Finding 1182471 (2025-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-03-24
Audit: 393884
Organization: Eastern Oregon University (OR)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The University failed to document key controls for timely and accurate reporting of disbursements to COD.
  • Impacted Requirements: This finding relates to the need for internal controls as outlined in Uniform Grant Guidance (2 CFR 200.303).
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The University should ensure documentation is retained to prove that key controls over COD reporting are being performed.

Finding Text

Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program Title: Student Financial Assistance Cluster Assistance Listing Number: 84.268, 84.063 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: P268K252058-2025, P063P242058-2025 Award Period: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 Type of Finding: • Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance Criteria or specific requirement: Uniform Grant Guidance (2 CFR 200.303) requires nonfederal entities receiving federal awards to establish and maintain internal controls designed to reasonably ensure compliance with federal laws, regulations, and program compliance requirements. Condition: During our testing, we noted that the University was unable to provide documentation evidencing the performance of a key control over the timeliness and accuracy of Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) disbursements reporting. Questioned costs: None reported. Context: The University could not provide evidence that the key control review was performed for any of the 60 disbursements selected for testing. Cause: The University does not maintain documentation to evidence their review to ensure disbursements are reported to COD timely and accurately. Effect: The absence of documented review increases the risk that disbursement data reported to COD may be inaccurate or untimely, which could result in inaccurate student records and may contribute to improper or excess student aid awards. Repeat Finding: Yes, 2024-004. Recommendation: We recommend the University retain evidence that key controls over COD reporting were performed. View of Responsible Official: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.

Corrective Action Plan

Recommendation: We recommend the University retain evidence that key controls over COD reporting were performed. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: The Financial Aid Office completes COD reporting on a weekly basis and will maintain a documentation set for each reporting cycle in a central location using consistent naming conventions. The documentation set will include COD submission batch acceptance files and receipt acknowledgements, edit and error reports with resolution notes and dates, internal system disbursement rosters showing dates and amounts, and adjustment logs. These records will be used to support monthly federal aid reconciliations with the Business Affairs Office. Designated staff responsible for COD submission tracking will also maintain the related reconciliation support documentation. The Financial Aid Policy and Procedure Manual will be updated accordingly, and staff will be trained annually and during onboarding. Name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action: Jason Hibbert, Director of Financial Aid Planned completion date for corrective action plan: March 31, 2026

Categories

Reporting Significant Deficiency Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1182465 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182466 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182467 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182468 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182469 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182470 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182472 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182473 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182474 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182475 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182476 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182477 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182478 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182479 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182480 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182481 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182482 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182483 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $12.24M
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $5.55M
93.600 HEAD START $2.53M
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $910,871
84.116 FUND FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION $474,604
84.031 HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONAL AID $364,773
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $242,639
17.600 MINE HEALTH AND SAFETY GRANTS $166,581
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $124,185
10.558 CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM $113,142
84.424 STUDENT SUPPORT AND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAM $88,104
59.037 SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS $33,200
84.379 TEACHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE FOR COLLEGE AND HIGHER EDUCATION GRANTS (TEACH GRANTS) $21,531
47.074 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES $8,667
84.425 EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND $3,000