Finding 1164652 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2025-12-12

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The College failed to return Title IV Financial Aid for one student within the required 45 days after withdrawal, indicating a compliance lapse.
  • Impacted Requirements: This finding violates 34 CFR 668.22 regarding timely calculation and return of Title IV funds, marking a repeat issue from the previous year.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Assign specific responsibilities for reviewing Title IV calculations to ensure timely and accurate returns moving forward.

Finding Text

2025-001: Late Return of Title IV Financial Aid - Student Financial Aid Cluster – Assistance Listing #s 84.007, 84.033, 84.063, 84.268 - Grant Period - Year Ended June 30, 2025 Criteria: According to 34 CFR 668.22 when a recipient of Title IV grant or loan assistance withdraws from a College during a payment period or period of enrollment in which the recipient began attendance, the College must determine the amount of Title IV grant or loan assistance that the student earned as of the student's withdrawal date. Condition/Context: During our Return of Title IV Fund testing, we noted that the College did not calculate or return Title IV Student Financial Aid for one out of twentyfive students tested until after 45 days when the student ceased attendance. We consider the untimely calculation and Return of Title IV Student Financial Aid to be an instance of noncompliance relating to the Special Tests and Provisions Compliance Requirement. This is a repeat finding of prior year finding 2024-001. Statistical sampling was not used when making sample selections. Questioned Costs: $0 Effect: The College did not calculate or return unearned Title IV Financial Aid to the U.S. Department of Education within 45 days of when the student was determined to cease their attendance at the College. Cause: The College’s internal controls did not identify the fact that a corrected return of Title IV amount occurred for one student within the required 45 days. Recommendation: We recommend the College assign specific responsibilities to review students return of Title IV calculation to verify the correct amount is calculated and returned in a timely manner. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with this finding and response is included in Corrective Action Plan.

Corrective Action Plan

2025-001: Late Return of Title IV Financial Aid - Student Financial Aid Cluster - Assistance Listing #s 84.007, 84.033, 84.063, 84.268 - Grant Period - Year Ended June 30, 2025 Condition Found During our Return of Title IV Fund testing, we noted that the College did not calculate or return Title IV Student Financial Aid for one out of twenty-five students tested until after 45 days when the student ceased attendance. We consider the untimely calculation and Return of Title IV Student Financial Aid to be an instance of noncompliance relating to the Special Tests and Provisions Compliance Requirement. This is a repeat finding of prior year finding 2024-001. Corrective Action Plan We have done two things to help us process R2T4s within the required timeframe. First, we added a column to our initial withdrawal report that calculates when the 30-day limit will be for each student. This helps keep us on track for the 30-day deadline for when we must perfom the R2T4 calculation. This report was implemented in June 2025. Secondly, we created a new report called the ROF Transmittal Report. This weekly report shows us all students that have had an R2T4 done in Colleague for the current semester and it compares their awarded amount to their transmitted amount. This helps us identify students whose aid has not been disbursed within a week of the R2T4 calculation being performed. This report also promotes transparency and communication between the Financial Aid office and the Accounting Office in our respective parts of the R2T4 process. This report was implemented in February 2025. Responsible Person for Corrective Action Plan Kendra Souligne Implementation Date of Corrective Action Plan June 2025

Categories

Special Tests & Provisions Student Financial Aid Reporting Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1164649 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1164650 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1164651 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $5.26M
17.258 WIA ADULT PROGRAM $859,913
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $742,559
84.047 TRIO_UPWARD BOUND $464,371
84.044 TRIO_TALENT SEARCH $397,704
17.259 WIA YOUTH ACTIVITIES $376,370
84.042 TRIO_STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES $312,780
84.048 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION -- BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $304,517
17.278 WIA DISLOCATED WORKER FORMULA GRANTS $242,363
84.002 ADULT EDUCATION - BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $138,320
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $97,590
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $52,531
20.205 HIGHWAY PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION $19,183
17.245 TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE $5,207