Finding 1177926 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-03-11
Audit: 391284
Organization: Rend Lake College District #521 (IL)
Auditor: SIKICH CPA LLC

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The College failed to return Title IV Financial Aid for two students within the required 45 days after their withdrawal.
  • Impacted Requirements: This is a violation of 34 CFR 668.22 regarding timely calculation and return of Title IV funds.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Assign specific responsibilities to ensure accurate and timely calculations and returns of Title IV funds.

Finding Text

2025-001: Late Return of Title IV Financial Aid - Student Financial Aid Cluster - Assistance Listing #s 84.007, 84.033, 84.063 - Grant Period - Year Ended June 30, 2025 Criteria: According to 34 CFR 668.22 when a recipient of Title IV grant or loan assistance withdraws from a College during a payment period or period of enrollment in which the recipient began attendance, the College must determine the amount of Title IV grant or loan assistance that the student earned as of the student’s withdrawal date. Condition/Context: During our Return of Title IV Fund testing, we noted that the College did not calculate or return Title IV Student Financial Aid for two out of twenty-five students tested until after 45 days when the student ceased attendance. We consider the untimely calculation and Return of Title IV Student Financial Aid to be an instance of noncompliance relating to the Special Tests and Provisions Compliance Requirement. This is a partial repeat finding of prior year finding 2024-001. Statistical sampling was not used when making sample selections. Questioned Costs: $0 Effect: The College did not calculate or return unearned Title IV Financial Aid to the U.S. Department of Education within 45 days of when the students were determined to cease their attendance at the College. Cause: The College’s internal controls did not identify the fact that a corrected return of Title IV amount occurred for two students within the required 45 days. Recommendation: We recommend the College assign specific responsibilities to review students return of Title IV calculation to verify the correct amount is calculated and returned in a timely manner. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with this finding and response is included in Corrective Action Plan.

Corrective Action Plan

2025-001: Late Return of Title IV Financial Aid - Student Financial Aid Cluster - Assistance Listing #s 84.007, 84.033, 84.063- Grant Period - Year Ended June 30, 2025 Condition Found During our Return of Title IV Fund testing, we noted that the College did not calculate or return Title IV Student Financial Aid for two out of twenty-five students tested until after 45 days when the student ceased attendance. We consider the untimely calculation and Return of Title IV Student Financial Aid to be an instance of noncompliance relating to the Special Tests and Provisions Compliance Requirement. This is a repeat finding of prior year finding 2024-001. Corrective Action Plan In the first instance, the Return to Title IV (R2T4) calculation was completed timely; however, the associated disbursement was not processed within the required timeframe. Going forward, Title IV aid disbursements related to R2T4 calculations will be processed manually at the time the calculation is completed. The institution will no longer wait for regularly scheduled system disbursement dates in these circumstances. In the second instance, the student withdrew from the 8-week-1 courses but remained registered for the 8- week-2 courses; therefore, an R2T4 calculation was not initially completed. The student ultimately did not begin attendance in the 8-week-2 courses, and the 45-day timeframe elapsed. To prevent future occurrences, RLC will complete an R2T4 calculation at the time of withdrawal from the 8-week-1 courses and will reverse the calculation if the student subsequently attends the 8-week-2 courses. Responsible Person for Corrective Action Plan - ReAnne May, Director of Financial Aid Implementation Date of Corrective Action Plan - January 16, 2026

Categories

Special Tests & Provisions Student Financial Aid Reporting Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1177923 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1177924 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1177925 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
11.307 COVID-19 ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE $1.87M
93.596 CHILD CARE MANDATORY AND MATCHING FUNDS OF THE CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT FUND $1.02M
84.031 HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONAL AID $504,719
84.042 TRIO STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES $355,624
94.006 AMERICORPS STATE AND NATIONAL 94.006 $349,773
84.047 TRIO UPWARD BOUND $310,280
17.261 WORKFORCE DATA QUALITY INITIATIVE (WDQI) $105,980
84.002 ADULT EDUCATION - BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $99,971
17.278 WIA DISLOCATED WORKERS $81,412
90.201 DELTA AREA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT $78,650
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $74,782
21.019 COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND $59,000
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $55,605
64.117 SURVIVORS AND DEPENDENTS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE $52,060
10.311 BEGINNING FARMER AND RANCHER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM $51,470
84.048 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION -- BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $49,755
84.335 CHILD CARE ACCESS MEANS PARENTS IN SCHOOL $29,456
10.558 CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM $23,804
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $4,185