Finding 1186655 (2025-003)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-03-25

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The College failed to return Title IV Financial Aid for 10 out of 25 students within the required 45 days after withdrawal.
  • Impacted Requirements: This is a violation of 34 CFR 668.22, indicating a material weakness in compliance with financial aid regulations.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Assign specific responsibilities for timely calculations and returns of Title IV funds to ensure compliance.

Finding Text

2025-003: Late Return of Title IV Financial Aid - Student Financial Aid Cluster – Assistance Listing #s 84.007, 84.033, 84.063, 84.268 - 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 ten 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 a material weakness relating to the Special Tests and Provisions Compliance Requirement. 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 ten 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

2025-003: Late Return of Title IV Financial Aid - Student Financial Aid Cluster – Assistance Listing #s 84.007, 84.033, 84.063, 84.268 - 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 ten 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 a material weakness relating to the Special Tests and Provisions Compliance Requirement. Corrective Action Plan The weekly Official Withdrawal report is reviewed and processed by the Assistant Dean. As applicable, a week after the calculation is performed and funds are returned to DOE, each student recorded is reviewed on the Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) site to ensure that funds were returned. This additional step is conducted monthly by members of the Financial Aid Management and student worker teams. Additionally, the Assistant Dean performs a monthly check of the Official Withdrawal report to ensure that the Return to Title IV calculation was performed for all required students. The review includes viewing the record in Colleague as well as COD. Responsible Person for Corrective Action Plan Yvette M. McGhee Assistant Dean of Financial Aid Implementation Date of Corrective Action Plan The Correction Action Plan was implemented at the beginning of the Fall 25 semester (approximately August 15, 2025)

Categories

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

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1186652 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1186653 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1186654 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $6.86M
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $1.66M
84.116 CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED GRANTS $774,860
84.047 TRIO UPWARD BOUND $415,809
84.044 TRIO TALENT SEARCH $370,257
84.042 TRIO STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES $360,516
84.048 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION -- BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $298,604
84.002 ADULT EDUCATION - BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $229,198
64.028 POST-9/11 VETERANS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE $103,043
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $97,960
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $79,767
97.067 HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM $6,441
94.006 AMERICORPS STATE AND NATIONAL 94.006 $3,734
47.076 STEM EDUCATION (FORMERLY EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES) $2,246
93.575 CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT $200