Finding Text
Criteria or specific requirement – Eligibility – Pell must be awarded to all students who
qualify. (34 CFR 690.61 through 690.66, and 690.75 through 690.76; Pell Grant
Payment Schedules; General Provisions regulations, part 668, subpart K, and FSA
Handbook).
Condition – A student was not awarded a Pell Grant when the student was eligible.
Questioned costs - $3,447 – Assistance Listing Number 84.063
Context –Out of the population of 1,170 students who received federal financial aid, a
sample of 25 students were selected for testing. Our sampling method was not, and
was not intended to be, statistically valid. One student was eligible for a Pell Grant after
subsequently meeting the University’s satisfactory academic policy (SAP) due to a
grade change after the initial calculation for awards. The University did not recognize
that this student was eligible and did not award a Pell Grant.
Effect – A students who was eligible for a Pell Grant was not awarded.
Cause – The University’s controls did not reassess students’ eligibility after changes in
SAP.
Identification as a repeat finding, if applicable – N/A
Recommendation – The University should update their controls to ensure students with
changes to eligibility status are considered for federal aid.
Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions – The Office of Financial
Aid will work with the Student Registrar and staff to develop a communication track to
recognize and respond to grade changes to perform the most accurate assessment of
the student's financial aid.