2025 – 001: Special Testing - NSLDS Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program Title: Student Financial Aid Cluster – Various Assistance Listing Numbers: Various Federal Award Identification Number and Year: Various Pass-Through Agency: N/A Pass-Through Number: N/A Award Period: July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025 Type of Finding: • Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance • Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: The Code of Federal Regulations, 34 CFR 685.309(b), states schools must have some arrangement to report student enrollment data to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) through an enrollment roster file. The school is required to report changes in the student’s enrollment status, the effective date of the status, and an anticipated completion date as well as program enrollment effective date. Changes to a students' status are required to be reported within 30 days of becoming aware of the status change, or with the next scheduled transmission of statuses if the scheduled transmission is within 60 days. Condition: During our testing, we noted 3 out of the 60 students' enrollment effective report to NSLDS did not match the Academy's records. Questioned costs: None Context: During our testing, it was noted the Academy does not have a process in place to ensure timeliness and accuracy of NSLDS reporting. Cause: The Academy did not have a process in place to ensure the effective dates reported matched the Academy’s records. Effect: The enrollment effective date reported to NSLDS is used to determine when the student’s grace period should begin. By not reporting an incorrect effective date, the grace period begin date for the student will be incorrect. In addition, the Academy did not comply with Department of Education (ED) regulations by reporting student enrollment status changes timely. Repeat finding: Yes - see 2024-002 Recommendation: We recommend the Academy reevaluate its procedures and review policies surrounding reporting status changes to NSLDS to put a process in place to ensure the student status changes are being reported timely. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.
2025 – 002: Internal Controls – Common Origination and Disbursement Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program Title: Student Financial Aid Cluster – Various Assistance Listing Numbers: Various Federal Award Identification Number and Year: Various Pass-Through Agency: N/A Pass-Through Number: N/A Award Period: July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025 Type of Finding: • Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance • Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: The 2 CFR Section 200.303 require that nonfederal entities receiving federal awards establish and maintain internal controls designed to reasonably ensure compliance with Federal Statues, regulations, and the term and conditions of the federal awards. Condition: During our testing of Common Origination and Disbursement (COD), we noted there was a review process implemented; however, there was no process in place to retain the review being performed as to provide evidence to ensure the controls are being performed effectively. Questioned costs: None Context: During our testing, it was noted the Academy does not have a process in place to ensure controls are being performed effectively. Cause: The Academy did not have a process in place to ensure controls implemented are being performed effectively. Effect: There is no way to determine who was involved in the process should an error be present. Repeat finding: Yes, see 2024-003 Recommendation: We recommend the Academy reevaluate its procedures and review policies surrounding controls implemented for Title IV Aid. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.
2025 – 003: Eligibility - Pell Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program Title: Student Financial Aid Cluster – Various Assistance Listing Numbers: Various Federal Award Identification Number and Year: Various Pass-Through Agency: N/A Pass-Through Number: N/A Award Period: July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025 Type of Finding: • Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance • Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: The U.S. Department of Education offers financial aid to students under two programs: 1. Pell Grant program which provides grants to eligible students enrolled in eligible undergraduate programs and certain post-baccalaureate teacher certificate programs and 2. FSEOG program which provides grants to eligible undergraduate students with priority given to Pell recipients who have the lowest expected family contributions. Condition: The Pell Grant Program has maximum and minimum Pell grant awards established by statue and should be awarded based on the student's needs. During our testing, we noted that one of 40 students tested was under awarded Pell funds. Questioned costs: $432 Context: During our testing, it was noted the Academy's internal control process was not able to detect the under awarding of the Pell. Cause: The Academy did not have a process in place to ensure students were awarded Pell properly based on their SAI. Effect: The Academy is not in compliance with Department of Education requirements for awarding Pell. Repeat finding: No Recommendation: We recommend the Academy implement a process to ensure student is being properly awarded based on their SAI and enrollment status. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.
Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program Title: Student Financial Aid Cluster – Various Assistance Listing Numbers: Various Federal Award Identification Number and Year: Various Pass-Through Agency: N/A Pass-Through Number: N/A Award Period: July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025 Type of Finding: • Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance • Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: The Code of Federal Regulations, 34 CFR 668.22(h)(4)(ii) states within 30 days of the date of the institution's determination that the student withdrew, an institution must send a notice to any student who owes a title IV, HEA grant overpayment as a result of the student's withdrawal from the institution in order to recover the overpayment in accordance with paragraph (h)(4)(i) of this section. Additionally, The Code of Federal Regulations, 34 CFR 668.22(f)(2)(i), states that scheduled breaks of at least five consecutive days are excluded from the total number of calendar days in a payment period or period of enrollment and the number of calendar days completed in that period. Condition: During our testing of Return of Title IV funds, we noted 3 of the 10 students did not have funds returned to COD within the required 45-day period. Furthermore, we noted 1 of the 10 students tested has used an incorrect percentage attended causing the Academy to incorrectly calculate the return of Title IV funds. Lastly, we noted 1 of the 10 students did not have their return of funds calculated within 45 day period. Questioned costs: $25 Context: During our testing, it was noted the Academy does not have a process in place to ensure timeliness and accuracy of Return of Title IV calculations. Cause: The Academy did not have a process in place to ensure timely return of funds to COD. Additionally, the Academy used the incorrect number of break days thus the students percentage of days attended was miscalculated. Effect: The Academy is not completing accurate R2T4 calculations and following timely return of funds as defined by the regulations. Repeat finding: No Recommendation: We recommend the Academy reevaluate its policies around accurate and timely R2T4 calculations. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.
2025 – 005: Special Testing - Credit Balances Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program Title: Student Financial Aid Cluster – Various Assistance Listing Numbers: Various Federal Award Identification Number and Year: Various Pass-Through Agency: N/A Pass-Through Number: N/A Award Period: July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025 Type of Finding: • Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance • Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: The Code of Federal Regulations, 34 CFR 668.164(h)(1), A title IV, HEA credit balance must be paid directly to the student or parent as soon as possible, but no later than (i) Fourteen (14) days after the balance occurred if the credit balance occurred after the first day of class of a payment period; or (ii) Fourteen (14) days after the first day of class of a payment period if the credit balance occurred on or before the first day of class of that payment period. Condition: During our testing, we noted 3 out of the 5 students tested had credit balances that were not returned to the student or parent within 14 days of the credit balance occurring. Questioned costs: None Context: During our testing, it was noted the Academy does not have a process in place to ensure timeliness of funds being returned to the student based on the regulations set forth by the Department of Education. Cause: The Academy did not have a process in place to ensure the refunds are completed timely. Effect: The Academy is not in compliance with Department of Education requirements that state the credit balance must be returned no later than 14 days. Repeat finding: No Recommendation: We recommend that the Academy implement a process to ensure credit balances are returned timely based on the regulations set forth by the Department of Education. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.