Finding 526389 (2024-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-03-10
Audit: 345318
Organization: Rockhurst University (MO)
Auditor: Rubinbrown LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: A master promissory note (MPN) for a Perkins Loan was not located during testing, indicating a gap in record retention practices.
  • Impacted Requirements: The University failed to comply with federal guidelines requiring retention of MPNs and repayment records until loans are satisfied.
  • Recommended Follow-up: The Financial Aid department should enhance its record retention processes and controls to prevent future occurrences.

Finding Text

Finding 2024-001 - Significant Deficiency, Compliance Federal Assistance Listing No. 84.038 U.S. Department Of Education Student Financial Aid Cluster – Perkins Loans Criteria: According to the Federal Student Aid Handbook, Volume 2, Chapter 6, a University must retain promissory and master promissory notes (MPN), and repayment records for each Perkins Loan Program loan made. The original promissory notes and repayment schedules must be kept until loans are satisfied. Condition: In our nonstatistical sample of 25 students, it was noted for one individual that the master promissory note (MPN) was not able to be located by management and provided to us for testing. Cause: Management charged with oversight did not have proper processes and related controls in place for proper record retention. Effect: A student’s original MPN associated with the Perkin Loan is unable to be located. Questioned Costs: There were no questioned costs to report as this finding relates only to record retention and is not related to eligibility. Context: The student’s MPN was not able to be located when requested as part of our testing procedures. Identification As A Repeat Finding: Not applicable. Recommendation: The Financial Aid department should review and consider revisions to its processes and related controls in place surrounding record retention. Views Of Responsible Officials/Corrective Action Plan (Unaudited): The University concurs with this finding. The Financial Aid Office has updated procedures and ensures all student files have a thorough examination of all documents prior to document retention review. All MPNs and Perkins-related documents are now identified in this review and subsequently stored separately in secure fireproof storage. The files relating to this finding were not appropriately retained and the current procedure would have identified these for continued records retention. Completion Date: June 2025 Contact Person: Dane Fuhrman, CFO

Corrective Action Plan

Finding No. 2024-001 Corrective Action Plan: The University concurs with this finding. The Financial Aid Office has updated procedures and ensures all student files have a thorough examination of all documents prior to document retention review. All MPNs and Perkins-related documents are now identified in this review and subsequently stored separately in secure fireproof storage. The files relating to this finding were not appropriately retained and the current procedure would have identified these for continued records retention. Responsible Official: Dane Fuhrman, CFO Anticipated Completion Date: June 2025

Categories

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

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1102831 2024-001
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $22.59M
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $2.64M
84.038 Federal Perkins Loan Program_federal Capital Contributions $567,243
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $453,147
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $237,643
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $232,315
93.364 Nursing Student Loans $175,755
97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) $18,931
94.006 Americorps State and National 94.006 $8,184
47.076 Stem Education (formerly Education and Human Resources) $4,374