Finding Text
Student Financial Assistance Cluster
U.S. Department of Education
Federal Direct Student Loans 84.268
Federal Pell Grant Program 84.063
Award Year 2024
Criteria or Specific Requirement - Verification. According to 34 CFR 668.51 through 668.61, the institution
shall require each applicant whose application is selected by the Department of Education to verify the
information required for the Verification Tracking Group to which the applicant is assigned.
Condition - The College did not ensure accurate information on the student's aid files against the information
included in the V1 Verification Worksheet. Additionally, the College did not verify the completion of the student
verification before the disbursement of federal aid for one student.
Cause - Lack of communication and oversight when verification information is completed.
Effect - The information included into the verification worksheet was not accurate. The federal funds were
disbursed before the proper completion of all the student verification.
Questioned Costs - None.
Context - Out of a population of 42 students selected for verification, a sample of seven students was selected
for testing. Out of these seven students selected for testing, there was one instance in which the information
included on the verification of the student's award was misstated between the number of household members
enrolled in post secondary. Out of these seven students selected for testing, there was one instance in which
the federal funds were disbursed before the completion of the student verification. The sample was not, and was
not intended to be, a statistically valid sample.
Identification as a Repeat Finding - None
Recommendation - The College should review and update its processes and controls to ensure student records
for federal awards are obtained to properly support the verification worksheet. Additionally, the College should
implement an automated control to ensure that federal aid not be disbursed until verification procedures are
completed.
Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions - The College has procedures in place that
are supposed to prevent the awarding of students in verification. The Student Information System (Empower)
has a feature for tracking students in verification. That tracking system did not prevent the awarding of Title IV
aid. Therefore, the college will implement a back up tracking system to help track students in verification.