Finding Text
SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS AND CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN Federal Award Findings and Questioned Costs June 30, 2025 Comment 2025-005 PROCEDURES SHOULD BE IMPROVED TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR STUDENT FINANCIAL AID STUDENT FINANCIAL AID CLUSTER PROGRAM CFDA # 84.268, 84.063, 84.007, and 84.038 (Questioned Costs-None) Condition: A student is not eligible to receive Title IV, HEA program assistance if the student has not maintained satisfactory academic progress in his or her course of study according to the Institution’s published standards of satisfactory progress that satisfy federal requirements. During our audit, we noticed nine (9) instances in our sample of sixty (60) in which a student did not meet satisfactory academic progress, qualitatively and/or quantitatively. Students were not put on academic status restrictions in a timely manner and in line with the Institution’s policies and procedures. Context: We reviewed the financial aid files of sixty (60) students selected for eligibility testing. Criteria: A student in receipt of Federal funds must maintain satisfactory academic progress in his or her course of study according to the Institution’s published standards of satisfactory progress that satisfy federal requirements [34 CFR 668.32 (f)]. Effect: Compliance with eligibility requirements as established in the Code of Federal Regulations are not met. Ineligible students may be receiving funds, resulting in additional charges to the Institution for unallowable costs. Cause: Transition to remote work environment as a result of the pandemic and inaccurate reviews of student files and miscalculation of financial awards. Recommendation: We recommend that the Institution improve its quality control procedures. Student financial aid award packages should be reviewed before aid is disbursed to ensure eligibility. Management should periodically perform monitoring activities to ensure that federal regulations are followed. All personnel involved in the compilation of the student financial aid packets should be aware of federal regulations which govern the requirements and procedures to be followed when awarding federal aid. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: During the FY21 fiscal year the University was sensitive to the significant amount of student concerns related to the abrupt transition from in class room learning to virtual learning environment. Many of them were not prepared for task virtual learning and did not have the proper equipment or experience with virtual learning because many of them had never done remote learning before. The concerns the University considered factors like student and faculty mental health, lack of resources, accessibility to the internet, etc. As a result, the University decided to provide some level of flexibility to the at-risk students and the SAP review process. Corrective action and improvements will be implemented by June 30, 2026 by the Director of Financial Aid.