FAC Explorer

Audit 357552

FY End
2024-08-31
Total Expended
$10.95M
Findings
2
Programs
10
Organization: Tompkins Cortland Community College (NY)
Year: 2024 Accepted: 2025-05-30
Auditor: Bonadio & CO LLP

Organization Exclusion Status:

Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
561903 2024-002 Significant Deficiency Yes CL
1138345 2024-002 Significant Deficiency Yes CL

Programs

ALN Program Spent Major Findings
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $5.35M Yes 0
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $4.34M Yes 0
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $606,147 Yes 1
84.048 Career and Technical Education -- Basic Grants to States $269,684 - 0
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $134,436 Yes 0
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $94,537 Yes 0
23.011 Appalachian Research, Technical Assistance, and Demonstration Projects $66,723 - 0
47.076 Stem Education (formerly Education and Human Resources) $32,243 - 0
23.002 Appalachian Area Development $30,817 - 0
17.261 Workforce Data Quality Initiative (wdqi) $25,123 - 0

Contacts

Name Title Type
JS2HEZCF5346 Dionysios Panagitsas Auditee
6078448222 Karen Lynch Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Title: GENERAL Accounting Policies: The accompanying schedule of expenditures of federal awards (the Schedule) presents the activity of all federal award programs of Tompkins Cortland Community College (the College). Because the Schedule presents only a selected portion of the College’s operations, it is not intended to, and does not, present the net position and revenues, expenses, and change in net position of the College. For the purposes of the Schedule, federal awards include all grants, contracts, and similar agreements entered into directly between the College and agencies and departments of the federal government as well as federal awards passed through other agencies. Student financial aid includes certain awards to provide financial assistance to students, primarily under the Federal Work-Study, Pell Grant, and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant programs of the Department of Education. The College also receives awards to make loans to eligible students under certain federal student loan programs and federally guaranteed loans are issued to students of the College by the Federal government. These loans are considered for the purposes of determining whether student financial aid is a major or non-major program. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: N/A The accompanying schedule of expenditures of federal awards (the Schedule) presents the activity of all federal award programs of Tompkins Cortland Community College (the College). Because the Schedule presents only a selected portion of the College’s operations, it is not intended to, and does not, present the net position and revenues, expenses, and change in net position of the College. For the purposes of the Schedule, federal awards include all grants, contracts, and similar agreements entered into directly between the College and agencies and departments of the federal government as well as federal awards passed through other agencies. Student financial aid includes certain awards to provide financial assistance to students, primarily under the Federal Work-Study, Pell Grant, and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant programs of the Department of Education. The College also receives awards to make loans to eligible students under certain federal student loan programs and federally guaranteed loans are issued to students of the College by the Federal government. These loans are considered for the purposes of determining whether student financial aid is a major or non-major program.
Title: BASIS OF ACCOUNTING Accounting Policies: The accompanying schedule of expenditures of federal awards (the Schedule) presents the activity of all federal award programs of Tompkins Cortland Community College (the College). Because the Schedule presents only a selected portion of the College’s operations, it is not intended to, and does not, present the net position and revenues, expenses, and change in net position of the College. For the purposes of the Schedule, federal awards include all grants, contracts, and similar agreements entered into directly between the College and agencies and departments of the federal government as well as federal awards passed through other agencies. Student financial aid includes certain awards to provide financial assistance to students, primarily under the Federal Work-Study, Pell Grant, and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant programs of the Department of Education. The College also receives awards to make loans to eligible students under certain federal student loan programs and federally guaranteed loans are issued to students of the College by the Federal government. These loans are considered for the purposes of determining whether student financial aid is a major or non-major program. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: N/A The Schedule has been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) and 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). 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.
Title: INDIRECT COST RATE Accounting Policies: The accompanying schedule of expenditures of federal awards (the Schedule) presents the activity of all federal award programs of Tompkins Cortland Community College (the College). Because the Schedule presents only a selected portion of the College’s operations, it is not intended to, and does not, present the net position and revenues, expenses, and change in net position of the College. For the purposes of the Schedule, federal awards include all grants, contracts, and similar agreements entered into directly between the College and agencies and departments of the federal government as well as federal awards passed through other agencies. Student financial aid includes certain awards to provide financial assistance to students, primarily under the Federal Work-Study, Pell Grant, and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant programs of the Department of Education. The College also receives awards to make loans to eligible students under certain federal student loan programs and federally guaranteed loans are issued to students of the College by the Federal government. These loans are considered for the purposes of determining whether student financial aid is a major or non-major program. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: N/A The College has elected not to use the 10% de minimis indirect cost rate as allowed under the Uniform Guidance.

