Finding Text
2023-001: Special Tests - Number of Students Served (Significant Deficiency)
Assistance Listing Number and Title: #84.334, Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP)
Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Education
Pass-Through Entity Name (if applicable): University of Wyoming
Award Number/Name: P334S170010-21
Award Year: September 26, 2021 - September 25, 2022
Criteria: Per the Sub-Award Agreement between the University of Wyoming and Eastern Wyomign College (the College or the Contractor), “Subrecipient shall provide services designed to assist in achieving the following objectives for its selected GEAR UP students:
• GEAR UP Wyoming (GUWY) will serve a minimum of 2,000 participants each year. (Contractor is required to serve at least 350 of the 2,000 students).”
Condition/context: The number of students served by the College during the year was recorded at 327, an underserving of 23.
Cause: The College has historically been able to meet the minimum required number of students served via internal tracking, as well as via subrecipient monitoring provided by the University of Wyoming. However, during the year, the GEAR-UP program experienced a turnover in the director position (including a more-than-two-month vacancy). As such, the program struggled to recruit and retain students served via the program. Additionally, the College did not follow its internal procedures to track students served and maintain continuous contact with the University of Wyoming to ensure the minimum required number of students were being served.
Effect: The University of Wyoming could opt to not renew the College’s program funding if the minimum required number of students served is not met.
Questioned costs: None.
Identification as a repeat finding: Yes. See prior-year finding 2022-004.
Recommendation: We recommend that the program have a process in place to ensure that all necessary procedures/controls are adhered to, even in times of positional turnover or when the individuals who usually perform those procedures/controls are on leave.
Views of responsible officials and planned corrective action: Management concurs with the finding. See Exhibit I for the corrective action plan.