Finding 505236 (2024-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2024-11-11
Audit: 327845
Organization: Hendrix College (AR)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The College failed to return Title IV funds within the required 45-day period for a withdrawn student.
  • Impacted Requirements: Institutions must accurately calculate and return Title IV funds timely for students who withdraw.
  • Recommended Follow-up: Implement procedures to ensure timely calculations and returns for all withdrawn students, with oversight from the Financial Aid supervisor.

Finding Text

Criteria: Special Tests and Provisions – Return of Title IV Funds (34 CFR 668.173 (b)) – Institutions are required to accurately calculate return of Title IV funds for withdrawn students who began attendance, allocate the return of Title IV funds as required, return Title IV funds timely and notify borrowers of returned loans. Condition: The College did not perform a timely calculation of Title IV funds or return the Title IV funds within 45 days. Questioned Costs: None. Context: During testing of Return of Title IV Funds, one of five selections were not returned within the 45-day period. A sample of five were selected for testing from a population of 49. Our sample selections were not, and were not intended to be, statistically valid. Effect: The College did not return Title IV funds within 45 days of a student's withdrawal. Cause: The College’s processes did not ensure Title IV returns for students on leaves of absences were calculated and returned in a timely manner. Identification as a Repeat Finding, if Applicable: Not a repeat finding Recommendation: The College should implement procedures to ensure calculations are performed for each withdrawn student and where applicable, funds are returned in the required timeframe. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Administration concurs with the finding. On July 7, 2024, the calculation was performed and funds were returned the following day. Additional documentation will be included in the student's exit packaging that will be reviewed by the Financial Aid supervisor to determine if a Return of Title IV calculation is warranted. The Business Office will review all accounts of withdrawn students to determine if any federal aid was received and if so, will communciate with the Financial Aid office to verify that calculation was performed.

Corrective Action Plan

Responsible party: Mr. Shawn Mathis, Associate VP and Controller Hendrix College concurs with the audit finding related to the Return of Title IV funds for a portion of a Student’s Pell Loan. The College offers the corrective actions as outlined below. For any further questions or requests for further information, please contact Mr. Shawn Mathis, Associate VP and Controller for the College at 501-450-1474, or email mathis@hendrix. Once a student withdraws from the institution, official notification is sent from the Registrar’s office. Upon notification, the Financial Aid office has a process in place whereby a staff member reviews the student’s account and completes a checklist. If it is determined that the student has federal aid, the student’s record will be forwarded to another staff member to complete the Return of Title IV calculation. In this case, the student did not receive any federal loans other than the Pell and the employee simply checked the wrong box in regard to federal loans. After reviewing the finding with the Office of Business and Finance and the Department of Financial Aid it was agreed that additional documentation would be included in the student’s exit packaging that would be reviewed by the supervisor to serve as additional oversight of the student’s financial aid awards to determine if a Return of Title IV calculations is warranted. In addition to increased documentation within the Financial Aid Office, the business office will review all accounts of withdrawn students to determine if any federal aid was received and if so, will communicate with the Financial Aid office to verify that a Return of Title IV calculation was performed. Estimated completion date: August 2024

Categories

Student Financial Aid Special Tests & Provisions Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 505237 2024-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 505238 2024-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 505239 2024-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1081678 2024-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1081679 2024-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1081680 2024-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1081681 2024-001
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $5.12M
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $1.39M
84.038 Federal Perkins Loan Program $328,663
47.074 Biological Sciences $199,407
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $196,244
93.859 Biomedical Research and Research Training $169,997
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $117,638
43.008 Office of Stem Engagement (ostem) $49,993
66.509 Science to Achieve Results (star) Research Program $8,396