Finding 1174962 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
E
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-02-23
Audit: 388562
Organization: University of St. Francis (IL)
Auditor: SIKICH CPA LLC

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Two students received an incorrect Pell Grant amount due to enrollment status miscalculations.
  • Impacted Requirements: Noncompliance with 34 CFR 690.63 regarding Pell Grant disbursement eligibility.
  • Recommended Follow-up: The University should enhance monitoring of student enrollment statuses to ensure accurate financial aid disbursements.

Finding Text

2025-001: Incorrect Pell Disbursement Amount - Student Financial Aid Cluster Assistance Listing Number 84.007, 84.033, 84.038, 84.063, 84.268, 84.379, 93.264 Grant Period - Year Ended May 31, 2025 Criteria: According to 34 CFR 690.63 students may qualify for a maximum Pell Grant award of $7,395 for an award year. The maximum amount is awarded to students with a zero Student Aid Index (SAI) and full-time enrollment status. Students with less than full-time enrollment or more than a zero SAI are eligible for a reduced Pell award. Statistical sampling was not used when making sample selections. Questioned Costs: $0 Effect: Two students received an incorrect amount of Pell award and were under awarded an amount of $936. Cause: The University’s internal controls did not identify that the incorrect amount of Pell grant was awarded to the students. According to the calculations, the students were under awarded Pell in the amount of $936. Recommendation: We recommend the University closely monitor all student’s enrollment status to ensure all students receive financial aid are disbursed the correct amount. Condition/Context: During our student file testing we noted two students out of forty were not disbursed the correct Pell Grant award. Based on the student’s enrollment status and need, the University under awarded the students by $936. We consider this to be an instance of noncompliance relating to the Eligibility Compliance Requirement. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with this finding and response is included in Corrective Action Plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Incorrect Pell Disbursement Corrective Action Plan: The Financial Aid Services office, in collaboration with IT, has implemented an exception report. This report is received, daily, and designed to identify any students whose Pell Grant awards may not align with their enrollment status or need. The goal is to proactively identify and correct discrepancies before disbursement to ensure accuracy. Responsible Person for Corrective Action Plan: Erika Guzman, Associate Di rector of Financial Aid Services Implementation Date of Corrective Action Plan: 6/23/2025

Categories

Student Financial Aid Eligibility Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1174963 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $10.68M
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $3.49M
21.027 COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $827,500
84.031 HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONAL AID $692,414
93.247 ADVANCED NURSING EDUCATION WORKFORCE GRANT PROGRAM $304,863
84.038 FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN PROGRAM_FEDERAL CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS $270,163
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $187,500
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $187,499
59.059 CONGRESSIONAL GRANTS $117,582
93.264 NURSE FACULTY LOAN PROGRAM (NFLP) $90,536
93.243 SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROJECTS OF REGIONAL AND NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE $73,325
84.379 TEACHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE FOR COLLEGE AND HIGHER EDUCATION GRANTS (TEACH GRANTS) $37,719
47.076 STEM EDUCATION (FORMERLY EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES) $24,270