Finding 514454 (2024-003)

-
Requirement
C
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2024-12-16
Audit: 332774
Organization: The Methodist University, Inc. (NC)
Auditor: Bdo USA PC

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The University failed to issue a refund for a student’s credit balance within the required 14-day timeframe.
  • Impacted Requirements: This oversight violates federal regulations regarding disbursements to students under the Federal Student Aid programs.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Conduct regular reviews of credit balances to ensure timely refunds for all Federal Student Aid credit balances.

Finding Text

Federal Program Information: Federal Direct Student Loan Program (ALN#: 84.268), Federal Pell Grant Program (ALN#: 84.063) Criteria or Specific Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions – Disbursements to or on Behalf of Students – Federal Student Aid (“FSA”) Credit Balances - Where disbursements created a credit balance in the student account and the student or parent did not provide an authorization for the institution to retain funds, the institution must provide the credit balance amount to the student within 14 days of the date the balance was created (34 CFR 668.164(h)). Condition: Instance was identified where the University did not issue a refund within the required timeframe. Cause: Administrative oversight with respect to disbursement to or on behalf of students. Effect or Possible Effect: The University was not in compliance with disbursement to or on behalf of students. Questioned Costs: None. Context: For 1 of 25 students selected for testing, the University did not issue the refund within the required 14 days. Identification of Repeat Finding: There was no similar finding identified during the prior year. Recommendation: We recommend the University complete a timely review of credit balances in order to issue all refunds with respect to FSA credit balances within the required timeframe. Views of Responsible Officials: We recently discovered an issue with our Title IV funds refunding report which impacted this student. The report viewing eligible Title IV recipients has been corrected.

Corrective Action Plan

Name of Responsible Individual: Mary Mercer, Director of Student Financial Services Corrective Action: We recently discovered an issue with our Title IV funds refunding report which impacted this student. The report viewing eligible Title IV recipients has been corrected. Anticipated Completion Date: December 12, 2024

Categories

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

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 514452 2024-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 514453 2024-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 514455 2024-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 514456 2024-003
    -
  • 1090894 2024-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1090895 2024-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1090896 2024-003
    -
  • 1090897 2024-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1090898 2024-003
    -

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $21.57M
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $3.50M
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $230,914
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $220,686
93.959 Block Grants for Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse $165,228
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $17,234