Finding Text
Criteria: The College's controls over student eligibility for the TRIO programs include the following: 1. Students and parents/guardians must complete and sign an application. 2. Applications are reviewed by program staff to determine whether a student meets the proper requirements to participate in the program. Condition: Out of 3 Upward Bound Program applications tested, one was not signed by the student. One out of 11 Student Support Services applications tested was not signed by the Director and one was not signed by a staff member. Context: A similar finding was reported as 2023-003. Effect: Ineffective controls over participant eligibility can result in ineligible participation in the federal programs. Cause: The finding appears to be the result of oversight. Recommendation: The College should strengthen controls over the review of and maintenance of applications. Management's Response: To ensure alignment with these procedures, we will reinforce the following corrective steps within our TRIO Student Support Services processes. Application Completion: Program staff will verify that both student and parent/guardian signatures are present on all applications before they are processed. Any incomplete applications will be returned for completion prior to review. Eligibility Review: We will continue to review applications thoroughly to confirm students meet the required eligibility criteria, documenting the review process to maintain clear records of eligibility determinations. Additionally, we will implement periodic file audits to ensure ongoing compliance with these controls and address any discrepancies promptly.