Finding 43320 (2022-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-03-30

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The College failed to fully comply with reporting requirements for HEERF III (ARP) funding on its website.
  • Impacted Requirements: Missing information includes the methods for determining student eligibility and the total number of students who received aid.
  • Recommended Follow-up: Update the website to include all required HEERF III (ARP) reporting elements to ensure compliance.

Finding Text

2022-001 REPORTING - SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCY Federal Program COVID-19 - Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Student Aid Portion ALN 84.425E Award #P425E200033 Criteria Institutions that expend HEERF student aid portion grants are required to report certain information for public view quarterly under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. This information includes: a total amount of aid distributed to students under CARES, CRRSAA, and ARP; the estimated number of students eligible to receive the emergency financial aid grant; total number of students who received an emergency financial aid grant under the programs; and the methods used by the institution to determine which students received the emergency financial aid grants. The Department of Education encourages institutions to report as soon as possible but no later than 10 days after end of each calendar quarter. Condition/Cause The College was not in compliance with a segment of the reporting requirements of Section 18004 (a)(1) pertaining to the College?s website for inspection by the public related to HEERF III (ARP) funding. Effect In reviewing the College?s website, the methods used by the institution to determine which students received the emergency financial aid grants and the total number of students who received funding were not available for review for the HEERF III (ARP) award. Questioned Costs None. Context The College?s website regarding HEERF funding included valuable information for the College?s students regarding ways to apply for funding and available programs. The website also included the required quarterly reports submitted for the student and institutional aid portion of HEERF awards as well as the student aid information required for HEERF II (CRRSAA). However, the College did not provide a segment of the required elements as applicable for the student portion under Section 18004(a)(1) for HEERF III (ARP). Repeat Finding No. Recommendation The requirements for the reporting under HEERF student aid have evolved over the life of the grant, and it is important to ensure reporting requirements are being met as they change. We recommend the College update their website for the information related to the student portion of HEERF III (ARP) including the disbursement methodology and the number of students who received the funding. Management Response See corrective action plan included in this report package.

Corrective Action Plan

U.S. Department of Education: Delaware County Community College respectfully submits the following corrective action plan for the year ended June 30, 2022. Name and address of independent public accounting firm: Herbein + Company, Inc., 2763 Century Boulevard, Reading, PA 19610 Audit Period: Year ended June 30, 2022 Contact Person: Dr Patricia Benson, Vice President, Finance & Administration/Treasurer Anticipated Completion Date: March 31, 2023 The findings from the June 30, 2022 schedule of findings and questioned costs are discussed below. The findings are numbered consistently with the number assigned in the schedule. Section III - Federal Award Findings and Questioned Costs 2022-001 REPORTING - SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCY Federal Program COVID-19 - Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Student Aid Portion ALN 84.425E Award #P425F20035 Condition/Cause The College was not in compliance with a segment of the reporting requirements of Section 18004(a)(1) pertaining to the College?s website for inspection by the public related to HEERF III (ARP) funding. Recommendation The requirements for the reporting under HEERF student aid have evolved over the life of the grant, and it is important to ensure reporting requirements are being met as they change. We recommend the College update their website for the information related to the student portion of HEERF III (ARP) including the disbursement methodology and the number of students who received the funding. Management Response The College?s methods used to determine which students received the emergency financial aid grants and the total number of students who received funding, was documented internally for supporting parties and stakeholders. However, the website was not updated in a timely manner, but has since been modified. If the Department has any questions regarding this plan, you can contact Delaware County Community College at 610-359-5100 or 901 Media Line Road, Media, PA 19063. Respectfully, Dr. Patricia Benson Vice President, Finance & Administration/Treasurer

Categories

Reporting Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 619762 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $17.08M
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $12.19M
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $11.62M
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $380,204
84.048 Career and Technical Education -- Basic Grants to States $337,908
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $265,493
84.031 Higher Education_institutional Aid $247,821
10.561 State Administrative Matching Grants for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program $206,312
93.558 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families $205,026
47.076 Education and Human Resources $74,254
92.599 Chafee Education and Training Vouchers Program $36,000
93.859 Biomedical Research and Research Training $32,717
84.016 Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language Programs $22,376
17.258 Wia Adult Program $19,920
17.278 Wia Dislocated Worker Formula Grants $11,658
93.788 Opioid Str $1,004