 Office of Stem Engagement (ostem) $1.04M Yes 0
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $872,184 Yes 0
84.038 Federal Perkins Loan Program $744,745 Yes 0
19.990 International Justice and Accountability Programming $559,120 - 0
84.379 Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants (teach Grants) $416,718 Yes 0
19.345 International Programs to Support Democracy, Human Rights and Labor $371,507 Yes 0
93.859 Biomedical Research and Research Training $368,766 Yes 0
97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) $358,209 Yes 0
19.010 Academic Exchange Programs - Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program $273,849 - 0
97.061 Centers for Homeland Security $249,296 Yes 0
94.026 Americorps National Service and Civic Engagement Research Competition 94.026 $238,845 Yes 0
47.084 Nsf Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships $234,271 Yes 0
93.137 Community Programs to Improve Minority Health Grant Program $202,824 - 0
93.866 Aging Research $172,491 Yes 0
84.325 Special Education - Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities $169,442 Yes 0
93.213 Research and Training in Complementary and Integrative Health $149,485 Yes 0
16.043 Veterans Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program $136,146 Yes 0
47.075 Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences $115,234 Yes 0
45.313 Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program $113,072 - 0
47.074 Biological Sciences $106,540 Yes 0
21.008 Low Income Taxpayer Clinics $104,650 - 0
10.561 State Administrative Matching Grants for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program $104,258 - 0
93.113 Environmental Health $87,589 Yes 0
16.560 National Institute of Justice Research, Evaluation, and Development Project Grants $86,201 Yes 0
19.501 Public Diplomacy Programs for Afghanistan and Pakistan $75,454 - 0
84.336 Teacher Quality Partnership Grants $74,079 - 0
45.312 National Leadership Grants $71,340 - 0
11.609 Measurement and Engineering Research and Standards $70,917 Yes 0
10.557 Wic Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children $68,236 - 0
93.623 Basic Center Grant $63,868 - 0
93.847 Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research $55,039 Yes 0
93.273 Alcohol Research Programs $53,575 Yes 0
81.064 Office of Scientific and Technical Information $52,682 - 0
93.958 Block Grants for Community Mental Health Services $49,515 Yes 0
93.421 Strengthening Public Health Systems and Services Through National Partnerships to Improve and Protect the Nation�s Health $49,490 Yes 0
93.829 Section 223 Demonstration Programs to Improve Community Mental Health Services $47,717 Yes 0
45.162 Promotion of the Humanities Teaching and Learning Resources and Curriculum Development $46,111 - 0
96.007 Social Security Research and Demonstration $45,616 Yes 0
43.012 Space Technology $44,011 Yes 0
16.585 Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program $43,257 Yes 0
10.707 Research Joint Venture and Cost Reimbursable Agreements $40,848 Yes 0
47.050 Geosciences $38,077 Yes 0
12.431 Basic Scientific Research $37,791 Yes 0
10.250 Agricultural and Rural Economic Research, Cooperative Agreements and Collaborations $36,487 Yes 0
11.900 Patent and Trademark Technical Information Dissemination $32,173 - 0
39.012 Public Buildings Service $32,062 - 0
98.001 Usaid Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas $31,921 - 0
93.393 Cancer Cause and Prevention Research $30,129 Yes 0
12.300 Basic and Applied Scientific Research $29,706 Yes 0
16.524 Legal Assistance for Victims $28,694 Yes 0
43.001 Science $22,811 Yes 0
20.600 State and Community Highway Safety $22,020 - 0
43.RD The Evolving Magnetic Lives of Young Suns $20,898 Yes 0
93.837 Cardiovascular Diseases Research $20,388 Yes 0
93.310 Trans-Nih Research Support $20,000 Yes 0
84.382 Strengthening Minority-Serving Institutions $19,475 Yes 0
91.005 Priority Grant Competition $17,795 Yes 0
93.575 Child Care and Development Block Grant $17,082 - 0
97.132 Financial Assistance for Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention $16,535 Yes 0
84.305 Education Research, Development and Dissemination $16,278 Yes 0
93.867 Vision Research $15,788 Yes 0
11.482 Coral Reef Conservation Program $14,740 Yes 0
15.808 U.s. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection $12,792 Yes 0
12.800 Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program $12,601 Yes 0
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $12,193 Yes 0
81.005 Environmental Monitoring, Independent Research, Technical Analysis $12,076 Yes 0
20.108 Aviation Research Grants $12,000 Yes 0
84.425 Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund $9,808 - 0
93.855 Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research $8,973 Yes 0
47.076 Stem Education (formerly Education and Human Resources) $8,515 Yes 0
15.805 Assistance to State Water Resources Research Institutes $8,247 Yes 0
89.003 National Historical Publications and Records Grants $8,220 Yes 0
93.865 Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research $7,592 Yes 0
16.526 Ovw Technical Assistance Initiative $6,710 Yes 0
45.149 Promotion of the Humanities Division of Preservation and Access $5,535 - 0
47.070 Computer and Information Science and Engineering $3,986 Yes 0
12.910 Research and Technology Development $3,054 Yes 0
