Finding 1169151 (2025-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-01-15

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: A student was not included in the R2T4 calculation after withdrawing, leading to a compliance gap.
  • Impacted Requirements: The school failed to follow regulations requiring R2T4 calculations for all Title IV aid, regardless of tuition refunds.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement a thorough review process for R2T4 calculations to ensure timely and accurate processing of all student withdrawals.

Finding Text

Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Federal Program Name: Student Financial Aid Cluster Assistance Listing Number: 84.007, 84.033, 84.063, 84.268 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: N/A Pass-Through Agency: N/A Pass-Through Number(s): N/A Award Period: September 1, 2024 – August 31, 2025 Type of Finding: • Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance • Other Matters Criteria or Specific Requirement: The Code of Federal Regulations, 34 CFR 685.309(b) and 34 CFR 682.610(c) states that because a student begins earning Title IV funds on the first day of attendance, even if the student withdraws before a school’s census date, the school must perform an R2T4 calculation using the number of days or the number of scheduled clock hours the student attended class. The school must include in the R2T4 calculation all forms of Title IV aid that were disbursed or that could have been disbursed, even if the student receives a full tuition refund. Condition: We noted that one of the sixty students tested was not calculated for an R2T4 in the current year when they should have been. Questioned Costs: $3,199 Context: The student withdrew from the District mobile app, bypassing required advisor approval. This prevented the R2T4 workflow from recognizing the withdrawal, and the R2T4 calculation was delayed until identified. Cause: The District did not evaluate the student for R2T4. Effect: One of the students were not calculated. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend the District should implement a comprehensive review process for R2T4 calculations and financial aid withdrawal listings to ensure all student withdrawals are accurately identified and processed in a timely manner. Views of Responsible Officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.

Corrective Action Plan

Student Financial Assistance Cluster – Assistance Listing No. Various Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions The exception identified was due to the implementation of the new mobile application which should not have allowed withdrawal functionality to bypass an academic advisor when withdrawing from all courses. Management identified the mobile application withdrawal capability and has already performed targeted reviews of students who withdrew via the app and will continue to capture future app withdrawals and perform R2T4 review and calculations accordingly. Responsible Persons Heidi Granger – Associate Vice Chancellor, Financial Aid Michelle Hill – Director, Technical Support, Financial Aid Amber Aboud – Associate Director, Compliance, Financial Aid Sarah Cuellar – Associate Director, Financial Aid Planned completion date for corrective action plan Completed during audit review - December 2025

Categories

Student Financial Aid Significant Deficiency Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1169144 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169145 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169146 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169147 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169148 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169149 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169150 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $156.94M
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $22.16M
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $3.66M
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $3.23M
84.048 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION -- BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $2.70M
12.006 NATIONAL DEFENSE EDUCATION PROGRAM $1.94M
84.047 TRIO UPWARD BOUND $1.68M
84.425 EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND $1.15M
84.335 CHILD CARE ACCESS MEANS PARENTS IN SCHOOL $925,809
84.042 TRIO STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES $804,875
84.044 TRIO TALENT SEARCH $654,632
81.128 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM (EECBG) $504,320
84.116 FUND FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION $455,901
93.493 CONGRESSIONAL DIRECTIVES $454,198
94.006 AMERICORPS STATE AND NATIONAL 94.006 $402,645
84.066 TRIO EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY CENTERS $203,721
93.558 TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES $79,977
10.223 HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTIONS EDUCATION GRANTS $52,946
43.008 OFFICE OF STEM ENGAGEMENT (OSTEM) $46,500
84.031 HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONAL AID $22,550
17.285 REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP $22,196
47.076 STEM EDUCATION (FORMERLY EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES) $20,320
16.525 GRANTS TO REDUCE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING ON CAMPUS $17,052
47.050 GEOSCIENCES $11,176
93.243 SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROJECTS OF REGIONAL AND NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE $10,729
12.902 INFORMATION SECURITY GRANTS $8,646
19.009 ACADEMIC EXCHANGE PROGRAMS - UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS $7,796
84.002 ADULT EDUCATION - BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $6,004
12.903 GENCYBER GRANTS PROGRAM $1,536