Finding Text
Assistance Listing, Federal Agency, and Program Name Student Financial Assistance Cluster Federal Direct Student Loans Program (ALN 84.268), Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program (ALN 84.007), and Federal Pell Grant Program (ALN 84.063)
Federal Award Identification Number and Year Various
Pass through Entity None
Finding Type Significant deficiency
Repeat Finding No
Criteria If a recipient of Title IV grant or loan funds withdraws from a school after beginning attendance but before he or she has attended 60 percent of the scheduled length of the semester, the school must perform a return of Title IV funds (R2T4) calculation. If the amount disbursed to the student is greater than the amount the student earned, the unearned funds must be returned. A school must return unearned funds for which it is responsible no later than 45 days from the determination of a student's withdrawal (30 days if never attended) (34 CFR 668.220)(1)).
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 aid earned by the student as of the student's withdrawal date.
Condition The College did not perform an accurate calculation to determine the amount of funds to return for Title IV funds (R2T4) for 1 student.
Questioned Costs $533
Identification of How Questioned Costs Were Computed Questioned costs of $533 resulted from the College calculating a return of Title IV funds of $648 and the actual amount of funds returned was $1,201.
Context Of the 40 students tested, there was 1 student that had error in the calculation that resulted in the improper amount being returned to the Department of Education.
Cause and Effect A control was not operating appropriately to ensure amounts calculated to be refunded agree to the actual amounts refunded to the Department of Education.
Recommendation The College should implement procedures and controls to review the calculations to ensure compliance with federal regulations.
Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan Official withdrawals will be calculated for potential R2T4 upon receipt of notification from the records department. Unofficial withdrawals will be completed within 45 days of receipt of notification from the records department. Financial Aid will keep a record of when a withdrawal is received and when R2T4s are processed. This spreadsheet will be checked on a regular basis. R2T4 calculations will be checked for accuracy in Banner by the director or another staff member before submission.