93.242 Mental Health Research Grants $2,880 Yes 0
47.049 Mathematical and Physical Sciences $1,988 Yes 0
93.279 Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs $1,743 Yes 0
12.901 Mathematical Sciences Grants $1,591 Yes 0
15.945 Cooperative Research and Training Programs � Resources of the National Park System $578 Yes 0
12.420 Military Medical Research and Development $-15,794 Yes 0

Contacts

Name Title Type
H4VNDUN2VWU5 Nicole Bresnahan Auditee
2028852822 Danielle Bartlett Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Title: Basis of Presentation Accounting Policies: Expenditures for the federal programs are recognized as incurred. Expenditures for student financial aid include Pell program grants to students, the federal share of students’ FSEOG program grants and FWS program earnings, loan disbursements to students, and administrative cost allowances, where applicable. Expenditures for other federal awards are determined using the cost accounting principles and procedures set forth in Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) as applicable. Under these cost principles, certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. Direct costs are recognized as incurred using the accrual method of accounting. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The University applies its predetermined approved facilities and administrative rate when charging indirect costs to federal awards rather than the 10% de minimis cost rate as described in Section 200.414 of the Uniform Guidance. Indirect costs allocated to such awards for the year ended June 30, 2024 were based on predetermined rates negotiated with the University’s cognizant federal agency, the Department of Health and Human Services. The accompanying Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (the “Schedule”) summarizes the expenditures of American University (the “University”) under programs of the federal government for the year ended June 30, 2024. Because the Schedule presents only the federal award activity of the University, it is not intended to and does not present the financial position, changes in net assets, and cash flows of the University. For purposes of the Schedule, federal awards include all grants, contracts and similar agreements entered directly between the University and agencies and departments of the federal government and all sub-awards to the University by nonfederal organizations pursuant to federal grants, contracts and similar agreements. Negative numbers in the Schedule represent adjustments to amounts reported in prior years in the normal course of business. Assistance Listing numbers and pass-through numbers are provided when available.
Title: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for Federal Award Expenditures Accounting Policies: Expenditures for the federal programs are recognized as incurred. Expenditures for student financial aid include Pell program grants to students, the federal share of students’ FSEOG program grants and FWS program earnings, loan disbursements to students, and administrative cost allowances, where applicable. Expenditures for other federal awards are determined using the cost accounting principles and procedures set forth in Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) as applicable. Under these cost principles, certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. Direct costs are recognized as incurred using the accrual method of accounting. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The University applies its predetermined approved facilities and administrative rate when charging indirect costs to federal awards rather than the 10% de minimis cost rate as described in Section 200.414 of the Uniform Guidance. Indirect costs allocated to such awards for the year ended June 30, 2024 were based on predetermined rates negotiated with the University’s cognizant federal agency, the Department of Health and Human Services. Expenditures for the federal programs are recognized as incurred. Expenditures for student financial aid include Pell program grants to students, the federal share of students’ FSEOG program grants and FWS program earnings, loan disbursements to students, and administrative cost allowances, where applicable. Expenditures for other federal awards are determined using the cost accounting principles and procedures set forth in Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) as applicable. Under these cost principles, certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. Direct costs are recognized as incurred using the accrual method of accounting. Expenditures for nonfinancial aid awards include indirect costs, relating primarily to facilities operation and maintenance and general administration services, which are allocated to direct cost objectives (including federal award programs) based on negotiated formulas commonly referred to as indirect cost rates. The University applies its predetermined approved facilities and administrative rate when charging indirect costs to federal awards rather than the 10% de minimis cost rate as described in Section 200.414 of the Uniform Guidance. Indirect costs allocated to such awards for the year ended June 30, 2024 were based on predetermined rates negotiated with the University’s cognizant federal agency, the Department of Health and Human Services.
