Criteria According to Chapter 6 of the 2024-2025 Federal Student Aid Handbook: The maximum FSEOG for a full academic year is usually $4,000. However, you may award as much as $4,400 to a student participating in a study-abroad program that is approved for credit by the home school. The minimum FSEOG amount is $100, but you may prorate this amount if the student is enrolled for less than an academic year. Condition The Federal Government has established a maximum award of SEOG of $4,000 for any academic year. Of the 40 students selected for testing, 1 student was awarded $4,120 of SEOG. Cause The College has policies and procedures in place to properly award SEOG to students, however, in this case the procedures were not completed properly causing a student to be over awarded. Effect The student was over awarded SEOG by $120. Questioned Costs $120 Perspective Our sample was not, and was not intended to be, statistically valid. Of the 40 students selected for testing, 1 student, or 2.5% of our sample, had a student over awarded SEOG. Identification as a Repeat Finding, if applicable Not applicable Recommendation We recommend that management of the College review, and if necessary, update the policies and procedures to ensure all SEOG funds disbursed do not exceed the maximum amount allowable. View of Responsible Officials The College agrees with the finding.
Criteria According to 34 CFR 685.309(b)(2): Unless [the institution] it expects to submit its next updated enrollment report to the Secretary within the next 60 days, a school must notify the Secretary within 30 days after the date the school discovers that – (i) A loan under Title IV of the Act was made to or on behalf of a student who was enrolled or accepted for enrollment at the school, and the student has 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; or (ii) A student who is enrolled at the school and who received a loan under Title IV of the Act has changed his or her permanent address. The Dear Colleague Letter GEN-12-6 issued by the U.S. Department of Education (“ED”) on March 30, 2012 states that in addition to student loan borrowers, Enrollment Reporting files will include two additional groups of students: Pell Grant and Perkins Loan recipients. According to 2 CFR Part 200, Appendix XI Compliance Supplement updated April 2018: Under the Pell Grant and loan programs, institutions must complete and return within 15 days the Enrollment Reporting roster file placed in their Student Aid Internet Gateway mailboxes sent by ED via the National Student Loan Data System (“NSLDS”). The institution determines how often it receives the Enrollment Reporting roster file with the default set at a minimum of every 60 days. Once received, the institution must update for changes in student status, report the date the enrollment status was effective, enter the new anticipated completion date, and submit the changes electronically through the batch method or the NSLDS website. Institutions are responsible for timely reporting, whether they report directly or via a third-party servicer. Condition The Federal Government requires the College to report student enrollment status to the National Student Loan Data System (“NSLDS”) correctly. Of the 14 students selected for testing, 2 students had status changes that were not reported to NSLDS within the required timeframe. Cause The College did not have adequate procedures in place to ensure that students with status changes were reported to NSLDS properly and within the required timeframe. Effect The College did not report the student’s status change to NSLDS properly, which may impact the student’s loan grace periods. Questioned Costs Not applicable. Perspective Our sample was not, and was not intended to be, statistically valid. Of the 14 students selected for testing, 2 students, or 14.3% of our sample, had students reported to NSLDS in excess of 60 days with dates ranging from 1 to 2 days late. Identification as a Repeat Finding, if applicable Not applicable Recommendation The College should provide training to employees responsible for processing information for the NSLDS and ensure that they have adequate knowledge in the related rules and regulations. This training should include an explanation of the College’s date of determination of withdrawal, the importance of reporting timely and accurately and the consequences of late and inaccurate reporting. Additionally, submission of additional rosters may reduce the likelihood of the finding in the future. View of Responsible Officials The College agrees with the finding.
Criteria According to 34 CFR 690.83(b) (1) An institution shall report to the Secretary any change for which a student qualifies including any related Payment Data changes by submitting to the Secretary the student’s Payment Data that discloses the basis and result of the change in award for each student. The institution shall submit the student’s Payment Data reporting any to the Secretary by the reporting deadlines published by the Secretary in the Federal Register. (2) An institution shall submit, in accordance with the deadline dates established by the Secretary, through publication in the Federal Register, other reports and information the Secretary requires and shall comply with the procedures the Secretary finds necessary to ensure that the reports are correct. According to the Federal Register (Volume 88, Number 120): An institution must submit Pell Grant, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant, Direct Loan, and TEACH Grant disbursement records to COD, no later than 15 days after making the disbursement or becoming aware of the need to adjust a previously reported disbursement. In accordance with 34 CFR 668.164(a), title IV, Higher Education Act (“HEA”) program funds are disbursed on the date that the institution: (a) Credits those funds to a student’s account in the institution’s general ledger or any subledger of the general ledger; or (b) pays those funds to a student directly. Title IV, HEA program funds are disbursed even if an institution uses its own funds in advance of receiving program funds from the Department. Condition Federal regulations require the College to report to the Federal Government’s Common Origination and Disbursement System (“COD”) disbursements made to students accurately based on date award was credited to student directly. During our testing, we noted 1 student, out of a sample of 40, was not reported accurately to Common Origination System based on disbursement date per College records. Cause The College has policies and procedures in place to report the disbursement records to the Department of Education through the COD are recorded accurately, however, in this case the procedures were not completed properly causing variance between actual disbursement date and disbursement date per COD. Effect The College did not report the correct Pell disbursement date to COD accurately based on College records. Questioned Costs Not applicable Perspective Our sample was not, and was not intended to be, statistically valid. Of the 40 students selected for testing, 1 students, or 2.5% of our sample, had disbursement information not properly recorded. Identification as a Repeat Finding, if applicable Not applicable Recommendation We recommend that management of the College review, and if necessary, update the policies and procedures to ensure all Pell funds disbursed are reported accurately based on when awards were credited to student account. View of Responsible Officials The College agrees with the finding.
Finding number: 2025-005 Federal agency: U.S. Department of Education Programs: Student Financial Assistance Cluster Assistance Listing #: 84.063 Award year: 2025 Criteria Under H.R. 2882, the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 the Pell Grant maximum was $7,395. Under 34 CFR 690.63 and Federal Pell Grant Program Regulations, institutions must calculate Pell awards based on the student’s enrollment status (full-time, three-quarter time, half-time, or less-than-half-time). Condition During our testing of Pell disbursements, we noted 1 student out of a sample of 40 that was eligible for the maximum Pell Grant but received an award for a three-quarter time student. Cause The College has policies and procedures in place to properly award Pell Grants to students, however, in this case the student’s status changed from three quarter-time to full-time late in the semester due to acceptance of an internship. This late status change was not updated in the student’s financial aid award for the Pell Grant. Effect The student was under awarded the Pell Grant by $925. Questioned Costs $925 Perspective Our sample was not, and was not intended to be, statistically valid. Of the 40 students selected for testing, 1 student, or 2.5% of our sample, had a student under awarded the Pell Grant. Identification as a Repeat Finding, if applicable Not applicable Recommendation We recommend that management of the College review, and if necessary, update the policies and procedures to ensure all late semester status changes are properly in Pell financial aid awards. View of Responsible Officials The College agrees with the finding.