Finding 516494 (2022-002)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
C
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2024-12-20

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Institution failed to disburse HEERF funds within the required 3 calendar days after drawdown, with delays averaging 7 days for Institutional funds and 31 days for Minority Serving Institutions.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR 200.305(b) and HEERF funding agreements, which mandate timely disbursement of funds.
  • Recommended Follow-up: Strengthen cash management procedures and internal controls to ensure timely fund disbursement, as agreed upon by management in their corrective action plan.

Finding Text

Cash Management Federal Program Name Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) HEERF Institutional Portion, ALN. 84.425F HEERF Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), ALN. 84.425L Name of Federal Agency U.S. Department of Education Pass-through Entity N/A Criteria According to the 2 CFR 200.305(b) non-federal entities must minimize the time elapsing between the transfer of funds from the Federal agency or the pass-through entity and the disbursement of funds by the recipient or subrecipient regardless of whether the payment is made by electronic funds transfer or by other means. Also, CRRSAA HEERF II and ARP HEERF III, the Certification and Agreements and/or Supplemental Agreements requires that Institutional Aid Portion, (a)(2), and (a)(3) funds should be disbursed within 3 calendar days of the drawdown from G5. Condition During our examination, we found the following instances on which the Institution did not disbursed funds in an expedite matter: Fund Instances Average of days late 84.425F 106 7 84.425L 5 31 Cause The delay in disbursements responds to several situations: remote work, lack of banking or information from suppliers, multiplicity of tasks under the responsibility of the Administration and Operations Director, which affected the dates of sending the payments. Effect As a result of this condition, the USDE may issue warnings and/or impose penalties to the Institution. Questioned Cost None Context During our examination, we noted one hundred six (106) instances from one hundred thirty-six (136) of the HEERF Institutional portion and five (5) instances from five (5) from Minority, on which the Institution did not disbursed funds within 3 calendar days of the drawdown from G5. Identification of a Repeat Finding This is not a repeat finding from the immediate previous audit. Recommendation The management of the Institution should reinforce its cash management procedures and internal controls to ensure the disbursement of funds in the required time frame after the drawdowns from G5. Views of Responsible Officials of the Auditee and Planned Corrective Actions The management of the Institution agrees with this finding. Please refer to the corrective action plan on pages 22-26.

Categories

Subrecipient Monitoring Cash Management Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 516483 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 516484 2022-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 516485 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 516486 2022-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 516487 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 516488 2022-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 516489 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 516490 2022-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 516491 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 516492 2022-003
    Material Weakness
  • 516493 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 516495 2022-003
    Material Weakness
  • 516496 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1092925 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1092926 2022-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1092927 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1092928 2022-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1092929 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1092930 2022-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1092931 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1092932 2022-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1092933 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1092934 2022-003
    Material Weakness
  • 1092935 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1092936 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1092937 2022-003
    Material Weakness
  • 1092938 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $6.39M
84.425 Covid-19 - Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (heerf) Student Aid Portion $4.82M
84.425 Covid-19 - Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (heerf) Institutional Portion $3.66M
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loan Program $656,550
84.031 Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program (title V) $570,482
84.425 Covid-19 - Heerf Minority Serving Institutions (msis) $536,855
84.031 Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans Program (ppoha) $518,504
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program $186,729
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $53,387