Finding Text
2024-007 – Student Financial Aid Cluster – (a) Federal Pell Grant (b) Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (c) Federal Work Study Grant (d) Federal Perkins Loan Program (e) Federal Direct Student Loans, Assistance Listing No. (a) 84.063 (b) 84.007 (c) 84.033 (d) 84.038 (e) 84.268 - Year Ended June 30, 2024
Criteria: 34 CFR 668.22 (a)(1) states “When a recipient of title IV grant or loan assistance withdraws from an institution during a payment period or period of enrollment in which the recipient began attendance, the institution must determine the amount of title IV grant or loan assistance that the student earned as of the student's withdrawal date in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section.”
34 CFR 668.22 (e)(2) states, “The percentage of title IV grant or loan assistance that has been earned by the student is - (i) Equal to the percentage of the payment period or period of enrollment that the student completed (as determined in accordance with paragraph (f) of this section) as of the student's withdrawal date, if this date occurs on or before - (A) Completion of 60 percent of the payment period or period of enrollment for a program that is measured in credit hours; or…”
34 CFR 668.22(j) notes, “(1) An institution must return the amount of title IV funds for which it is responsible under paragraph (g) of this section as soon as possible but no later than 45 days after the date of the institution's determination that the student withdrew as defined in paragraph (l)(3) of this section. The timeframe for returning funds is further described in § 668.173(b). (2) For an institution that is not required to take attendance, an institution must determine the withdrawal date for a student who withdraws without providing notification to the institution no later than 30 days after the end of the earlier of the – (i) Payment period or period of enrollment, as appropriate, in accordance with paragraph (e)(5) of this section; (ii) Academic year in which the student withdrew; or (iii) Educational program from which the student withdrew”
An institution must notify the student of a post-withdrawal disbursement of Federal Direct Loans used to credit the student’s account for outstanding charges (34 CFR 668.22).
Condition: The College did not accurately complete refund calculations for 1 out of 9 students (11.1%) tested. Additionally, funds were not timely returned and withdrawal dates were not timely determined for three out of nine students (33%) tested. We consider this finding to be a significant deficiency in relation to the Special Tests and Provisions compliance requirement and is a repeat finding shown in Section IV of this report as prior year finding 2023-003.
Statistical sampling was not used in making sample selections.
Questioned Costs: $926
Effect: Miscalculation of the days in the Return of Title IV funds calculations results in incorrect amounts returned by the College. For the untimely refunds, without proper review of students’ enrollment statuses, refunds may be required that are not determined or completed timely.
Recommendation: For the incorrect refund calculation, we recommend the College continually educate themselves on the requirements for the return of title IV fund and ensure the proper controls are implemented to timely and accurately return unearned aid. For the untimely returns, we recommend the College reviews their policies and procedures to ensure withdrawals are determined and funds returned timely for students that withdrew.
Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with this Single Audit Finding and response is included in the Corrective Action Plan.