Finding 1179887 (2025-001)

March 11, 2026 The University acknowledges the finding and the recommendation from Baker Tilly regarding improving procedures. Finding: 2025-001 – Special Tests and Provisions – Return of Title IV Funding (R2T4) and Enrollment Reporting: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance Improved Process of Protocol This finding stemmed from 4 (four) departments at the University: College of Science and Health, College of Nursing, Office of the Registrar and Office of Financial Aid. As such, each department’s corrective action plan is listed below. College of Science and Health (COSH) To address this finding, the office of the COSH Dean has implemented a formal attendance-monitoring and escalation process to improve internal controls and ensure timely intervention. The updated process clearly defines responsibilities for faculty, program coordinators, and program leadership. Program Coordinators will review attendance records regularly: before the add/drop deadline, prior to the last day of the withdrawal period, and biweekly afterward to identify students who are not attending or exhibiting patterns of repeated absence. The process also outlines escalation procedures and timelines for student outreach, documentation of communication efforts, and reporting to the Registrar when administrative actions are needed. These procedures help ensure that non-attendance is identified promptly and that appropriate enrollment status adjustments are made in line with institutional policies. The Office of the Dean will oversee compliance with these procedures by conducting regular reviews of attendance records, documenting outreach efforts, and verifying notifications from the Registrar. This corrective measure enhances oversight, promotes prompt intervention for atrisk students, and ensures consistent enforcement of institutional policies on attendance and enrollment status. The action plan will be implemented on March 13th, 2026, and reviewed every semester for quality improvement. *See Corrective Action Plan for included table* Contact Person Responsible for Corrective Action: Dr. Monica G. Ferini, Dean, COSH Anticipated Completion Date: March 13th, 2026 College of Nursing (CON) To address this finding, the office of the CON Dean has implemented the following corrective action plan as follows: • Faculty: consistent check of attendance • Program Coordinator (PC): to run reports before add and drop date to track student activity status, if not active, Program Director (PD) will send notification to Registrar to request to process "drop" from the course • Program Coordinators (PC): Run attendance data tracking every 2 weeks • If student is identified missing >2 classes: PC will notify Faculty then faculty reach out to student (within 2-3d) • If student does not respond to faculty or continues to miss class: Faculty to notify PD (within 3-5d) • If student does not respond to PD or continues to miss class: PD to notify registrar of "withdraw" or dismissal (within 3d) Contact Person Responsible for Corrective Action: Dr. Sheryl Antido, Associate Dean, CON Anticipated Completion Date: March 23rd, 2026 Office of the Registrar Upon receipt of the university administrative or withdrawal form from the college or student, the form is processed in PowerCampus by the Office of the Registrar within five business days. Once the student’s status has been updated from "Enrolled" to "Withdrawn" or "Dismissed," an email notification is sent to the Office of Financial Aid, Student Finance, and the respective academic program. Upon receipt of the notification from the Office of the Registrar that a student’s status has been updated to “Withdrawn” or “Dismissed,” an email notification is sent to the Office of Financial Aid, Student Finance, and the respective academic program as confirmation that the student enrollment status has been updated. Contact Person Responsible for Corrective Action: Raquel Munoz, Registrar Anticipated Completion Date: Current Workflow in Place Office of Financial Aid Upon notification from the Office of the Registrar, The Office of Financial Aid will review the student’s record to determine whether a Return of Title IV (R2T4) calculation is required. If applicable, the Office of Financial Aid will complete the R2T4 calculation and process the return of Title IV funds within the required federal timeframe in accordance with 34 CFR 668.22, ensuring that funds are returned no later than 45 days from the date the institution determines the student withdrew. The Office of Financial Aid maintains an internal tracking process to monitor students who withdraw and to ensure timely completion of R2T4 calculations and reporting requirements. We remain committed to this process and will continue to provide ongoing training throughout the year to ensure compliance and to keep academic departments informed of the procedures. Contact Person Responsible for Corrective Action: Henry Espinoza, Director of Financial Aid Anticipated Completion Date: Current Workflow in Place