Finding Text
Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education; Office of Federal Student Aid Pass through Entity: Not applicable Program Name: Federal Pell Grant Program ALN and Program Expenditures: 84.063 ($509,088) Award Number: P063P243315 Federal Award Year: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 Questioned Costs: $1,849 Condition Found: The amount of Pell grant awarded was calculated incorrectly for one of the eleven students who received Pell grant funds in our sample. The student received $1,849 of Federal Pell Grant funds that the student was ineligible to receive. Criteria: Federal Pell Grant eligibility is determined by the student’s aid index (“SAI”) and enrollment status. Cause: The student’s expected enrollment status was not the same as the actual enrollment status. The student was awarded aid based on a full-time enrollment status while the student was only enrolled half-time. Possible Asserted Effect: The student received $1,849 of Federal Pell Grant funds that the student was ineligible to receive. Repeat Finding: There was not a similar finding for the year ended June 30, 2024. Statistical Sampling: The sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. Recommendation: The Student Financial Aid Director should return the $1,849 of Federal Pell Grant funds to the Department of Education. Procedures should be improved to ensure the student’s enrollment status is verified before disbursing aid. Management Response: The Student Financial Aid Director is working with the third-party administrator to the return $1,849 to the Department of Education. The Student Financial Aid Director and third-party administrator will work together to verify a student’s enrollment status before disbursing aid.