Finding 59911 (2022-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2022-10-24
Audit: 55269
Organization: University of St. Francis (IL)
Auditor: Sikich LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The College incorrectly calculated the return of Title IV funds for 3 out of 10 students who withdrew, using wrong enrollment days.
  • Impacted Requirements: This finding violates 34 CFR 668.22, which mandates accurate calculations of earned Title IV assistance upon student withdrawal.
  • Recommended Follow-up: The College should update and monitor its system for Title IV calculations to ensure correct attendance dates are used.

Finding Text

2022-001: Errors Relating to Return of Title IV Financial Aid - Student Financial Aid Cluster Assistance Listing Number 84.007, 84.033, 84.038, 84.063, 84.268, 84.379 Grant Period - Year Ended May 31, 2022 Criteria: According to 34 CFR 668.22 when a recipient of Title IV grant or loan assistance withdraws from a College during a payment period or period of enrollment in which the recipient began attendance, the College must determine the amount of Title IV grant or loan assistance that the student earned as of the student's withdrawal date. Condition: During our return of Title IV Fund testing we noted that the College did not calculate or return Title IV for students who ceased attendance correctly for three students out of ten. The College used the incorrect number of days for the total days in the period of enrollment when calculating the return of Title IV. We consider this to be a significant deficiency relating to the Special Tests and Provisions Compliance Requirement. Statistical sampling was not used when making sample selections. See Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs for chart/table. Questioned Costs : $0 Effect: The College did not properly calculate the return of Title IV for three students out of ten. Cause: The College's internal controls did not identify the fact that the incorrect number. Recommendation: We recommend the College monitor and update their system used for return of Title IV calculations with the correct dates. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with this finding and response is included in Corrective Action Plan. of days the student attended when calculating the return of Title IV.

Corrective Action Plan

2022-001: Errors Relating to Return of Title IV Financial Aid - Student Financial Aid Cluster Assistance Listing Number 84.007, 84.033, 84.038, 84.063, 84.268, 84.379 Grant Period - Year Ended May 31, 2022 Condition Found: During our return of Title IV Fund testing we noted that the College did not calculate or return Title IV for students who ceased attendance correctly for three students out of ten. The College used the incorrect number of days for the total days in the period of enrollment when calculating the return of Title IV. We consider this to be a significant deficiency relating to the Special Tests and Provisions Compliance Requirement. Corrective Action Plan: It was discovered during the audit that the term break dates for Spring 2021 had been entered incorrectly, this caused certain R2T4's performed to be incorrect. All the affected records were corrected and rather than increasing the students' loans, USF funds were used to fill the void created by the incorrect calculations. This mistake was completely human error and great care will be taken to ensure the break dates are correct in the beginning of performed R2T4 calculations for the beginning of Fall 2022 and beyond. Responsible Perform for Corrective Action Plan: Bruce Foote, Director of Financial Aid, University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL 60435 Implementation Data of Corrective Action Plan: The Corrective Action Plan has been implemented immediately.

Categories

Special Tests & Provisions Student Financial Aid Significant Deficiency Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 636353 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $18.15M
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $2.97M
84.038 Federal Perkins Loan Program $847,895
93.247 Hrsa $315,674
84.425 Covid-19 Education Stabilization Fund $225,276
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $216,822
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $157,020
47.076 National Science Foundation -Sstem $107,272
47.076 National Science Foundation - Noyce $105,810
84.379 Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants (teach Grants) $49,978
93.264 Nflp $37,747
16.525 Grants to Reduce Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking on Campus $14,624