Finding 1169350 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
E
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-01-16
Audit: 382279
Organization: Wayland Baptist University (TX)
Auditor: CAPINCROUSE LLC

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The University lacks the necessary administrative capability to comply with Title IV regulations for financial aid.
  • Impacted Requirements: Noncompliance with multiple Title IV regulations due to staffing limitations and outdated financial aid systems.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement system adjustments for automated packaging and enhance monitoring to ensure compliance with regulatory changes.

Finding Text

Lack of Administrative Capability Material Weakness DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ALN #: 84.268, 84.063, 84.007, and 84.033 (Student Financial Assistance Cluster) Federal Award Identification #: 2024-2025 Financial Aid Year Condition: The administrative capability is currently below the required level for maintaining compliance with Title IV regulations. Criteria: 34 CFR 668.16 Questioned Costs: $0 Context: In the current year, we found several areas of noncompliance and three repeated findings with the Department of Education regulations. This is due to limitations within the financial aid system, the current level of staffing for financial aid, the complexity of administering financial aid for the various educational programs with significant FAFSA and regulation changes, the communication required between departments for appropriate administering of financial aid, and the number of enrolled students receiving financial aid. Cause: The financial aid department continues to adjust staffing and respond to changes in legislation. The financial aid department continues to train new staff. The system used for student financial aid and enrollment reporting has limitations related to regulation changes. Effect: Noncompliance with a number of Title IV regulations. Identification as repeat finding, if applicable: Not applicable Recommendation: We recommend the University adjust the financial aid system to allow for more automated packaging and adjust the double checking rules to flag the administrator if packaging may need to be adjusted after changed have occurred. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action: Management agrees with the finding. See corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Lack of Administrative Capability Planned Corrective Action: The Office of Financial Aid and Wayland Baptist University agree with this finding. To address the system limitations identified, the University has acquired a new Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) financial aid management system. This system will replace the current platform and is intended to improve automation, reporting accuracy, workflow tracking, and overall compliance with federal and state financial aid requirements. In addition, the Office of Financial Aid is actively reevaluating workload distribution and staff assignments to ensure responsibilities are appropriately aligned with compliance-critical functions. The University is also increasing staffing levels within the Office of Financial Aid to strengthen oversight, reduce processing risk, and ensure timely and accurate completion of compliance and reporting obligations. Collectively, these actions are designed to enhance administrative capacity, strengthen internal controls, and mitigate the risk of future compliance deficiencies. Person Responsible for Corrective Action Plan: Executive Director of Financial Aid, Robert Hamilton, and Assistant Director of Compliance & Reporting, Brooke Tyler Anticipated Date of Completion: June 30, 2026

Categories

Student Financial Aid Material Weakness Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1169339 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169340 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169341 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169342 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169343 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169344 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169345 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169346 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169347 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169348 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169349 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $15.52M
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $7.03M
84.031 HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONAL AID $639,577
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $222,842
84.116 FUND FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION $189,776
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $171,842
47.076 STEM EDUCATION (FORMERLY EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES) $138,122
84.021 OVERSEAS PROGRAMS - GROUP PROJECTS ABROAD $58,948
16.525 GRANTS TO REDUCE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING ON CAMPUS $57,851