Finding Text
2022-001 Finding: Reporting Federal Assistance Listing Number 84.425E - Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Student Aid Portion Department of Education Award Number ? P425E205475 Award Year ? 2021-2022 Criteria: The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was signed into law on March 27, 2020 and appropriated federal funds to provide economic aid to the American people negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA), was signed into law on December 27, 2020, and authorized additional funding under the HEERF program (HEERF II). Finally, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP), enacted on March 11, 2021, authorized a third round of funding (HEERF III) in order for higher education institutions to serve students and ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the requirements of the HEERF program there are three components to reporting: (1) public reporting on the Student Aid Portion; (2) public reporting on the Institutional Portion, and (3) the annual report. Condition: The District had not posted the required Student Aid information for the third quarter, which was required to be posted publicly to the District's website during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022. Questioned Costs: None noted. Context: Four quarterly Student Aid reports for fiscal year 2022 were to be posted on the District's website by the federal due dates to comply with federal regulations. The third quarter report was not posted. Effect: Federal oversight agencies, including the Department of Education, depend on accurate reports posted to the institution's website to measure program results and compliance with federal requirements and to provide transparency. The District is not in compliance with the requirements of the award. Cause: There was confusion surrounding the required reporting. The institutional reporting continued as required. A new form was provided by the federal government to be completed and made publicly available but it only included institutional information thereby causing the student information to be inadvertently excluded. Recommendation: We recommend that the District take immediate action to post the missing report to the website, obtain clarification for any confusing, ambiguous or complex compliance requirements, and stay diligent in staying abreast of the specific reporting requirements. Views of Responsible Officials: We agree with the finding. See separate report for planned corrective actions.