Finding 517662 (2024-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-01-03
Audit: 335723
Organization: Sterling College (KS)
Auditor: Sjh&l

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There is a significant failure to comply with enrollment reporting requirements, leading to incorrect and late status changes reported to the Department of Education.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 34 CFR 690.83(b)(2) and 34 CFR 685.309, which mandate accurate and timely reporting of student enrollment information.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Educate staff on compliance requirements and enhance internal controls to ensure accurate reporting and timely reviews of student status changes.

Finding Text

Enrollment Reporting Type of Finding - Material noncompliance with Enrollment Reporting compliance requirement and material weakness in internal control over compliance Program: Student Financial Assistance Cluster Assistance Listing Number: Federal Pell Grants 84.063, Federal Direct Loans 84.268 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Criteria - 34 CFR 690.83(b)(2) and 34 CFR 685.309 provide regulations to institutions for the accurate and timely reporting of student enrollment information. Institutions must review, update, and verify student enrollment statuses, program information, and effective dates to the Department of Education. The institution should have sufficient internal controls over program compliance to report information accurately and timely. Condition - Two students were found to have a status change effective date reported to the Department of Education that was not compliant with enrollment reporting guidelines. Cause - The College’s system does not always report status changes correctly and the status report requires a review prior to submission. The internal controls over the review of student status changes were not effective at preventing or detecting and correcting noncompliance with the requirements. Effect - The status changes were reported incorrectly and/or untimely to the Department of Education. Questioned Costs - Not applicable. Context - Out of our sample of 40 students with status changes, two students were found to have status changes reported that were not compliant with the enrollment reporting requirements. Identification as a Repeat Finding - A similar finding was identified in the audit for the year ending June 30, 2023 as finding 2023-001. Recommendation - The individuals responsible for identifying and reviewing effective status change dates need to be educated on the requirements. Views of Responsible Official - Management concurs with the finding and is providing those responsible for compliance with appropriate education on the compliance requirements. The College is reviewing the processes and controls and will make changes as necessary to prevent and/or detect and correct noncompliance on a timely basis.

Corrective Action Plan

Contact person responsible for correction action – Mitzi Suhler, Financial Aid Director Anticipated completion date – June 30, 2024 Corrective action Sterling College agrees with the finding. Per our policy, we review enrollment reporting at the end of each term to ensure that students are getting reported accurately. We are doing everything we can to ensure compliance in this area. We will continue to be diligent about enrollment reporting and make sure we review carefully the dates that are submitted. We are still in the process of implementing our new software that will help with this process.

Categories

Student Financial Aid Reporting Material Weakness Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 517663 2024-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 517664 2024-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1094104 2024-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1094105 2024-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1094106 2024-003
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $4.12M
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $1.45M
84.038 Federal Perkins Loan $251,523
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $63,602
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $50,818
84.379 Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants (teach Grants) $16,503