Finding 540717 (2024-002)

FINDING 2024-002: INCOMPLETE VERIFICATION FEDERAL AGENCY: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PROGRAM NAME: FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM AND FEDERAL DIRECT LOAN PROGRAM ALN: 84.063, 84.268 FEDERAL AWARD YEAR: 2023-2024 Compliance Requirement: Eligibility (E.) Criteria: An institution shall require each student whose application is selected for verification to verify all of the applicable items specified (34 CFR 668.54). Condition: We tested sixty-three files and an application selected for verification did not match supporting documentation for one student. We consider this finding to be an instance of non-compliance. Cause: The condition was caused by an oversight in the financial aid department. Effect: The result of not properly verifying a student’s Institutional Student Information Report (ISIR) to supporting documentation is the student could be ineligible or could have received an unauthorized award. Question Costs: $5,929 Statistical sampling was not used when making sample selections. Recommendation: We recommend the Institution updated the ISIR to obtain the proper expected family contribution in order to calculate the difference in eligibility, and if unable to do so, refund $5,929 to the Department of Education and increase controls over student verification. Views of Responsible Officials: The Institution agrees with the Single Audit Finding and a response is included in the Corrective Action Plan.