Finding 1166269 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2025-12-23

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Four out of 27 Pell disbursement records were reported late to the COD system, exceeding the 15-day deadline.
  • Impacted Requirements: Noncompliance with 34 CFR 690.83 and Federal Student Aid Handbook guidelines may lead to penalties or additional conditions from the Federal awarding agency.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The Student Financial Aid Office should establish a robust control system to ensure timely reporting of disbursement records.

Finding Text

Criteria: Per 34 CFR 690.83, an institution shall submit, in accordance with deadline dates established by the Secretary, through publication in the Federal Register, other reports and information the Secretary requires and shall comply with the procedures the Secretary finds necessary to ensure that the reports are correct. Per the Federal Student Aid Handbook, schools must submit Pell disbursement records to the Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) system no later than 15 days after making the disbursements or becoming aware of the need to adjust a previously reported disbursement. Condition/context: Of the 27 students selected for Pell reporting testing, four students’ disbursement records were reported to the COD system greater than 15 days after the actual disbursement. Cause: Due to turnover within the Student Financial Aid Director position during the year, the students were not reported timely in the COD system. Effect: If the College fails to comply with the terms and conditions of a Federal award, the Federal awarding agency may impose additional conditions, as described in 2 CFR 200.208, or implement other remedies for noncompliance, as described in 2 CFR 200.339. Additionally, failure to submit disbursement records within the required time frame may result in a rejection of all or part of the reported disbursement, an audit or program review finding, or possible fines or other penalties. Questioned costs: None. Identification as a repeat finding: Yes. See finding 2024-002. Recommendation: The Student Financial Aid Office should develop, implement, and maintain a thorough control system that provides for the timely reporting of disbursement records to the COD system. Views of responsible officials: Management concurs with the finding. See Exhibit I for the corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Western Wyoming Community College experienced an unexpected turnover in the Director position which impacted the timeliness of reporting. Corrective Action A new Director of Financial Aid has been hired and has worked with the Assistant Director of Financial Aid to train on the process of reporting to COD within the 15 day period after disbursing federal aid. • Any available funds are disbursed each Monday throughout the semester, except for when a holiday falls on a Monday. Funds are then disbursed on the next working business day. • The process to export these disbursements to the Department of Education are performed the same day or the following day after the Business office has ran the transmittal process. This process is completed by the Assistant Director or Director of Financial Aid. • Once the process is complete and funds have been exported to the Department of Education through the Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) portal the Assistant Director or Director of Financial will to ensure no reject(s) of the file(s) have occurred. If there are errors/rejects of the file the issue is researched and fixed until accepted by COD. This process will ensure the timely reporting to the Department of Education. Anticipated Completion Date: October 24, 2025 Contact Persons: DeeAnna Archuleta, Director of Financial Aid

Categories

Student Financial Aid Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1166270 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166271 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166272 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1166273 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $2.64M
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $1.57M
84.334 GAINING EARLY AWARENESS AND READINESS FOR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS $635,589
84.048 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION -- BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $253,998
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $247,937
93.859 BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND RESEARCH TRAINING $119,842
47.076 EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES $63,041
84.051 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION -- NATIONAL PROGRAMS $39,966
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $32,535
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $24,001
84.002 ADULT EDUCATION - BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $13,583
11.307 ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE $8,430