Finding 529964 (2024-003)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-03-25
Audit: 348052
Organization: Washington College (MD)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There is a significant deficiency in internal controls over compliance related to Pell grant reporting.
  • Impacted Requirements: The institution failed to ensure that Pell grant payment data matched records submitted to the Department of Education.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The College should review and improve its procedures for reporting Pell disbursements to ensure accuracy and timeliness.

Finding Text

Federal agency: U.S. Department of Education Federal program title: Student Financial Aid Cluster Assistance Listing Number: 84.063 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: P063P221568, P063P231568, P063Q221568, P063Q231568 Award Period: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: Internal Control - Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), a non-Federal entity must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non- Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in “Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government” issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the “Internal Control Integrated Framework”, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Compliance - Per 34 CFR 690.83(a)(2), an institution must submit Pell grant payment data to the Department of Education that reflects information reported at the institution. Condition: The amount of Pell grant paid to the student per the institution’s records as of a certain date did not match the payment amounted reported in COD as of that same date. The difference was reported to COD as of a later date. Questioned costs: None Context: This condition occurred for one out of 16 students tested. Cause: The transmittal report was not reviewed closely enough to find that Pell Grant for one student had not fully transmitted. Effect: Accurate information is not provided to the Department of Education, as required. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend the College evaluate its procedures and policies around reporting Pell disbursements to COD to ensure that student information is reported accurately and timely. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.

Corrective Action Plan

Student Financial Aid Cluster – Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) Reporting Assistance Listing No. 84.063 Recommendation: We recommend the College evaluate its procedures and policies around reporting Pell disbursements to COD to ensure that student information is reported accurately and timely. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: Created procedures that will identify when an award does not fully disburse and to ensure that the correct amount disbursed is what we report to COD. Name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action: Jennifer Gallagher Planned completion date for corrective action plan: February 2025

Categories

Student Financial Aid Reporting Significant Deficiency Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 529958 2024-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 529959 2024-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 529960 2024-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 529961 2024-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 529962 2024-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 529963 2024-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 529965 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 529966 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 529967 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 529968 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1106400 2024-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1106401 2024-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1106402 2024-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1106403 2024-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1106404 2024-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1106405 2024-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1106406 2024-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1106407 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1106408 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1106409 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1106410 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $4.74M
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $1.10M
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $178,892
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $140,611
20.616 National Priority Safety Programs $136,856
66.466 Geographic Programs - Chesapeake Bay Program $107,172
15.608 Fish and Aquatic Conservation - Aquatic Invasive Species $5,199
11.017 Ocean Acidification Program (oap) $586