Finding 1204819 (2025-007)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-03-30
Audit: 396458
Organization: Urshan College (MO)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The University lacks documented controls for reviewing credit balance disbursements, risking non-compliance with federal requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200.303, which mandates internal controls for federal award recipients.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Establish and document a review process for returning unclaimed credit balance funds to the Department of Education after 240 days.

Finding Text

2025-007 Special Tests and Provisions Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Federal Program Title: Student Financial Assistance Cluster Assistance Listing No. 84.063, 84.268 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: P063P248567 – 2025, P268K258567 – 2025, P268K256514 - 2025 Award Periods: July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 Type of Finding:  Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance  Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: Per Uniform Guidance 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 University was unable to provide documentation of review for controls surrounding credit balance disbursements. Questioned Costs: None Context: The University did not have documented review of controls to ensure credit balance funds that were not successfully disbursed to the student were returned to the Department of Education after 240 days. Cause: The University did not have the appropriate resources and staffing in place to verify they were in compliance with all requirements. Effect: Without proper controls the University risks being out of compliance with federal laws and regulations, as well as program compliance requirements. Repeat findings: No Recommendation: We recommend the University design controls to ensure an adequate review process is in place to ensure compliance over stale checks that need to be returned to the Department of Education after 240 days. Views of Responsible Officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.

Corrective Action Plan

2025-007 Federal Direct Student Loans – Assistance Listing No. 84.268 Federal Pell Grant Program – Assistance Listing No. 84.063 Recommendation: We recommend the University design controls to ensure an adequate review process is in place to ensure compliance over stale checks that need to be returned to the Department of Education after 240 days. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: The University is implementing enhanced controls to ensure compliance with stale-dated Title IV credit balance checks. This includes establishing a monthly review process in coordination with Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, and the Financial Aid Office to identify any outstanding checks approaching or exceeding the 240-day threshold. As part of this process, a tracking mechanism will be maintained to monitor the status and issuance dates of all Title IV credit balance checks. The University will make reasonable efforts to contact students and reissue checks, as appropriate, to ensure funds are received. Any checks that remain uncashed and meet the stale-dated threshold will be voided and returned to the U.S. Department of Education in accordance with federal requirements. These procedures will be formalized within a standardized SOP to ensure consistent and timely compliance moving forward. Name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action: Levi Powell, Director of Financial Aid, Accounts Receivable Clerk, and Accounts Payable Clerk Planned completion date for corrective action plan: 4/30/2026

Categories

Special Tests & Provisions Significant Deficiency Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1204808 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1204809 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1204810 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1204811 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1204812 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1204813 2025-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1204814 2025-009
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1204815 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1204816 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1204817 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1204818 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1204820 2025-008
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1204821 2025-009
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $1.75M
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $1.24M
64.028 POST-9/11 VETERANS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE $64,921
64.117 SURVIVORS AND DEPENDENTS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE $8,250