Finding 1175411 (2025-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-02-25
Audit: 389123
Organization: Guilford College (NC)
Auditor: BROWN EDWARDS

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Incorrect calculations of Title IV refunds due to not excluding a nine-day break from the semester total.
  • Impacted Requirements: Refund calculations must exclude scheduled breaks of five or more consecutive days as per federal regulations.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement new procedures to ensure accurate Title IV refund calculations moving forward.

Finding Text

2025-002 – Incorrect Calculation of Title IV Refunds (Significant Deficiency) Department of Education, SFA Cluster, Special Tests and Provisions Condition: From a population of 74 students that officially or unofficially withdrew during the term, we tested nine students and noted that four students required refund calculations. From the fall 2024 semester calculations we noted that the College did not deduct Thanksgiving break of nine days, November 23, 2024 through December 1, 2024, from the total days in the semester .Criteria: The total number of calendar days in a payment period or period of enrollment includes all days within the period that a 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 (34 CFR Section 668.22(f)(2)(i)). Cause: Controls to ensure proper calculation of Title IV refunds did not function as related to the condition above. Effect: Calculations were incorrect for the three students tested that officially or unofficially withdrew during the fall 2024 term resulting in an incorrect amount of funds returned to the student and the Department of Education. Repeat Finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend the college implement procedures for accurate preparation and calculation of Title IV refunds. View of Responsible Officials: The College is in agreement with the recommendation to implement procedures for accurate preparation and calculation of Title IV refunds.

Corrective Action Plan

Audit Period: June 30, 2025 The findings from the June 30, 2025 Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs (the “Schedule”) are discussed below. The findings are numbered consistently with the number assigned in the Schedule. FINDINGS AND QUESTIONS COSTS – MAJOR FEDERAL AWARD PROGRAM AUDIT 2025-002 – U.S. Department of Education, SFA Cluster, Special Tests and Provisions - Return of Title IV Refunds (Significant Deficiency) Condition: From a population of 74 students that officially or unofficially withdrew during the term, we tested nine students and noted that four students required refund calculations. From the fall 2024 semester calculations we noted that the College did not deduct Thanksgiving break of nine days, November 23, 2024 through December 1, 2024, from the total days in the semester. Criteria: The total number of calendar days in a payment period or period of enrollment includes all days within the period that a 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 (34 CFR Section 668.22(f)(2)(i)). Cause: Controls to ensure proper calculation of Title IV refunds did not function as related to the condition above. Effect: Calculations were incorrect for the three students tested that officially or unofficially withdrew during the fall 2024 term resulting in an incorrect amount of funds returned to the student and the Department of Education. Repeat Finding from a Prior Year: No Recommendation: We recommend the College implement procedures for accurate preparation and calculation of Title IV refunds. Management Response: The college is in agreement with the recommendation to implement procedures for accurate preparation and calculation of Title IV funds. If the Federal Audit Clearinghouse has questions regarding this plan, please call Danielle Pfaff, Controller, at 1-336-316-2140 or dpfaff@guilford.edu

Categories

Special Tests & Provisions Student Financial Aid Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $6.65M
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $3.28M
84.031 HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONAL AID $305,583
11.020 CLUSTER GRANTS $180,636
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $137,481
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $124,245
84.021 OVERSEAS PROGRAMS - GROUP PROJECTS ABROAD $95,589
16.525 GRANTS TO REDUCE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING ON CAMPUS $83,752
15.945 COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND TRAINING PROGRAMS – RESOURCES OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM $40,949
45.129 PROMOTION OF THE HUMANITIES FEDERAL/STATE PARTNERSHIP $33,133
19.040 PUBLIC DIPLOMACY PROGRAMS $32,926
84.425 EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND $17,523
47.076 STEM EDUCATION (FORMERLY EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES) $4,000