Finding 1205766 (2025-003)

Finding 2025-003 Federal Programs: TRIO Cluster • Talent Search (ALN 84.044A) • Student Support Services (ALN 84.042A) • Upward Bound (ALN 84.047A) • Hampton Road McNair Program (ALN 84.217A) Federal Award #’s: P044A210601, P042A210893, P047A221291, and P217A220293 Federal Award Years: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 Federal Agencies: U.S. Department of Education Pass Through Entity: None Compliance Requirement: Reporting – Performance Reporting Criteria: Grantees of the Student Support Services (SSS) program (OMB No. 1840-0525) must submit an annual performance report (APR) to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) each year of the project period. Section II, Record Structure for Participant List, of the APR includes several key line items that contain critical information. These key line items are: 15. Eligibility 17. First Enrollment Date (at grantee institution) 18. Date of First Project Service 19. College Grade Level (entry into project) 22. Participation Status (during academic year) 23. Enrollment status (at end of the academic year) 24. Academic Standing 27. College Grade Level (at the end of the academic year), and 31. Undergraduate Degree/Certificate Completed at Grantee Institution Grantees of the Upward Bound (UB) program (OMB No. 1840-0826) must submit an annual performance report (APR) to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) each year of the project period. Section II, Record Structure for Participant List, of the APR includes several key line items that contain critical information. These key line items are: 16. Eligibility (at time of initial selection) 17. At Risk: Reading Language Arts or Math Proficiency Not Achieved (at time of initial selection) 18. At Risk: Low Grade Point Average (at time of initial selection) 19. At Risk: Pre-Algebra or Algebra Course Not Successfully Completed by Beginning of 10th Grade (at time of initial selection) 20. Limited English Proficiency (at time of initial selection) 24 Date of First Project Service 25. Grade Level at First Service 27. Participant Status for reporting year 28. Participation Level for reporting year 29. Served by Another Federally Funded College Access Program for reporting year 30. Grade Level at the beginning of academic year being reported 37. Secondary School Retention and Graduation Objective – Numerator, for reporting year 45. Date of Last Project Service Condition and Context: The University utilizes the Blumen Online for TRIO application in order to summarize and report its performance reporting data for entry into its Annual Performance Report (APR) and submission to the Department of Education. A total sample of 60 students were selected across the four TRIO programs to test the accuracy of the APR. For 11 of 60 students who benefitted from a TRIO program, the following key line items were found to be incorrectly reported in at least one instance; Date of First Project Service, College Grade Level (entry into project), Enrollment Status (at end of academic year), College Grade Level (at the end of the academic year), or Participation Level for reporting year. • For eight of 60 sampled students who benefited from a TRIO program the University inaccurately reported one key line item. • For three of 60 sampled students who benefited from a TRIO program the University inaccurately reported two key line items. Cause and Possible Asserted Effect: The University’s controls to review key line items of SSS and UB data input into Blumen did not operate consistently to ensure that complete and accurate data was reported to the Department of Education on the APR. Identification of Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs related to this finding. Sampling: The sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. Recommendation: We recommend that the University strengthen its review control over the data input of key line items of SSS and UB data into Blumen and subsequently the APR. Identification of Repeat Finding: This audit finding is a repeat of Finding 2024-005 in the immediately prior year. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with this finding. The director and staff will review the key line item data at the point of entry to ensure the completeness and accuracy of information input into the Blumen system. Prior to submitting the APR, a download of all data categories will be reviewed for accuracy and completeness