Finding 1179925 (2025-007)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-03-17
Audit: 392277
Organization: Lake Superior State University (MI)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The University lacks a formal Banking Services Agreement and has not met several compliance requirements for Tier Two Arrangements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Failure to maintain a written agreement, disclose it online, conduct biennial reviews, report to Federal Student Aid, and implement internal controls.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Execute a formal agreement, publish it online, document biennial reviews, report to Federal Student Aid, and establish internal controls for compliance.

Finding Text

Non-Compliance with Servicer to Deliver Title IV Credit Balances Finding Type. Immaterial Noncompliance/Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance (Special Tests). Program. Student Financial Assistance Cluster; U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Assistance Listing Numbers 84.007, 84.033, 84.038, 84.063, 84.379, 84.268 and 93.364; Award Numbers P007A242029, P033A242029, P038A172029, P063A232029, P063P240235, P379T240235, P268K240235 and P268K250235. Criteria. Under 34 CFR §668.164(e), institutions that enter into Tier Two Arrangements must maintain a written agreement with the financial institution, disclose the agreement publicly on the institution's website, conduct and document a free biennial review, report the arrangement to Federal Student Aid, and implement internal controls to ensure compliance. Condition. The University does not have a formal Banking Services Agreement with its financial institution. In addition, the University has not posted the agreement online, lacks documentation of the required biennial review, has not reported the arrangement to Federal Student Aid, and does not maintain adequate internal controls over the Tier Two Arrangement. Cause. The University has not developed or implemented formal compliance procedures for Tier Two Arrangement requirements. Effect. Failure to comply with federal regulations increases the risk of regulatory sanctions, reputational harm, and potential financial penalties. Questioned Costs. No costs are required to be questioned as a result of this finding, inasmuch as no unallowable expenditures were noted. Recommendation. We recommend the University execute a formal Banking Services Agreement with the financial institution, publish the agreement on its website, document and perform biennial reviews, report the arrangement to Federal Student Aid, and implement appropriate internal controls to ensure ongoing compliance. View of Responsible Officials. Management agrees with this finding and has prepared a Corrective Action Plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Non-Compliance with Servicer to Deliver Title IV Credit Balances Auditor Description of Condition and Effect. The University does not have a formal Banking Services Agreement with its financial institution. In addition, the University has not posted the agreement online, lacks documentation of the required biennial review, has not reported the arrangement to Federal Student Aid, and does not maintain adequate internal controls over the Tier Two Arrangement. Failure to comply with federal regulations increases the risk of regulatory sanctions, reputational harm, and potential financial penalties. Auditor Recommendation. We recommend the University execute a formal Banking Services Agreement with the financial institution, publish the agreement on its website, document and perform biennial reviews, report the arrangement to Federal Student Aid, and implement appropriate internal controls to ensure ongoing compliance. Corrective Action. The University will create a formal Banking Services Agreement with the Financial Institution, publish the agreement on its website, document and perform biennial reviews, report the arrangement to Federal Student Aid, and implement appropriate internal controls. Responsible Person. Yah-Sheba Jenkins, Controller Anticipated Completion Date. June 30, 2026

Categories

Student Financial Aid Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Significant Deficiency Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Special Tests & Provisions

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1179893 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179894 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179895 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179896 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179897 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179898 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179899 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179900 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179901 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179902 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179903 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179904 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179905 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179906 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179907 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179908 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179909 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179910 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179911 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179912 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179913 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179914 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179915 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179916 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179917 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179918 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179919 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179920 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179921 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179922 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179923 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179924 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179926 2025-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179927 2025-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179928 2025-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179929 2025-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179930 2025-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179931 2025-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179932 2025-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179933 2025-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179934 2025-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179935 2025-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179936 2025-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179937 2025-010
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1179938 2025-010
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $4.21M
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $3.09M
93.364 NURSING STUDENT LOANS $1.04M
93.323 EPIDEMIOLOGY AND LABORATORY CAPACITY FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES (ELC) $431,757
11.432 NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION (NOAA) COOPERATIVE INSTITUTES $306,834
84.038 FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN PROGRAM_FEDERAL CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS $294,875
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $271,754
84.031 HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONAL AID $244,220
11.429 MARINE SANCTUARY PROGRAM $140,068
10.855 DISTANCE LEARNING AND TELEMEDICINE LOANS AND GRANTS $132,203
84.048 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION -- BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $74,534
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $73,564
15.808 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY RESEARCH AND DATA COLLECTION $70,769
66.469 GEOGRAPHIC PROGRAMS - GREAT LAKES RESTORATION INITIATIVE $56,383
15.662 GREAT LAKES RESTORATION $37,306
12.630 BASIC, APPLIED, AND ADVANCED RESEARCH IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING $37,198
15.945 COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND TRAINING PROGRAMS – RESOURCES OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM $18,432
45.024 PROMOTION OF THE ARTS GRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS $16,512
12.631 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM: SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS AND RESEARCH FOR TRANSFORMATION (SMART) $16,396
10.664 COOPERATIVE FORESTRY ASSISTANCE $15,318
84.334 GAINING EARLY AWARENESS AND READINESS FOR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS $9,119
15.608 FISH AND AQUATIC CONSERVATION - AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES $8,777
11.417 SEA GRANT SUPPORT $6,306
47.083 INTEGRATIVE ACTIVITIES $6,300
10.200 GRANTS FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, SPECIAL RESEARCH GRANTS $4,866
84.379 TEACHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE FOR COLLEGE AND HIGHER EDUCATION GRANTS (TEACH GRANTS) $3,772
15.687 GREAT LAKES SEA LAMPREY CONTROL $3,562
84.027 SPECIAL EDUCATION GRANTS TO STATES $1,587
45.162 PROMOTION OF THE HUMANITIES TEACHING AND LEARNING RESOURCES AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT $1,159