Title: Federal Student Loan Programs Accounting Policies: Expenditures for the federal programs are recognized as incurred. Expenditures for student financial aid include Pell program grants to students, the federal share of students’ FSEOG program grants and FWS program earnings, loan disbursements to students, and administrative cost allowances, where applicable. Expenditures for other federal awards are determined using the cost accounting principles and procedures set forth in Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) as applicable. Under these cost principles, certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. Direct costs are recognized as incurred using the accrual method of accounting. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The University applies its predetermined approved facilities and administrative rate when charging indirect costs to federal awards rather than the 10% de minimis cost rate as described in Section 200.414 of the Uniform Guidance. Indirect costs allocated to such awards for the year ended June 30, 2024 were based on predetermined rates negotiated with the University’s cognizant federal agency, the Department of Health and Human Services. The Federal Perkins Loan Program (Perkins) under Assistance Listing #84.038 is administered directly by the University and the balance and transactions relating to this program are included in the University’s basic financial statements. The amount of Federal Perkins loans outstanding at June 30, 2024, totaled $717,510. Loans outstanding at the beginning of the year are included in the federal expenditures presented in the Schedule. The University is responsible only for the performance of certain administrative duties with respect to federal direct loans disbursed by the Department of Education on behalf of university students under the direct loan programs (Federal Stafford, Federal Parents Loans for Undergraduate and Graduate Students, and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans). These loan programs collectively are Assistance Listing # 84.268. It is not practical to determine the balance of loans outstanding to students and former students of the University under these federally guaranteed loan programs at June 30, 2024. The current year disbursements are included in the Schedule.
Title: Department of Homeland Security Accounting Policies: Expenditures for the federal programs are recognized as incurred. Expenditures for student financial aid include Pell program grants to students, the federal share of students’ FSEOG program grants and FWS program earnings, loan disbursements to students, and administrative cost allowances, where applicable. Expenditures for other federal awards are determined using the cost accounting principles and procedures set forth in Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) as applicable. Under these cost principles, certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. Direct costs are recognized as incurred using the accrual method of accounting. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The University applies its predetermined approved facilities and administrative rate when charging indirect costs to federal awards rather than the 10% de minimis cost rate as described in Section 200.414 of the Uniform Guidance. Indirect costs allocated to such awards for the year ended June 30, 2024 were based on predetermined rates negotiated with the University’s cognizant federal agency, the Department of Health and Human Services. As of June 30, 2024, the University received approval for $358,209 of claims submitted to DHS during 2024 under Assistance Listing Number 97.036. The claims submitted represented incurred expenses attributed to the University’s response to COVID-19. The fiscal year 2023 Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards includes expenses of $358,209 which were incurred in a prior year.

