Title: Student Financial Assistance Cluster – Assistance Listing Nos. 84.007, 84.033, 84.063, 84.268
Recommendation: We recommend the University review its SAP review policies to ensure it is completed timely and before Title IV disbursements occur.
Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.
Action taken in response to finding: Prior to this finding, in November 2022 our Registrar implemented a change in process to require a form when assigning either an L and I grade to a student. This ensures that the correct grade type is used in all cases depending on the nature of the work still outstanding. In doing so, it allows more accurate and timely assess a student’s GPA for SAP status on a regular schedule within the timeline expected for each type of grade when a final grade is determined. The Financial Aid office had also implemented an additional tracking mechanism outside of our ERP system to monitor the SAP status of each student to augment deficiencies in our ERP related to tracking the correct status over time. This tracking occurs regardless of the timing of a FAFSA being completed or the consistency of student enrollment from one semester to the next. This allows us to know the eligibility status of a student prior to awarding and disbursement, and require an appeal when appropriate. This was implemented May 2023. Regardless, as per policy and as we’ve been doing, we will continue to evaluate grade changes at the time of the next regular SAP evaluation period, and enforce the policy based on their status from that point forward.
Name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action: Dwight R Berreth
Planned completion date for corrective action plan: August 2023