Audit 7877

FY End
2023-04-30
Total Expended
$9.94M
Findings
6
Programs
14
Organization: Simpson University (CO)
Year: 2023 Accepted: 2023-12-20
Auditor: Capincrouse LLP

Organization Exclusion Status:

Checking exclusion status...

Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
5784 2023-002 Significant Deficiency - E
5785 2023-003 Significant Deficiency - G
5786 2023-004 - - E
582226 2023-002 Significant Deficiency - E
582227 2023-003 Significant Deficiency - G
582228 2023-004 - - E

Programs

ALN Program Spent Major Findings
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $5.43M Yes 1
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $1.71M Yes 1
84.334 Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs $604,180 Yes 1
84.042 Trio_student Support Services $326,830 - 0
97.008 Non-Profit Security Program $285,174 - 0
84.047 Trio_upward Bound - Mount Shasta $167,326 - 0
84.047 Trio_upward Bound - Dunsmuir $164,269 - 0
84.047 Trio_upward Bound - Anderson $130,768 - 0
84.038 Federal Perkins Loan Program $124,716 Yes 0
84.047 Trio_upward Bound - West Valley $113,080 - 0
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $95,768 Yes 0
84.047 Trio_upward Bound - Shs $90,876 - 0
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $89,558 Yes 0
84.425 Covid-19 Education Stabilization Fund Heerf - Student Aid Portion $57,827 - 0

Contacts

Name Title Type
DKLXHQNHDBH4 Michelle Butcher Auditee
5302264933 Christopher Gordon, CPA Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Title: RELATIONSHIP TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Accounting Policies: The accompanying schedule of expenditures of federal awards (the schedule) includes the federal grant activity of Simpson University under programs of the federal government for the year ending April 30, 2023. The information in the schedule is presented in accordance with the requirements of the Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance). Therefore, some amounts presented in the schedule may differ from amounts presented in, or used in the preparation of, the basic financial statements. Expenditures in 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. Negative amounts shown on the schedule represent adjustments or credits made in the normal course of business to amounts reported as expenditures in prior years. If Simpson University is required to match certain federal assistance, as defined by the grant agreements, no such matching has been included as expenditures in the schedule. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The auditee did not use the de minimis cost rate See the Notes to the SEFA for chart/table
Title: SUBRECIPIENTS, NON-CASH ASSISTANCE, FEDERAL INSURANCE, LOANS, AND LOAN GUARANTEES Accounting Policies: The accompanying schedule of expenditures of federal awards (the schedule) includes the federal grant activity of Simpson University under programs of the federal government for the year ending April 30, 2023. The information in the schedule is presented in accordance with the requirements of the Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance). Therefore, some amounts presented in the schedule may differ from amounts presented in, or used in the preparation of, the basic financial statements. Expenditures in 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. Negative amounts shown on the schedule represent adjustments or credits made in the normal course of business to amounts reported as expenditures in prior years. If Simpson University is required to match certain federal assistance, as defined by the grant agreements, no such matching has been included as expenditures in the schedule. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The auditee did not use the de minimis cost rate Simpson University did not provide any federal funds to subrecipients nor did they receive any federal non-cash assistance, insurance, loans, or loan guarantees.
Title: FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN PROGRAM Accounting Policies: The accompanying schedule of expenditures of federal awards (the schedule) includes the federal grant activity of Simpson University under programs of the federal government for the year ending April 30, 2023. The information in the schedule is presented in accordance with the requirements of the Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance). Therefore, some amounts presented in the schedule may differ from amounts presented in, or used in the preparation of, the basic financial statements. Expenditures in 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. Negative amounts shown on the schedule represent adjustments or credits made in the normal course of business to amounts reported as expenditures in prior years. If Simpson University is required to match certain federal assistance, as defined by the grant agreements, no such matching has been included as expenditures in the schedule. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The auditee did not use the de minimis cost rate See the Notes to the SEFA for chart/table
Title: ZONE ALTERNATIVE Accounting Policies: The accompanying schedule of expenditures of federal awards (the schedule) includes the federal grant activity of Simpson University under programs of the federal government for the year ending April 30, 2023. The information in the schedule is presented in accordance with the requirements of the Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance). Therefore, some amounts presented in the schedule may differ from amounts presented in, or used in the preparation of, the basic financial statements. Expenditures in 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. Negative amounts shown on the schedule represent adjustments or credits made in the normal course of business to amounts reported as expenditures in prior years. If Simpson University is required to match certain federal assistance, as defined by the grant agreements, no such matching has been included as expenditures in the schedule. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The auditee did not use the de minimis cost rate Simpson University is operating under the Provisional Certification Alternative for failure to meet the Department of Education’s standards of financial responsibility. Simpson University must comply with all the requirements specified for the Provisional Certification Alternative including the Zone Alternative. As part of the audit procedures, Simpson University’s compliance with the Zone Alternative including their administration of the heightened cash monitoring payment method, disbursing aid and paying out credit balances before requesting reimbursement and notification requirements was tested. No non-compliance with the requirements was noted. Simpson University was removed from heightened cash monitoring in November 2023.

