Finding 1084256 (2024-002)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
E
Questioned Costs
$1
Year
2024
Accepted
2024-11-14
Audit: 328325
Organization: University of Sioux Falls (SD)
Auditor: Eide Bailly LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: A student missed out on $925 in Pell Grant assistance due to a delay in completing their FAFSA, leading to a failure in awarding retroactive disbursement.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 34 CFR 690, which mandates proper eligibility determination for the Federal Pell Grant Program.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should enhance procedures and controls for monitoring retroactive disbursements to prevent future occurrences.

Finding Text

Student Financial Assistance Program Cluster – Department of Education Federal Financial Assistance Listing #84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program P063P222212, P063P232212 Eligibility Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance Criteria: 34 CFR 690 contains requirements that apply to student eligibility over the Federal Pell Grant Program (Pell). Condition: One student was not awarded Pell assistance during the summer term as the student’s FAFSA was not completed at the time the financial aid office was determining award eligibility. The student later completed the FAFSA within the award year and became eligible for a retroactive disbursement of Pell assistance; however, the financial aid office did not provide the student a retroactive disbursement of Pell. Cause: The process of determining retroactive disbursements is a manual process. Effect: One student was under awarded Pell assistance. Questioned Costs: $925 in assistance was not awarded that should have been. Context/Sampling: A non‐statistical sample of 60 of the University’s 1,068 students receiving student financial assistance was selected for testing. The sample resulted in testing approximately $728,081 out of $10,722,159 in federal financial assistance. Repeat Finding from Prior Years: No Recommendation: We recommend that management review procedures and control processes over monitoring of retroactive disbursements. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding.

Categories

Questioned Costs Student Financial Aid Subrecipient Monitoring Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Eligibility Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 507814 2024-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 507815 2024-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 507816 2024-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 507817 2024-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 507818 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 507819 2024-005
    Material Weakness
  • 1084257 2024-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1084258 2024-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1084259 2024-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1084260 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1084261 2024-005
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $7.86M
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $2.01M
84.031 Higher Education_institutional Aid $1.12M
84.038 Federal Perkins Loan Program $474,945
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $166,212
84.379 Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants (teach Grants) $112,217
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $104,500
93.859 Biomedical Research and Research Training $103,378
16.525 Grants to Reduce Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking on Campus $27,498