Finding Text
Finding: Item 2024-003 – Reporting: Pell Grant Disbursement Data
Federal Program – Federal Pell Grant
Federal ALN – 84.063
Federal Award Number – P063P188097
Federal Award Year – September 30, 2024
Federal Agency – U.S. Department of Education
Pass-through Entity – Not Applicable
Significant Deficiency
Criteria: In the management and reporting of Pell Grants, institutions are required to submit
Pell Grant origination and disbursement records to the U.S. Department of
Education's Common Origination & Disbursement (COD) system. Institutions
must report student disbursement data within 15 calendar days after making a
disbursement or upon becoming aware of the need to adjust previously reported or
expected disbursement data. The disbursement record must accurately report both
the actual disbursement date and the amount disbursed.
Condition / context: Out of a sample of 27 students who received Federal Pell Grants during the audit
period, nine students did not have the correct disbursement date submitted to the
COD system. The discrepancies in dates submitted and actual dates disbursed
ranged from one to five days.
The sample was not a statistically valid sample but was determined using
Chapter 11 – Audit Sampling Considerations of Uniform Guidance Compliance
Audits of the Audit and Accounting Guide for Government Auditing Standards
and Single Audits.
Cause: Procedures were not in place to verify that the correct disbursement dates were
submitted to the COD system.
Repeat finding: Not a repeat finding.
Effect: Inaccurate disbursement date reporting can impact reconciliation efforts,
potentially leading to compliance issues, administrative inefficiencies, and delays
in financial aid processing.
Recommendation: We recommend that the Financial Aid Coordinator coordinate with the bursar and
add procedures to ensure the accuracy of disbursement date reporting.
View of responsible
officials:
Management's response is reported in "Management's Views and Corrective
Action Plan" at the end of this report.