Finding Text
2024-001 Special Tests and Provisions – Disbursements to or on Behalf of Students
Federal Assistance Listing Number: 84.007, 84.033, 84.063 and 84.268
Name of Program or Cluster: Student Financial Aid Cluster
Agency: U.S. Department of Education
Criteria: N. Special Tests and Provisions – Disbursements to or on Behalf of Students - Institutions submit Direct Loan, Pell, TEACH, and IASG origination records and disbursement records to the Common Origination & Disbursement ("COD"). Origination records can be sent well in advance of any disbursements, as early as the institution chooses to submit for any student the institution reasonably believes will be eligible for a payment. Institutions must report student disbursement data within 15 calendar days after the institution makes a disbursement or becomes aware of the need to make an adjustment to previously reported student disbursement data or expected student disbursement data.
Condition: The University did not report disbursements records to the COD for 8 out of the 40 students sampled, out of a population of 1,316 students that received aid, within the required timeframe.
Cause: Management oversight and staff shortages.
Effect: Noncompliance with OMB federal grant compliance requirements.
Questioned Costs: None.
Repeat Finding: No.
Recommendation: The University should develop a process to ensure disbursements records are reported to the COD within the required timeline. In addition, the University should assess the staffing needs of the financial aid department and plan for increasing capacity through hiring or reorganizing the current responsibilities of its staff.
Views of Responsible Officials: See corrective action plan attached.