Finding 2025-002; Lehigh acknowledge that in two instances, Title IV credit balances were not refunded within the required 14-day timeframe. The two exceptions identified were isolated in nature and attributable to unique circumstances rather than systemic process failure. In the first instance, the...
Finding 2025-002; Lehigh acknowledge that in two instances, Title IV credit balances were not refunded within the required 14-day timeframe. The two exceptions identified were isolated in nature and attributable to unique circumstances rather than systemic process failure. In the first instance, the student was enrolled in the summer term and their summer Pell Grant was not processed until October. As a result, the Title IV credit balance was created well after the end of the summer payment period, outside of our typical refund monitoring cycle for that term. In the second instance, the credit balance was identified within the 14-day requirement. However, the student had not enrolled in direct deposit through the eBill system. Lehigh contacted the student to obtain payment instructions. When no banking information was provided to Lehigh, a paper check had to be issued, which extended the disbursement timeline beyond the 14-day period. While these situations were atypical, we recognize the importance of ensuring timely disbursement regardless of individual circumstances. To strengthen controls, we continue to prioritize Title IV credit balance refunds over refunds resulting from institutional aid or other funding sources to ensure compliance with federal timelines. Although we continue our institutional practice of holding refunds until after the 10th day of class to account for schedule adjustments and enrollment changes, we will begin generating and reviewing credit balance reports earlier in the cycle to allow sufficient processing time. We will implement automated reporting to identify credit balances that occur after the end of an academic period. These reports will be sent to a shared bursar office email account rather than an individual staff member. This will ensure visibility and actionability even during staff absences, turnover, or non-workdays. Responsibility for monitoring and processing Title IV credit balances will be formally documented. Multiple staff members will be trained in the procedures to ensure appropriate backup coverage during employee absences, leave, or staffing transitions. Management will periodically review refund timelines to confirm adherence to procedures and verify that credit balances are disbursed within regulatory timeframes. We believe these corrective actions address the audit recommendation and will ensure timely and consistent processing of Title IV credit balance disbursements regardless of staffing availability.Name of contact person: Jennifer Mertz is the Assistant Vice Provost of Financial Services and Director of Financial Aid. Completion date: All of the control strengthening mechanisms and documentation will be complete by June 30, 2026.