Finding 1190937 (2025-005)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-03-27
Audit: 395206
Organization: Rider University (NJ)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: An incorrect withdrawal date was used in 1 out of 12 R2T4 calculations, leading to inaccurate Title IV fund returns.
  • Impacted Requirements: Federal regulations mandate accurate withdrawal date determination and exclusion of scheduled breaks in R2T4 calculations.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Strengthen policies and procedures for R2T4 calculations to ensure accurate data inputs and compliance.

Finding Text

2025-005 – Return of Title IV (R2T4) Calculations Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Federal Program Name: Federal Pell Grant Program, Federal Direct Student Loans, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants Assistance Listing Number: 84.063, 84.268, 84.007 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: P268K241818; P268K251818; P063P231818; P063P241818; P007A232600; PA007A242600 - 2025 Award Period: 7/1/2024 – 6/30/2025 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: Federal regulations require institutions to determine a student’s withdrawal date and calculate the percentage of the payment period completed to determine the amount of Title IV aid earned. Institutionally scheduled breaks of five or more consecutive days must be excluded from the calculation (34 CFR 668.22(f)(2)(i)). Regulations also define withdrawal dates for institutions that are required to take attendance and those that are not (34 CFR 668.22). Condition: Testing disclosed that in 1 out of 12 R2T4 calculations, an incorrect withdrawal date was used. Questioned costs: $51. Context: During our testing, we noted 1 instance where an incorrect withdrawal date was used in the calculation. Cause: Human error resulted in incorrect data being used. Effect: An incorrect amount of Title IV funds was returned to the Department of Education. Repeat finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend the University review and strengthen its policies and procedures for completing R2T4 calculations to ensure accurate inputs. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.

Corrective Action Plan

2025-005 Federal Pell Grant Program, Federal Direct Student Loans, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants – Assistance Listing No. 84.063, 84.268, 84.007 Recommendation: We recommend the University review and strengthen its policies and procedures for completing R2T4 calculations to ensure accurate inputs. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: Rider University concurs with this finding. After review the University noted this was an isolated instance of human error. The effective date for the withdrawal was imputed incorrectly as 2/27/2025, however, the correct effective date was 2/17/2025. Rider University will ensure the Financial Aid Administrator completing this task is attentive to eliminate any errors. Name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action: Jacqueline Watford Planned completion date for corrective action plan: Effectively Immediately

Categories

Student Financial Aid Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1190929 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1190930 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1190931 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1190932 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1190933 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1190934 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1190935 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1190936 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1190938 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1190939 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $25.56M
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $7.97M
84.038 FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN PROGRAM_FEDERAL CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS $771,877
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $611,245
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $304,316
84.042 TRIO STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES $292,251
84.217 TRIO MCNAIR POST-BACCALAUREATE ACHIEVEMENT $262,284
47.074 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES $107,554
47.070 COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING $64,513
47.050 GEOSCIENCES $28,173
47.076 STEM EDUCATION (FORMERLY EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES) $20,782
84.379 TEACHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE FOR COLLEGE AND HIGHER EDUCATION GRANTS (TEACH GRANTS) $5,658
81.049 OFFICE OF SCIENCE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM $1,884
94.005 LEARN AND SERVE AMERICA_HIGHER EDUCATION $1,718