Finding Details

Finding 2024-002
Finding 2024-002 – 84.425 COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund Federal Agency – U.S. Department of Education Grant Period – Year ended August 31, 2023 Compliance Requirement – C. Cash Management L. Reporting Criteria – A requirement of accepting the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) award is to minimize the time between drawing down funds from G5 and paying obligations. Institutional funds specifically require funds to be drawn and applied to allowable disbursements within three business days and reporting requirements which state that the College must conspicuously post the quarterly reports 10 days following the quarter end on the College’s website. Condition – Due to delays in reconciliations, the College was not able to gather and identify allowable expenditures. Under prior management, the funds were drawn in advance of allowable expenses charged to the grant through June 30, 2023. This therefore also resulted in the quarterly reporting due April 10 and July 10, 2023 to not be completed timely. It was also explained that management was not aware of the required quarterly reporting and therefore the reports were not completed timely and posted on the College’s website. The College was aware of the annual 2023 reporting and completed and submitted that timely. Cause – The College has experienced significant turnover in its Budget and Finance department in 2023 resulting in one individual being primarily responsible for HEERF reconciliations and reporting. Due to other delays in reconciliations, not all allowable expenses were identified within the required draw period. Effect – The College was able to reconcile the books and identify allowable expenses, however, some were incurred in June, beyond the 3 days of the draw and required quarterly reporting was not completed. Recommendation –We recommend that the College enacts policies and procedures to ensure that all accounts in the general ledger are reconciled regularly. This ensure expenses are properly identified and applied to specific grant funding for reimbursement. The College also needs to assign responsibility for required reporting to designated employees and ensure there is a process for transferring that responsibility upon turnover.
Finding 2024-002
Finding 2024-002 – 84.425 COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund Federal Agency – U.S. Department of Education Grant Period – Year ended August 31, 2023 Compliance Requirement – C. Cash Management L. Reporting Criteria – A requirement of accepting the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) award is to minimize the time between drawing down funds from G5 and paying obligations. Institutional funds specifically require funds to be drawn and applied to allowable disbursements within three business days and reporting requirements which state that the College must conspicuously post the quarterly reports 10 days following the quarter end on the College’s website. Condition – Due to delays in reconciliations, the College was not able to gather and identify allowable expenditures. Under prior management, the funds were drawn in advance of allowable expenses charged to the grant through June 30, 2023. This therefore also resulted in the quarterly reporting due April 10 and July 10, 2023 to not be completed timely. It was also explained that management was not aware of the required quarterly reporting and therefore the reports were not completed timely and posted on the College’s website. The College was aware of the annual 2023 reporting and completed and submitted that timely. Cause – The College has experienced significant turnover in its Budget and Finance department in 2023 resulting in one individual being primarily responsible for HEERF reconciliations and reporting. Due to other delays in reconciliations, not all allowable expenses were identified within the required draw period. Effect – The College was able to reconcile the books and identify allowable expenses, however, some were incurred in June, beyond the 3 days of the draw and required quarterly reporting was not completed. Recommendation –We recommend that the College enacts policies and procedures to ensure that all accounts in the general ledger are reconciled regularly. This ensure expenses are properly identified and applied to specific grant funding for reimbursement. The College also needs to assign responsibility for required reporting to designated employees and ensure there is a process for transferring that responsibility upon turnover.