FAC Explorer

Finding 1191824 (2025-005)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-03-30
Audit: 395639
Organization: Lincoln University (MO)
Auditor: FORVIS MAZARS LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Title IV funds were not returned correctly or on time, affecting compliance with federal regulations.
  • Impacted Requirements: Non-compliance with 34 CFR Section 668.22 regarding the return of Title IV funds.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Financial Aid should overhaul processes and controls to ensure accurate calculations and timely returns of funds.

Finding Text

Student Financial Assistance Cluster Federal Pell Grant Program, ALN 84.063 Federal Direct Student Loans, ALN 84.268 U.S. Department of Education Program Year 2024 - 2025 Criteria or specific requirement - Special Tests: Return of Title IV Funds 34 CFR Section 668.22 Condition - Return of Title IV funds were not calculated correctly and funds were not returned within the required time frame. Cause - The Financial Aid department does not have adequate processes and controls around return of funds to ensure calculations are accurate and return of funds are timely. Effect or potential effect - The incorrect amount of funds were returned and funds were not returned within the required time frame. Questioned costs - $1,771 Context - Out of a population of 49 student accounts requiring return of Title IV funds, a sample of five were selected for testing. Our sample was not, and was not intended to be statistically valid. For two of the student withdrawals tested, the calculation of funds to be returned by the University was calculated incorrectly. Additionally, for these students, the funds were not returned to the lender within the required time frame and the credit to the students' accounts was not made within the required time frame. Identification as a repeat finding - Repeat finding, 2024-003 Recommendation - The Financial Aid department should review processes and controls around return of Title IV funds and consider substantial changes to address this recurring finding.

Corrective Action Plan

The Office of Student Financial Services acknowledges the finding related to the Return of Title IV Funds. We recognize the importance of ensuring accurate calculations and timely return of unearned Title IV funds as part of our federal compliance obligations. The Office of Student Financial Services will strengthen procedures for Return of Title IV (R2T4) calculations. All withdrawals will be reviewed using the R2T4 calculation worksheet, and calculations will be verified by a second staff member prior to posting. A tracking log will be maintained to ensure funds are returned within required timeframes. Written procedures will be updated to include required timelines and review steps. Staff training will be conducted to ensure consistent application of federal regulations. The Director of Financial Aid will periodically review completed calculations for accuracy. These actions are intended to correct the issues that contributed to the calculation errors and delays noted during the audit and to ensure compliance with Return of Title IV Funds regulations moving forward.

Categories

No categories assigned yet.

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1191815 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1191816 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1191817 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1191818 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1191819 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1191820 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1191821 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1191822 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1191823 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1191825 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1191826 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1191827 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1191828 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1191829 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $7.47M
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $6.87M
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $5.83M
10.512 EXTENSION SERVICES AT 1890 COLLEGES AND TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY, WEST VIRGINIA STATE COLLEGE, AND CENTRAL STATE UNIVERSITY $4.45M
10.205 PAYMENTS TO 1890 LAND-GRANT COLLEGES AND TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY $4.35M
84.031 HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONAL AID $3.86M
10.237 FROM LEARNING TO LEADING: CULTIVATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF DIVERSE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE PROFESSIONALS $1.28M
84.002 ADULT EDUCATION - BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $594,410
11.028 CONNECTING MINORITY COMMUNITIES PILOT PROGRAM $498,995
10.912 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM $311,699
10.937 PARTNERSHIPS FOR CLIMATE-SMART COMMODITIES $269,479
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $193,676
10.303 INTEGRATED PROGRAMS $149,968
10.307 ORGANIC AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INITIATIVE $116,513
10.443 OUTREACH AND ASSISTANCE FOR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED AND VETERAN FARMERS AND RANCHERS $111,343
10.514 EXPANDED FOOD AND NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM $108,264
81.049 OFFICE OF SCIENCE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM $103,350
93.569 COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT $97,000
10.310 AGRICULTURE AND FOOD RESEARCH INITIATIVE (AFRI) $90,038
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $86,815
47.070 COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING $84,327
12.431 BASIC SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH $83,340
66.436 SURVEYS, STUDIES, INVESTIGATIONS, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND TRAINING GRANTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS - SECTION 104(B)(3) OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT $72,818
10.935 URBAN AGRICULTURE AND INNOVATIVE PRODUCTION $70,537
81.087 RENEWABLE ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT $67,746
10.202 COOPERATIVE FORESTRY RESEARCH $64,765
10.210 HIGHER EDUCATION NATIONAL NEEDS GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP GRANTS $57,128
16.525 GRANTS TO REDUCE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING ON CAMPUS $51,248
10.186 REGIONAL FOOD BUSINESS CENTERS $31,776
10.523 CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE AT 1890 INSTITUTIONS $30,974
47.076 STEM EDUCATION (FORMERLY EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES) $28,712
59.037 SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS $27,609
10.025 PLANT AND ANIMAL DISEASE, PEST CONTROL, AND ANIMAL CARE $26,638
10.971 URBAN AGRICULTURE AND URBAN COUNTY COMMITTEE OUTREACH, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND EDUCATION $25,936
10.520 AGRICULTURE RISK MANAGEMENT EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM $24,138
10.229 EXTENSION COLLABORATIVE ON IMMUNIZATION TEACHING & ENGAGEMENT $22,016
47.074 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES $21,426
10.311 BEGINNING FARMER AND RANCHER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM $21,320
10.309 SPECIALTY CROP RESEARCH INITIATIVE $18,950
10.147 OUTREACH EDUCATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE $18,220
12.630 BASIC, APPLIED, AND ADVANCED RESEARCH IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING $16,658
47.049 MATHEMATICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES $10,311
10.515 RENEWABLE RESOURCES EXTENSION ACT $9,887
10.170 SPECIALTY CROP BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM - FARM BILL $8,748
10.215 SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION $7,000
84.379 TEACHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE FOR COLLEGE AND HIGHER EDUCATION GRANTS (TEACH GRANTS) $5,772
84.425 EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND $5,680
10.500 COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE $5,663
10.216 1890 INSTITUTION CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS $5,600
10.328 FOOD SAFETY OUTREACH PROGRAM $5,556
47.084 NSF TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION, AND PARTNERSHIPS $5,244
10.727 INFLATION REDUCTION ACT URBAN & COMMUNITY FORESTRY PROGRAM $3,830
47.041 ENGINEERING $2,849
43.008 OFFICE OF STEM ENGAGEMENT (OSTEM) $24
10.524 SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS AT 1890 INSTITUTIONS $-1,675