Finding 1115491 (2024-002)

Finding 2024-002 Federal Program: Student Financial Assistance Cluster Listing Number: 84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans Program 84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program Federal Agency: Department of Education Award Year: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024 Criteria: As part of the provisions of 34 CFR 668.51 through 668.61 for verifying applicant information, an institution is required to obtain acceptable documentation to verify the information required for the Verification Tracking Group to which the applicant is assigned and match information on the documentation to the student aid application. If verification reveals that the student information does not match, the institution must submit corrections to the FAFSA. Corrections and updates can be submitted by the student on the web or by the institution using the FSA Access to Central Processing System Online or the Electronic Data Exchange. Condition and Context: Of the 40 students selected for verification test work, one student’s information required for the appropriate Verification Tracking Group was not completed and six students had inconsistencies for which corrections were not submitted. Of these students, only two students verified would have resulted in a change in amounts awarded, totaling $4,116. Possible Cause and Effect: The University’s internal control process failed in that verification was not properly completed. Isolated or Systemic: Systemic. Questioned Costs: Students whose verification was not completed or corrected resulted in $4,116 of questioned costs related to Pell Grant and Federal Direct Loan disbursements. Whether the sampling was a The sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid statistically valid sample: sample. Repeat Finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend that the University enhance its internal controls to ensure all required information is complete and corrections have been submitted if necessary prior to completing the verification.