Finding Details

Need Analysis Significant Deficiency DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ALN #: 84.268 Federal Award Identification #: 2022-2023 Award Year Condition: Errors in need analysis for federal financial aid let to inaccurate awarding and disbursing need based federal financial aid. Criteria: 34 CFR 685.200 and 34 CFR 685.203 Questioned Costs: $0 Context: Out of 60 students tested, one was under awarded subsidized Federal Direct Loans by $3,500 and three students were over awarded subsidized Federal Direct Loans totaling $6,260. Cause: Turnover in staffing and inexperience of new Financial Aid staff. For one student, the University followed the student request to award the unsubsidized loan and reject the subsidized loan. However, per Federal regulations, the school must always award the maximum subsidized loan before awarding any Unsubsidized loan funds. Three students were awarded over need and should have been awarded the loans as unsubsidized. Effect: Incorrect allocation of subsidized versus unsubsidized which affects the amount and timing of interest the student must repay. Identification as repeat finding, if applicable: N/A Recommendation: We recommend that the University set up reports in the student information system to periodically check for over or under awarding of need based federal aid. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action: Management agrees with the finding. See corrective action plan.
GEAR UP Program In-Kind Match Significant Deficiency DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ALN #: 84.334A Federal Award Identification #: P334A170060 Condition: The University did not always have supporting documentation for the in-kind match or accurate reporting of the in-kind match for the GEAR UP federal program. Criteria: 2 CFR 200.306 Questioned Costs: $0 Context: Out of 23 GEAR UP in-kind match items tested, supporting documentation was not located for one item and for another item, the support provided did not agree to the amount reported to Department of Education. Cause: Turnover in GEAR UP staffing. Effect: Record retention issue and inaccurate reporting of match. Identification as repeat finding, if applicable: N/A Recommendation: We recommend that the University keep their documents in a central location and verify in-kind match reported annually against supporting documentation. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action: Management agrees with the finding. See corrective action plan.
Incorrect Pell Calculations DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ALN #: 84.063 Federal Award Identification #: 2022-2023 Award Year Condition: 2 students out of 28 were not properly awarded Pell based on the updated Pell tables. Criteria: 34 CFR 690.63 Questioned Costs: $0 Context: Two students were under awarded $600 of Pell Grant due to the client's system not updating Pell based in the updated Pell tables when they were released by the Department of Education. Cause: The system and Financial Aid staff did not update all Pell grants when new Pell tables were implemented. Effect: There was an incorrect amount of Pell Grant paid to these two students. Identification as repeat finding, if applicable: N/A Recommendation: We recommend a process be used to adjust Pell when updated Pell tables are released. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action: Management agrees with the finding. See corrective action plan.
Need Analysis Significant Deficiency DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ALN #: 84.268 Federal Award Identification #: 2022-2023 Award Year Condition: Errors in need analysis for federal financial aid let to inaccurate awarding and disbursing need based federal financial aid. Criteria: 34 CFR 685.200 and 34 CFR 685.203 Questioned Costs: $0 Context: Out of 60 students tested, one was under awarded subsidized Federal Direct Loans by $3,500 and three students were over awarded subsidized Federal Direct Loans totaling $6,260. Cause: Turnover in staffing and inexperience of new Financial Aid staff. For one student, the University followed the student request to award the unsubsidized loan and reject the subsidized loan. However, per Federal regulations, the school must always award the maximum subsidized loan before awarding any Unsubsidized loan funds. Three students were awarded over need and should have been awarded the loans as unsubsidized. Effect: Incorrect allocation of subsidized versus unsubsidized which affects the amount and timing of interest the student must repay. Identification as repeat finding, if applicable: N/A Recommendation: We recommend that the University set up reports in the student information system to periodically check for over or under awarding of need based federal aid. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action: Management agrees with the finding. See corrective action plan.
GEAR UP Program In-Kind Match Significant Deficiency DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ALN #: 84.334A Federal Award Identification #: P334A170060 Condition: The University did not always have supporting documentation for the in-kind match or accurate reporting of the in-kind match for the GEAR UP federal program. Criteria: 2 CFR 200.306 Questioned Costs: $0 Context: Out of 23 GEAR UP in-kind match items tested, supporting documentation was not located for one item and for another item, the support provided did not agree to the amount reported to Department of Education. Cause: Turnover in GEAR UP staffing. Effect: Record retention issue and inaccurate reporting of match. Identification as repeat finding, if applicable: N/A Recommendation: We recommend that the University keep their documents in a central location and verify in-kind match reported annually against supporting documentation. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action: Management agrees with the finding. See corrective action plan.
Incorrect Pell Calculations DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ALN #: 84.063 Federal Award Identification #: 2022-2023 Award Year Condition: 2 students out of 28 were not properly awarded Pell based on the updated Pell tables. Criteria: 34 CFR 690.63 Questioned Costs: $0 Context: Two students were under awarded $600 of Pell Grant due to the client's system not updating Pell based in the updated Pell tables when they were released by the Department of Education. Cause: The system and Financial Aid staff did not update all Pell grants when new Pell tables were implemented. Effect: There was an incorrect amount of Pell Grant paid to these two students. Identification as repeat finding, if applicable: N/A Recommendation: We recommend a process be used to adjust Pell when updated Pell tables are released. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action: Management agrees with the finding. See corrective action plan.