Finding 2023-001 - U.S. Department of Education (USD), Title IV Student Financial Aid Programs:
We observed the following conditions in connection with our testing of the various U.S.
Department of Education, Title IV, Student Financial Assistance Programs:
a) Seven (7) out of 25 students had credit...
Finding 2023-001 - U.S. Department of Education (USD), Title IV Student Financial Aid Programs:
We observed the following conditions in connection with our testing of the various U.S.
Department of Education, Title IV, Student Financial Assistance Programs:
a) Seven (7) out of 25 students had credit balances created by Title IV funds that were not
refunded to the student or a Title IV program within the allotted 14 days. All seven (7)
students were later refunded shortly after the allotted 14 days.
b) Two (2) students were not paid Federal Work-study funds according to the total hours worked
and the correct amount paid per hour. Questioned costs were $490. The two (2) students
were subsequently paid the correct amounts.
Corrective Action – We concur with the auditor’s finding. EWU’s student subsidiary ledger has been
fully converted into our newly purchased global ERP system, Colleague, for fiscal year 2024. In the
past, there were several manual processes amongst various departments to ensure the
disbursement of student refunds. Our new system integrates all the student financial information
allowing us to streamline our process for more efficiency. This process digitizes our student refund
disbursements allowing for students to receive eRefunds. In addition, the new system allows for the
Office of Student Accounts to exercise full oversight of the student refund process. Subsequently,
our new system greatly enhances the University’s ability to provide more timely disbursements of
student refunds.
In addition to the newly adopted student refund process, the business office has since updated the
Business and Finance organizational structure to provide an additional oversight over payroll
disbursement to ensure students are receiving timely and accurate disbursements from the Federal
work-study program. The business office reconciles with the financial aid department monthly on
all financial aid awards.