FAC Explorer

Finding 551512 (2024-001)

-
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
$1
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-03-31
Audit: 352117
Organization: St. Thomas University Inc. (FL)
Auditor: Bdo USA PC

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The University failed to pay a student for hours actually worked under the Federal Work Study program.
  • Impacted Requirements: This violates the requirement to pay students at least once a month for earned wages.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Ensure that FWS funds are only disbursed for actual hours worked and implement a reconciliation process for payroll accuracy.

Finding Text

Federal Program Information - Federal Work Study (ALN #84.033) Criteria or Specific Requirement - Special Tests and Provisions – Disbursements to or on Behalf of Students – Federal Work Study (FWS) - The University shall ensure that the student is paid at least once per month for wages earned (34 CFR Section 675.16(a)(2)). Condition - Instances where the University did not pay the student for hours actually earned. Cause - Lack of administrative oversight with respect to recordkeeping and payroll processing. Effect or Potential Effect - The University was not in compliance with disbursements to or on behalf of students for federal work study payments. Questioned Costs - $29 Context - For 1 of our 25 selections, the University improperly disbursed a student more bi-weekly pay than earned during the pay period. Identification as a Repeat Finding - No similar findings noted in the prior year. Recommendation - We recommend the University only disburse FWS funds for actual hours worked. Views of Responsible Officials - The University agrees with the finding and is implementing a reconciliation and review process to ensure compliance.

Corrective Action Plan

Corrective Action Plan – Thorough Review of FWS Payroll All timesheets are electronically saved, in the event an employee submits a paper time sheet due to a missed time period, the document is scanned and saved in the shared payroll file. On a bi-monthly basis FWS payroll is reviewed and reconciled to ensure students are getting paid for amounts earned. Contact Person: Neville Bates, Payroll Manager Telephone: 305.474.6702 Email: nbates@stu.edu Completion Date: 9/30/2024

Categories

Questioned Costs Special Tests & Provisions Student Financial Aid Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $68.32M
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $6.35M
93.566 Refugee and Entrant Assistance State/replacement Designee Administered Programs $1.37M
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $802,946
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $793,522
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $427,945
84.120 Minority Science and Engineering Improvement $298,134
10.223 Hispanic Serving Institutions Education Grants $31,424
84.031 Higher Education Institutional Aid $14,064
93.264 Nurse Faculty Loan Program (nflp) $12,000