Finding 1175284 (2025-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-02-25
Audit: 389014
Organization: Hilbert College (NY)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The College failed to accurately calculate the return of Title IV funds due to errors in scheduled breaks and rounding percentages.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 34 CFR 668.22(f)(2) regarding the calculation of payment periods and proper rounding to three decimal places.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Review and update policies on student withdrawals and ensure accurate calculations to prevent future errors in fund returns.

Finding Text

2025–002 Return of Title IV Funds Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Federal Program Name: Student Financial Aid Cluster Assistance Listing Number: 84.063, 84.268, 84.007, 84.038, 84.033 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: P268K251853, P063P241853; 2025 Award Period: June 1, 2024 – May 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 668.22(f)(2), states that: 1) The total number of calendar days in a payment period or period of enrollment includes all days within the period that the student was scheduled to complete, except that scheduled breaks of at least five consecutive days are excluded from the total number of calendar days in a payment period or period of enrollment and the number of calendar days completed in that period. 2) Per the Return of Title IV Funds Worksheet, when calculating percentages, Institutions should round to three decimal places in order to properly calculate the refund. Condition/Context: During our testing of return of Title IV funds, the following was noted:  1 student out of a sample of 8 students tested had the incorrect number of scheduled breaks used in the calculation of percentage of the payment period which resulted in the College over returning funds of $38.  2 students out of a sample of 8 students tested had the incorrect percentage earned used in the R2T4 worksheet, as the College did not round to three decimal places. This resulted in the College under returning funds of $33. Questioned costs: $5 Cause: The College's internal controls did not identify the errors for compliance with the criteria mentioned above. Effect: The College did not comply with accurately calculating the return of Title IV funds for these students. Repeat Finding: No. Recommendation: The College should review its policies and procedures on determining student's withdrawals, specifically the proper calculation elements and proper rounding where necessary to ensure timely and accurate return of Title IV funds. Views of responsible officials: Please refer to the attached corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Student Financial Assistance Cluster – Federal Assistance Listing No. 84.063, 84.268, 84.007, 84.038, 84.033 Recommendation: The College should review its policies and procedures on determining student's withdrawals, specifically the proper calculation elements and proper rounding were necessary to ensure timely and accurate returns of Title IV funds. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: 1) Break days of 5 consecutive days or more were incorrectly added to PowerFaids during setup. The College has reviewed and updated its policies and procedures to show that both the Director of Financial Aid and the Bursar will review the number of days to be entered into PowerFaids to ensure that prior and post-weekend days are included in the scheduled break when applicable. 2) In manually calculating the Return of Title IV Funds, the adding machine was inadvertently not set to round to three decimal places as required. The Bursar is responsible for calculating Return of Title IV funds and will ensure that any manual calculations are rounded to three decimal places as required. Policies and procedures have been updated to reflect the requirements of this critical step. Name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action: Julie Lanski, Director Student Financial Services/Bursar Planned completion date for corrective action plan: May 31, 2026

Categories

Student Financial Aid Significant Deficiency Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1175275 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175276 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175277 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175278 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175279 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175280 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175281 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175282 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175283 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175285 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175286 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175287 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175288 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175289 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175290 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175291 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175292 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175293 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175294 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175295 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175296 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175297 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175298 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175299 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175300 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175301 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175302 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175303 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175304 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175305 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $7.57M
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $3.41M
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $71,019
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $67,144
84.038 FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN PROGRAM_FEDERAL CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS $22,266