Corrective Action Plan Thursday, February 12, 2026 Harrisburg Area Community College respectfully submits the following corrective action plan for the year ended June 30, 2025. The findings from the June 30, 2025 audit report dated February 13, 2026 schedule of findings and questioned cost are discu...
Corrective Action Plan Thursday, February 12, 2026 Harrisburg Area Community College respectfully submits the following corrective action plan for the year ended June 30, 2025. The findings from the June 30, 2025 audit report dated February 13, 2026 schedule of findings and questioned cost are discussed below. The findings are numbered consistently with the numbers assigned in the schedule. Agency: (Federal Agency per Finding): U.S. Department of Education Audit Period: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025 Name and Address of independent public accounting firm: Smith Elliott Kearns & Company, LLC, Certified Public Accountants & Consultants, 804 Wayne Avenue, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania 17201 Finding Type: (per Finding) Federal Awards: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Noncompliance Internal Control Type: (please choose the type per the finding) Material Weakness(es) o Significant Deficiencies Audit Finding No.: 2025-001 Federal Program: (per Finding) Student Financial Assistance Cluster Compliance Requirement: (per Finding) Return of Title IV Funds Audit Finding Title/Statement of Condition: (copy from audit findings documentation): The College did not comply with federal requirements related to the timely return of Title IV funds. Specifically, the College failed to return aid for four students who never attended within the 30-day period required under 34 CFR 668.21(b). In addition, the College did not return funds for one student who began attendance but subsequently required a refund within the 45-day timeframe mandated under 34 CFR 668.173(b). Auditor Recommendation: (copy from audit findings documentation) The College should strengthen its internal controls and monitoring procedures to ensure compliance with federal return-of-funds requirements. This should include timely verification that calculated refund amounts match what is actually returned, improved review processes to confirm that students who never attended are identified promptly, and training for relevant staff to ensure consistent understanding and execution of federal aid return requirements. Specific steps to be taken to correct the situation [including a timetable for performance of the CAP] or reason why corrective action is not necessary (including disagreement with the finding). The College has made several enhancements that should prevent future problems with the return of funds. 1) In fall 2025, the College instituted a new process for collecting data for attendance/participation of students. This process includes a data collection approximately one week into the part of term (the “Academic Participation Data Collection) – and before the disbursement of Title IV aid. It also includes follow up with faculty at several intervals throughout the semester to encourage them to withdraw students who have stopped attending. This improved process gives us clearer and more transparent data on attendance/participation so that aid recalculations and returns can be managed in a more timely manner 2) As of January 2025, the College has implemented a process to prevent the disbursement of Title IV (TIV) aid to students who are not enrolled in a future semester or are not considered actively attending. For example, if a student attended the Fall semester but is not enrolled for the Spring semester, Title IV funds cannot be disbursed if the aid was not originated before the student became ineligible. This process applies in both directions, as disbursement includes both paying funds to a student’s account and reversing funds when appropriate. Accordingly, the Previous Semester Fund Request process is designed to ensure that Title IV funds are either paid or reversed in compliance with federal requirements. 3) The Financial Aid team will continue processing returns at the time that an R2T4 occurs to prevent miscommunications and ensure timely completion. 4) The Financial Aid team and Finance teams will collaborate and engage Bank Mobile to improve the processing of stale checks and timed out funds. Anticipated Completion Date: May 1, 2026 Name(s) and Title(s) of contact person(s) responsible for correction action: Tim Barshinger, Associate Vice-president of Student Enrollment Services Juan Cordoba, Financial Aid Director