Finding 509374 (2024-001)

-
Requirement
E
Questioned Costs
$1
Year
2024
Accepted
2024-11-20
Audit: 329160
Organization: Shorter University (GA)
Auditor: Capincrouse LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Students were not given the correct amount of subsidized loans due to a failure to adjust for changes in outside scholarships.
  • Impacted Requirements: This violates 34 CFR 685.301 regarding accurate loan packaging based on need analysis.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Financial aid should regularly check student loan packaging to ensure maximum subsidized loan eligibility is met before awarding unsubsidized loans.

Finding Text

Inaccurate Packaging of Federal Direct Loans (FDL) DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ALN #: 84.268 Federal Award Identification #: 2023-2024 Award Year Condition: Students were not accurately packaged subsidized loans based on the students’ need analysis. Criteria: 34 CFR 685.301 Questioned Costs: $3,500 Context: 1 out of 60 students tested was not accurately packaged subsidized loans based on the student’s need analysis due to an adjustment in the student’s outside scholarships after the initial award packaging. The student was eligible for $3,500 in subsidized loans that was disbursed as additional unsubsidized loans. This was corrected during the audit. Cause: The University did not reevaluate the students’ need for subsidized loans after adjustments were made to the students’ packaging. Effect: Students received additional ineligible unsubsidized loans and were not awarded up to their full subsidized loan eligibility. Identification as repeat finding, if applicable: N/A Recommendation: We recommend the financial aid department run a report periodically during each semester to determine that students are being awarded up to the max subsidized loan eligibility prior to being awarded unsubsidized loans. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action: Management agrees with the finding. See corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Inaccurate Packaging of Federal Direct Loans (FDL) Planned Corrective Action: Shorter University will provide additional training to Financial Aid Staff regarding the importance of reviewing students financial aid offers after manual adjustments are made. The training will include practice scenarios. In addition to training staff, Shorter University's Director of Information Technology is creating a quality control report that will identify students who may be eligible for a subsidized Stafford loan but have not received one. The report will be monitored by the Assistant Director of Financial Aid Systems who will review the students' financial aid. The quality control report will ensure the proper subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loan allocation. A manual adjustment error was made to a student's financial aid offer, after financial aid was accepted resulting in an under awarding of a Stafford loan. A $3,500 unsubsidized loan to subsidized loan swap will be completed to hold the student harm less and correct the manual adjustment error. Person Responsible for Corrective Action Plan: Colleen Lassiter Anticipated Date of Completion: Training will be completed November 8, 2024 and Quality Control Report will be completed by December 15, 2024.

Categories

Questioned Costs Eligibility Student Financial Aid Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $8.49M
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $3.10M
84.038 Federal Perkins Loan Program $880,170
84.425 Covid-19 Education Stabilization Fund Heerf - Institutional Portion $232,701
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $140,659
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $64,721