Finding 518475 (2024-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
E
Questioned Costs
$1
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-01-09

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Students received federal loans they weren't eligible for due to errors in need analysis and enrollment year.
  • Impacted Requirements: Non-compliance with 34 CFR 685.203, leading to questioned costs of $3,000.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement regular reviews of aid eligibility to prevent future over awards.

Finding Text

Ineligible Disbursements Significant Deficiency DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ALN #: 84.268 Federal Award Identification #: 2023-2024 Award Year Condition: Students were not appropriately awarded federal direct loans based on need analysis or year of enrollment. Criteria: 34 CFR 685.203 Questioned Costs: $3,000 Context: Out of 37 students tested, 3 were over awarded loans. One student was not awarded aid appropriately based on need analysis; this was corrected by reallocating $2,069 from subsidized to unsubsidized loans. The other two students were incorrectly awarded loans based on their year of enrollment. The first resulted in an over award of $2,000 in unsubsidized loans, and the second was over awarded $1,000 in subsidized loans. Both of these students were corrected during the audit. Because of the percentage of errors in our sample, this is classified as significant. Cause: This was an oversight by the College. Effect: Students received subsidized and unsubsidized federal aid for which they were not eligible. Identification as repeat finding, if applicable: Not applicable. Recommendation: We recommend that the College implement a review of aid eligibility to periodically check for over awards. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action: Management agrees with the finding. See corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Ineligible Disbursements Planned Corrective Action: The Financial Aid Office will review the credit hours earned for each student to ensure the federal loan amounts awarded are appropriate for the number of hours the student earned. This will be done before the beginning of each semester and after final grades have been posted. Person Responsible for Corrective Action Plan: Wes Brothers, Financial Aid Director Anticipated Date of Completion: 12/9/2024

Categories

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

Other Findings in this Audit

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $748,126
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $499,050
84.038 Federal Perkins Loan Program $126,496
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $124,691
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $58,968
84.379 Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants (teach Grants) $13,673