Finding Text
Finding No. 2022-003?Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Reporting Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Program: COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund: ALN: 84.425 Criteria: Reporting requirements to the DOE state that the institutional portion of HEERF is reported by quarter in the quarter the funds are drawn from the G5 system and reported for the allowable categories under the grant. The reports filed should include all information about expenditures incurred or lost revenues claimed under the grant. Condition: Amounts reported for the institutional portion by the Conservatory were originally reported in the wrong category (misclassified). Questioned Costs: None. Prevalence: Identified in one out of three institutional quarterly reports tested. The sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. Effect: Improper classifications were reported to the DOE. Improper reporting could result in the DOE withholding payments to the Conservatory. Cause: Changes to the program rules, regulations and reporting for the HEERF programs were evolving throughout the different phases of the program. This issue is the result of improper tracking of those changes as they were occurring which resulted in errors in classification in the original filing. Recommendation: We recommend the Conservatory amend the incorrect reports. The Federal funding for this program has ended. If the DOE should add additional funding or create new or similar programs, we recommend that management implement a control to regularly monitor and manage changes to rules and regulations promulgated by the DOE. View of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding, and corrective measures have been taken.