Finding 1175737 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-02-27

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Six out of twelve student refund calculations were incorrect, leading to significant deficiencies in compliance.
  • Impacted Requirements: The institution failed to follow the Return to Title IV refund calculation as mandated by federal regulations.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Credit $692 to the affected students' accounts and enhance controls over refund calculations.

Finding Text

FINDING 2025-001: Incorrect Refund Calculations FEDERAL AGENCY: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PROGRAM NAME: FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM AND FEDERAL DIRECT LOAN PROGRAM Student Financial Aid Cluster For the Year Ended May 31, 2025 Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions (N.) - Return of Title IV Funds Criteria: An institution must use the Return to Title IV refund calculation (34 CFR 668.22). Condition: We tested twelve drop students and found six incorrect refund calculations. We consider this finding to be a significant deficiency. Cause: The condition was caused by not including the proper break days from the students' Return to Title IV calculations. Effect: The result is the Institution returned funds to the Department of Education that should have been retained by the Institution. Question Costs: $692 Statistical sampling was not used when making sample selections. Recommendation: We recommend the Institution credit the appropriate students' accounts $692 and increase controls over the Return to Title IV refund calculation. Views of Responsible Officials: The Institution agrees with the Single Audit Finding and a response is included in the Corrective Action Plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Audit Firm: Sikich Audit Period: For the Year Ended May 31, 2025 Criteria: An institution must use the Return to Title IV refund calculation (34 CFR 668.22) A. Comments on Findings and Recommendations Finding 2025-001 Incorrect R2T4 Refund Calculation Condition: Sikich tested twelve drop students and found six incorrect refund calculations. The condition was caused by not including proper break days from the students' Return to Title IV calculations. B. Actions Taken or Planned Finding 2025-001 Incorrect R2T4 Refund Calculation The R2T4 calculation process has been updated to transition into using the built-in R2T4 calculator in the Jenzabar Financial aid software system. This is to ensure that the scheduled break periods are accounted for when calculating the percentage of payment period completed. We have since discountinued using the COD R2T4 calculator. Financial aid staff have been retrained to proper R2T4 procedures including the correct treatment of institutional break days. A secondary review process has been put in place to ensure accuracy of R2T4 calculations prior to submission and processing. Judson University has credited the appropriate amounts to all affected students to resolve the discrepancies identified in this finding. Sarah Taylor Vice President for Business Affairs

Categories

Student Financial Aid Special Tests & Provisions

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1175736 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $5.82M
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $2.48M
84.038 FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN PROGRAM $235,341
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $142,930
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $55,628