Finding Details

Finding 2024-001 Special Tests and Provisions Grantor: Department of Education Program: Federal Direct Student Loans Assistance Listing #: 84.268 Award Year: 07/1/2023 – 06/30/2024 Pass-through Number: Not applicable Criteria In accordance with 34 CFR 690.83(b)(2) and 685.309, the University is required to report enrollment information under the Federal Pell Grant and Federal Direct Loan programs through National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). The enrollment information, inclusive of Campus Level and Program Level data, must be reviewed, updated and validated by the University in a timely manner. Furthermore, specific to the Federal Direct Loan program, for a student that received a Direct Loan and was enrolled or accepted for enrollment at the University, and the student had ceased to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis or failed to enroll on at least a half-time basis for the period for which the loan was intended, the University must report the change to the NSLDS within 60 days from which the change was identified. Additionally, per the Federal Register Vol. 82, No. 122, an institution must submit Direct Loan disbursement records to the Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) within 15 days after making the disbursement or becoming aware of the need to adjust a previously reported disbursement. Condition For 5 of 25 selections, the University did not report the selected student’s campus and program-level status change to the NSLDS timely. Four of these selections were reported four days late and one was reported 21 days late. These student status changes were reported to the University’s service provider before 60 days; however, the service provider did not have sufficient time to report these changes to the NSLDS within the 60-day time frame. Additionally, for one of 25 selections, the University did not report the selected student’s disbursement to the COD timely. The disbursement was reported 90 days late. Cause The University identified and reported the student status change to the third-party service provider within 60 days. However, the third-party service provider did not have sufficient time to report to the NSLDS by the 60-day deadline. In regard to the COD disbursement that was reported late, there was a system reporting error that caused the late reporting. The University identified and resolved the system reporting error after detection. Effect Certain required reporting was not submitted within the time frame required by the regulations. A student’s enrollment status determines eligibility for in-school status, deferment, and grace periods, as well as for the payment of interest subsidies all of which are impacted by inaccurate and late reporting. Questioned Costs There are no questioned costs associated with this finding as the matters are related to timely reporting. Recommendations The University should enhance communication between the Student Advisors, University Registrar's Office and Financial Aid Office for student status changes to ensure sufficient time for changes in status to be reported to both the third-party service provider and ultimately the NSLDS. The University should ensure that system reporting is set up and maintained in a way that allows for complete and accurate identification of disbursements that are required to be reported to the COD. Separately, the University should establish procedures to send reminders when loans have been disbursed to ensure the required reporting to the COD to takes place in a timely manner. Management’s View and Corrective Action Plan Please refer to management’s corrective action plan for management’s response and corrective action related to this finding.
Finding 2024-001 Special Tests and Provisions Grantor: Department of Education Program: Federal Direct Student Loans Assistance Listing #: 84.268 Award Year: 07/1/2023 – 06/30/2024 Pass-through Number: Not applicable Criteria In accordance with 34 CFR 690.83(b)(2) and 685.309, the University is required to report enrollment information under the Federal Pell Grant and Federal Direct Loan programs through National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). The enrollment information, inclusive of Campus Level and Program Level data, must be reviewed, updated and validated by the University in a timely manner. Furthermore, specific to the Federal Direct Loan program, for a student that received a Direct Loan and was enrolled or accepted for enrollment at the University, and the student had ceased to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis or failed to enroll on at least a half-time basis for the period for which the loan was intended, the University must report the change to the NSLDS within 60 days from which the change was identified. Additionally, per the Federal Register Vol. 82, No. 122, an institution must submit Direct Loan disbursement records to the Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) within 15 days after making the disbursement or becoming aware of the need to adjust a previously reported disbursement. Condition For 5 of 25 selections, the University did not report the selected student’s campus and program-level status change to the NSLDS timely. Four of these selections were reported four days late and one was reported 21 days late. These student status changes were reported to the University’s service provider before 60 days; however, the service provider did not have sufficient time to report these changes to the NSLDS within the 60-day time frame. Additionally, for one of 25 selections, the University did not report the selected student’s disbursement to the COD timely. The disbursement was reported 90 days late. Cause The University identified and reported the student status change to the third-party service provider within 60 days. However, the third-party service provider did not have sufficient time to report to the NSLDS by the 60-day deadline. In regard to the COD disbursement that was reported late, there was a system reporting error that caused the late reporting. The University identified and resolved the system reporting error after detection. Effect Certain required reporting was not submitted within the time frame required by the regulations. A student’s enrollment status determines eligibility for in-school status, deferment, and grace periods, as well as for the payment of interest subsidies all of which are impacted by inaccurate and late reporting. Questioned Costs There are no questioned costs associated with this finding as the matters are related to timely reporting. Recommendations The University should enhance communication between the Student Advisors, University Registrar's Office and Financial Aid Office for student status changes to ensure sufficient time for changes in status to be reported to both the third-party service provider and ultimately the NSLDS. The University should ensure that system reporting is set up and maintained in a way that allows for complete and accurate identification of disbursements that are required to be reported to the COD. Separately, the University should establish procedures to send reminders when loans have been disbursed to ensure the required reporting to the COD to takes place in a timely manner. Management’s View and Corrective Action Plan Please refer to management’s corrective action plan for management’s response and corrective action related to this finding.