Finding 1203042 (2025-004)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
E
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-03-30
Audit: 396281
Organization: Connors State College (OK)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The College under-awarded Pell Grant funds to a student due to improper procedures for capturing summer enrollment.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with federal regulations for Pell Grant disbursement, specifically 34 CFR 690.62 and 34 CFR 690.80(b)(1).
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Review and update procedures for awarding Title IV funds to ensure compliance with federal regulations.

Finding Text

Federal Agency: US Department of Education Federal Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster Assistance Listing Number: 84.063, 84.268, 84.033, 84.007 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: P063P24032 - 2025, P268K252032 - 2025, P033A243410 - 2025, P007A243410 - 2025 Award Period: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 Type of Finding:  Compliance, Other Matter  Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance Criteria or specific requirement: The amount of a student's Pell Grant for an academic year is based upon the payment and disbursement schedules published by the Secretary for each award year (34 CFR 690.62) The Code of Federal Regulations (34 CFR 690.80(b)(1)) states if the student’s enrollment status changes from one academic term to another within the same award year, the institution shall recalculate the Federal Pell Grant award for the new payment period taking into account any changes in the cost of attendance. Per 2 CFR 200.303, nonfederal entities receiving federal awards are required to establish and maintain internal controls designed to reasonably ensure compliance with federal laws, regulations, and program compliance requirements. Condition: The College under-awarded funds for the Pell Grant. Questioned costs: $909 Context: During our testing, we identified one out of 40 students were awarded and disbursed less Pell funds than should have been awarded based on the 2024-2025 Pell payment schedule. The Pell payment schedule considers the cost of attendance, the student's Student Aid Index and the enrollment status of the student. Cause: The College did not have proper procedures in place to capture student enrollment in summer to be packaged for Pell. Effect: Failure to properly determine and disburse Title IV funds based on eligibility for each type of aid in accordance with federal regulations may result in students receiving incorrect funds. Repeat Finding: Yes, 2024-005 Recommendation: We recommend the College review its current procedures for awarding Title IV funds and implement any changes necessary to ensure federal funds are awarded and disbursed in accordance with federal regulations. Views of responsible officials: Management agrees with the finding and has developed a plan to correct the finding.

Corrective Action Plan

Student Financial Assistance Cluster– Assistance Listing No. 84.007, 84.033, 84.063, 84.268 Recommendation: We recommend the College review its current procedures for awarding Title IV funds and implement any changes necessary to ensure federal funds are awarded and disbursed in accordance with federal regulations. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: The audit finding was a result of a student enrolling in summer coursework, and their awards were not recalculated. CSC is creating a documented Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on how to package awards prior to each term to prevent under awarding and a Financial Aid Processing Calendar to ensure awarding occurs each term. Name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action: Current Financial Aid Director: Tara Torres OR Current Assistant Financial Aid Director: Tina Ballinger Planned completion date for corrective action plan: 06/30/2026

Categories

Student Financial Aid Eligibility Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1203029 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203030 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203031 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203032 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203033 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203034 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203035 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203036 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203037 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203038 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203039 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203040 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203041 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203043 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203044 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203045 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203046 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203047 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203048 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203049 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1203050 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $6.54M
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $3.06M
84.031 HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONAL AID $588,953
84.042 TRIO STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES $312,852
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $175,228
93.558 TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES $101,093
93.575 CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT $82,081
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $63,639
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $23,277
84.048 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION -- BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $14,212