Finding Text
2024-001 – Student Financial Aid Cluster – (a) Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (b) Federal Work Study Program (c) Federal Perkins Loan Program – Federal Capital Contributions (d) Federal Pell Grant Program (e) Federal Direct Student Loans (f) Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH), Assistance Listing No. (a) 84.007 (b) 84.033 (c) 84.038 (d) 84.063 (e) 84.268 (f) 84.379 – Year Ended June 30, 2024
Criteria: 34 CFR 668.22 (a)(1) states “When a recipient of title IV grant or loan assistance withdraws from an institution during a payment period or period of enrollment in which the recipient began attendance, the institution must determine the amount of title IV grant or loan assistance that the student earned as of the student's withdrawal date in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section.”
34 CFR 668.22 (e)(2) states, “The percentage of title IV grant or loan assistance that has been earned by the student is - (i) Equal to the percentage of the payment period or period of enrollment that the student completed (as determined in accordance with paragraph (f) of this section) as of the student's withdrawal date, if this date occurs on or before - (A) Completion of 60 percent of the payment period or period of enrollment for a program that is measured in credit hours; or…”
34 CFR 668.22(j) notes, “(1) An institution must return the amount of title IV funds for which it is responsible under paragraph (g) of this section as soon as possible but no later than 45 days after the date of the institution's determination that the student withdrew as defined in paragraph (l)(3) of this section. The timeframe for returning funds is further described in § 668.173(b).” 2024-001 – Student Financial Aid Cluster – (a) Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (b) Federal Work Study Program (c) Federal Perkins Loan Program – Federal Capital Contributions (d) Federal Pell Grant Program (e) Federal Direct Student Loans (f) Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH), Assistance Listing No. (a) 84.007 (b) 84.033 (c) 84.038 (d) 84.063 (e) 84.268 (f) 84.379 – Year Ended June 30, 2024 (Continued) Condition: The University did not properly calculate the refunds for withdrawal students for 1 out of the 8 students tested (12.5%) due to using incorrect student status for Pell. We consider this finding to be an instance of noncompliance in relation to Special Tests and Provisions and a repeat of prior year finding 2023-002. Statistical sampling was not used.
Questioned Costs: $302
Cause and Effect: Without proper review of student status, withdrawal students may return the incorrect amount of Title IV aid. The result is the University did not return funds to the Department of Education that should have been returned by the University.
Recommendation: We recommend the University refund $302 to the Department of Education and increase controls over refund calculations.
Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with this Single Audit Finding and response is included in the Corrective Action Plan.