Finding 387115 (2023-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
A
Questioned Costs
$1
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-03-28
Audit: 299424
Organization: Eureka College (IL)
Auditor: Sikich LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: 65% of federal work study recipients had timecards lacking supervisor approval, indicating a significant compliance deficiency.
  • Impacted Requirements: This finding violates 34 CFR 675.19 (b)(2), which mandates proper certification of hours worked.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The College should review and improve policies to ensure all work study hours are certified by supervisors before payment.

Finding Text

2023-001 – Student Financial Aid Cluster – (a) Federal Pell Grant (b) Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (c) Federal Work Study Grant (d) Federal Perkins Loan Program (e) Federal Direct Student Loans (f) Teacher education Assistance for College and Higher Education ALN No. (a) 84.063 (b) 84.007 (c) 84.033 (d) 84.038 (e) 84.268 (f) 84.379 – Year Ended June 30, 2023 Criteria: 34 CFR 675.19 (b)(2) notes “The institution must also establish and maintain program and fiscal records that (i) Include a certification by the student’s supervisor, an official of the institution or off-campus agency, that each student has worked and earned the amount being paid. The certification must include or be supported by, for students paid on an hourly basis, a time record showing the hours worked in clock time sequence, or the total hours worked per day…” Condition: During our testing of forty individuals receiving federal work study, we noted 26 individuals (65%) that had timecards for hours worked that were not approved by a supervisor. We consider this condition to be a significant deficiency relating to the Activities Allowed or Unallowed compliance requirement. Statistical sampling was not used in making sample selections. Questioned Costs: $2,565 Cause and Effect: Without proper review of hours worked, federal work study recipients could receive compensation that is not allowed under the Code of Federal Regulations. Recommendation: We recommend the College evaluate policies and procedures to ensure work study recipients are being paid for hours worked that have been certified by the recipients’ supervisor. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with this Single Audit Finding and response is included in the Corrective Action Plan.

Corrective Action Plan

2023-001 – Student Financial Aid Cluster – (a) Federal Pell Grant (b) Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (c) Federal Work Study Grant (d) Federal Perkins Loan Program (e) Federal Direct Student Loans (f) Teacher education Assistance for College and Higher Education ALN No. (a) 84.063 (b) 84.007 (c) 84.033 (d) 84.038 (e) 84.268 (f) 84.379 – Year Ended June 30, 2023 Condition: During our testing of forty individuals receiving federal work study, we noted 26 individuals (65%) that had timecards for hours worked that were not approved by a supervisor. We consider this condition to be a significant deficiency relating to the Activities Allowed or Unallowed compliance requirement. Management response: Timecard approval was completed by email notification. During 2022/23, a new email system was installed, and many emails related to timecards were lost. Corrective Action Plan: Starting in August 2023 all timecard approvals were documented in the payroll system (Paycor). HR prior to processing payroll requires all timecards be system documented as approved. Responsible Person: Kathleen Hermacinski, Human Resources Coordinator Implementation Date: August 2023

Categories

Questioned Costs Student Financial Aid Significant Deficiency Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $3.15M
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $1.34M
11.307 Economic Adjustment Assistance $160,769
84.038 Federal Perkins Loan Program $94,634
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $60,000
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $57,084
45.301 Museums for America $17,820
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $8,479
84.379 Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants (teach Grants) $3,772