Finding 1172413 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-02-04

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Chabot College failed to return Title IV funds within the required 45-day timeframe for eight out of fifty-seven cases tested.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 34 CFR 668.173(b) regarding timely returns of Title IV funds.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Improve internal controls and establish a regular schedule for Return to Title IV calculations to ensure compliance.

Finding Text

Criteria 34 CFR 668.173(b): Return of Title IV funds are required to be deposited or transferred into the Student Financial Assistance (SFA) account or electronic funds transfer initiated to ED as soon as possible, but no later than 45 days after the date the institution determines that the student withdrew. Returns by check are late if the check is issued more than 45 days after the institution determined the student withdrew, or the date on the cancelled check shows the check was endorsed more than 60 days after the date the institution determined that the student withdrew. Condition Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Noncompliance – During testing of Return to Title IV requirements, we noted eight of the fifty-seven Return to Title IV calculations tested for Chabot College were not returned within the 45 day requirement. Questioned Costs There are no questioned costs associated with the condition identified. Context There were 462 Return to Title IV calculations completed by Chabot College during the year ended June 30, 2025. Effect The District is not in compliance with the time requirements for Return to Title IV funds as described in the criteria above. Cause The District’s internal controls associated with the Return to Title IV procedures were not sufficient to ensure that all required funds were returned to ED within the required time frame. Repeat Finding No. Recommendation The District should implement or modify internal controls to ensure that the Return to Title IV funds are returned within 45 days from the date the District determines the student withdrew from all classes. This could include developing a regular schedule for completing Return to Title IV calculations and initiating returns in a specific timeframe that ensures returns are completed within 45 days.

Corrective Action Plan

Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan The Campus Business and Financial Aid Offices reviewed the untimely return of Title IV (R2T4) funds and implemented a revised process to ensure compliance. Weekly R2T4 reviews: Financial Aid specialists now review all accounts requiring R2T4 calculations each week. Mid-month reconciliation: Added to the existing end-of-month process to expedite fund returns. Weekly coordination meetings: Financial Aid and Business Services staff review pending cases to ensure all returns meet the 45-day federal deadline. Quarterly compliance checks: Other Financial Aid staff monitor adherence and make recommendations for process improvement. The District will review this process each term and adjust procedures as needed to sustain compliance and efficiency.

Categories

Student Financial Aid Significant Deficiency Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1172409 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1172410 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1172411 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1172412 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.575 CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT $3.72M
84.048 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION -- BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $1.13M
84.031 HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONAL AID $1.08M
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $1.02M
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $551,969
84.215 INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO LITERACY; PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS; FULL-SERVICE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS; AND CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING FOR ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION COMMUNITY PROJECTS $488,484
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $449,189
17.285 REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP $435,471
84.335 CHILD CARE ACCESS MEANS PARENTS IN SCHOOL $371,425
84.382 STRENGTHENING MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS $338,306
93.658 FOSTER CARE TITLE IV-E $324,439
84.044 TRIO TALENT SEARCH $279,342
84.042 TRIO STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES $264,527
17.278 WIOA DISLOCATED WORKER FORMULA GRANTS $256,036
17.290 WIOA ADULT, DISLOCATED WORKER AND YOUTH OUTLYING AREAS CONSOLIDATED GRANTS $159,353
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $112,126
81.123 NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (NNSA) MINORITY SERVING INSTITUTIONS (MSI) PROGRAM $109,912
10.561 STATE ADMINISTRATIVE MATCHING GRANTS FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM $94,001
93.558 TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES $67,844
84.116 FUND FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION $65,268
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $44,281
10.558 CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM $37,638
47.076 STEM EDUCATION (FORMERLY EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES) $27,866
14.218 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/ENTITLEMENT GRANTS $14,982
64.117 SURVIVORS AND DEPENDENTS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE $5,374
93.600 HEAD START $1,444