Finding 1165224 (2025-003)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2025-12-17
Audit: 375536
Organization: Doane University (NE)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Seven out of 25 students did not receive proper notification regarding their rights to cancel loan disbursements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Notifications must include details on cancellation rights and procedures as per 34 CFR 668.165.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Revise procedures to ensure all required information is included in Title IV fund notifications.

Finding Text

Federal Program - Federal Direct Student Loans Federal Agency - U.S. Department of Education Pass-Through Entity - Not Applicable Assistance Listing Number - 84.268 Federal Award Number - P268K251776 Federal Award Year - June 30, 2025 Criteria: Prior to making a disbursement, the school must notify students of the amount and type of Title IV funds they are expected to receive, and how and when those disbursements will be made (often referred to as an award letter or college financing plan) (34 CFR 668.165(a)(1)). Additionally, when Direct Loans or TEACH funds are being credited to a student’s account, the institution must notify the student, or parent, in writing of (1) the date and amount of the disbursement; (2) the student’s right, or parent’s right, to cancel all or a portion of that loan or loan disbursement and have the loan proceeds returned to the holder of that loan or the TEACH Grant payments returned to ED; and (3) the procedure and time by which the student or parent must notify the institution that he or she wishes to cancel the loan, TEACH Grant, or TEACH Grant disbursement (a minimum of 14 or 30 days depending on confirmation process). The notification requirement for loan funds applies only if the funds are disbursed by EFT payment or master check (34 CFR 668.165). Condition/Context: Of the sample of 25 disbursements in the sample, seven students tested did not receive proper notification of the student's right, or parent's right to cancel any portion of the loans to be distributed. The sample was not a statistically valid sample. Cause: The University's controls surrounding notification of Title IV disbursements did not appropriately ensure the communications sent to students and parents contained all of the required information. Effect: Students were not properly notified of their student’s right, or their parent’s right, to cancel all or a portion of that loan or loan disbursement and have the loan proceeds returned to the holder of that loan payments returned to ED. Questions Costs: Not applicable Recommendation: The University should revise its procedures to ensure that notifications of Title IV fund disbursements contain all the information required by CFR 668.165. Management Response: Management has updated notification processes to ensure appropriate and timely notifications are sent to students.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding 2025-003 Condition Of the sample of 25 disbursements, seven students tested did not receive proper notification of the student's right, or the parent's right to cancel any portion of the loans to be distributed. The sample was not a statistically valid sample. Corrective Action Plan To address this issue, the ERP notification process has been updated to ensure students receive clear and compliant communications regarding Direct Loan disbursements. Name(s) of Contact Person(s) Responsible for Corrective Action: Susan Collins, Director of Financial Aid Completion Date: October 17, 2025 Linda Scholting CFO 10/29/2025 Doc Management Response: Management has updated notification processes to ensure appropriate and timely notifications are sent to students.

Categories

Student Financial Aid Subrecipient Monitoring

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1165222 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1165223 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $8.54M
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $1.90M
84.038 FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN PROGRAM_FEDERAL CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS $433,177
47.076 STEM EDUCATION (FORMERLY EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES) $410,315
84.042 TRIO STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES $334,267
84.379 TEACHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE FOR COLLEGE AND HIGHER EDUCATION GRANTS (TEACH GRANTS) $165,000
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $137,622
93.859 BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND RESEARCH TRAINING $120,964
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $111,402
93.243 SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROJECTS OF REGIONAL AND NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE $108,629
84.031 HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONAL AID $97,780
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $90,138
47.074 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES $86,211
47.041 ENGINEERING $73,842
16.525 GRANTS TO REDUCE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING ON CAMPUS $70,734
47.079 OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING $21,505
84.425 EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND $11,208
15.805 ASSISTANCE TO STATE WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH INSTITUTES $8,373
93.959 BLOCK GRANTS FOR PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE $6,434
45.162 PROMOTION OF THE HUMANITIES TEACHING AND LEARNING RESOURCES AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT $2,812