Finding 1176485 (2025-003)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
E
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-03-04
Audit: 390298
Organization: Claflin University (SC)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: A student was under awarded Federal Pell Grant funds due to a software miscalculation.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 34 CFR section 690.75 regarding Pell Grant award calculations.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Review and update processes and software to ensure accurate Pell Grant award computations.

Finding Text

Finding 2025-003-Student Financial Aid Cluster, ALN# 84.063 Compliance Requirement: Eligibility under the Federal Pell Grant Program Criteria: 34 CFR section 690.75 specifies the award calculation for Federal Pell Grant awards. Condition: A student selected for testing was under awarded Federal Pell Grant. Cause: A miscalculation by the Student Financial Aid Department software, PowerFAIDS, in computing Federal Pell Grant awarded to a student by failing to properly account for enrollment status. Effect: The University could be under or over awarding student awards. Context: One out of twenty-three students selected for testing was under awarded Pell Grant funds. Recommendation: The University should review its process and policies related to awarding Federal Pell Grant funds and determine what changes are needed to the PowerFAIDS software to ensure that Federal Pell awards are being computed correctly. Management Response: The University concurs with this finding. Corrective Action Plan: See attached management’s corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

The University acknowledges the Pell Grant under award identified during the audit. University officials have developed the following corrective actions to ensure correct calculation of Pell Grant awards in accordance with 34 CFR §690.75. To correct the underlying problem, Financial Aid staff will work directly with Power FAIDS support to identify the specific cause(s) of the miscalculation of Pell Grant awarding. The University will also enhance staff competency through targeted training on the Pell Grant calculation methodology. All training activities will be documented and maintained in office records as part of the University’s compliance documentation. Additionally, the University will develop and revise internal policies and procedures related to Pell Grants to ensure consistency, accuracy, and adherence to federal regulations. These updated procedures will guide staff in the correct application of Pell rules and system processes. Further, to ensure ongoing compliance, the University will implement monitoring and quality‑assurance measures. These measures will include the conduct of monthly internal audits by an internal reviewer within Financial Aid to ensure Pell award accuracy. Monitoring results will be reviewed by the Director of Financial Aid and reported to the Vice President for Enrollment Management for oversight and accountability. Finally, these officials will ensure that the financial aid software used by the University is properly configured and maintained to address and prevent future awarding issues.

Categories

Student Financial Aid Eligibility

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1176481 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1176482 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1176483 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1176484 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
10.766 COMMUNITY FACILITIES LOANS AND GRANTS $17.84M
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $12.43M
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $8.55M
81.137 MINORITY ECONOMIC IMPACT $6.33M
84.382 STRENGTHENING MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS $953,863
84.031 HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONAL AID $828,159
84.047 TRIO UPWARD BOUND $580,256
81.089 FOSSIL ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT $455,599
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $448,844
93.859 BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND RESEARCH TRAINING $384,796
12.630 BASIC, APPLIED, AND ADVANCED RESEARCH IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING $375,672
47.070 COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING $309,691
84.042 TRIO STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES $279,238
84.116 FUND FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION $267,575
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $265,504
84.120 MINORITY SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING IMPROVEMENT $205,704
11.028 CONNECTING MINORITY COMMUNITIES PILOT PROGRAM $193,811
81.123 NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (NNSA) MINORITY SERVING INSTITUTIONS (MSI) PROGRAM $168,999
84.302 Next Generation Black STEM Teachers (NGBST) $49,707
84.325 SPECIAL EDUCATION - PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT TO IMPROVE SERVICES AND RESULTS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES $47,712
84.184 SCHOOL SAFELY NATIONAL ACTIVITIES $46,585
10.351 RURAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT GRANT $41,950
94.013 AMERICORPS VOLUNTEERS IN SERVICE TO AMERICA 94.013 $41,610
47.084 NSF TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION, AND PARTNERSHIPS $41,529
11.303 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE $27,088
47.083 INTEGRATIVE ACTIVITIES $24,710
81.113 DEFENSE NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION RESEARCH $17,319
93.354 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY RESPONSE: COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE: PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE $14,247
47.076 STEM EDUCATION (FORMERLY EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES) $13,605
84.220 CENTERS FOR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS EDUCATION $8,580
84.379 TEACHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE FOR COLLEGE AND HIGHER EDUCATION GRANTS (TEACH GRANTS) $7,544
10.559 SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN $4,475
84.302 Summer 2023 MGBST Research $1,145
47.075 SOCIAL, BEHAVIORAL, AND ECONOMIC SCIENCES $680