Finding Text
Program Information: Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (ALN: 84.007), Federal Work-Study Program (ALN: 84.033), Federal Pell Grant Program (ALN: 84.063), Federal Direct Student Loans (ALN: 84.268) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): E. Eligibility ? Calculation of Benefits ? Awards must be coordinated among the various programs and with other federal and nonfederal aid (need and non-need based aid) to ensure that total aid is not awarded in excess of the student?s financial need or cost of attendance (?COA?) (34 CFR 668.42, FWS, and FSEOG, 34 CFR 673.5 and 673.6; Direct Loan, 34 CFR 685.301). For Title IV programs, the COA is generally the sum of the following: tuition and fees; an allowance for books, supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses; an allowance for room and board; when applicable, allowances for costs for dependent care; costs associated with study abroad and cooperative education; costs related to disabilities; and fees charged for student loans. E. Eligibility ? Federal Pell Grant (Assistance Listing 84.063) ? Each year, based on the maximum Pell Grant established by Congress, the U.S. Department of Education (?ED?) provides to institutions Payment and Disbursement Schedules for determining Pell awards. The Payment Schedule provides the maximum scheduled award a student would receive for a full academic year as a full-time student based on their expected family contribution (?EFC?) and COA. The Disbursement Schedules are used to determine annual awards for full-time, three-quarter time, half-time, and less-than-half-time students. The steps to determine Pell awards are as follows: (a) Determine the student?s enrollment status, (b) calculate the cost of attendance, (c) determine the annual award, (d) determine the payment period, (e) calculate the payment for the payment periods, and (f) disburse funds at prescribed times. Condition: For certain students identified through our testing, the University did not properly calculate the student?s COA. Additionally, for certain students the University improperly calculated the student?s Pell award. Cause: Administrative oversight with respect to Title IV aid award eligibility. Effect or Potential Effect: The University is not in compliance with aid awarding criteria under the eligibility requirements. Failure to properly determine students? COAs and calculate eligible award amounts could result in improper disbursements of Title IV funds. Questioned Costs: Below reporting threshold. Context: We noted the following exceptions: ? For 2 of 25 students selected for testing, the University did not properly calculate the student?s COA and for 1 of 25 students, the student was disbursed aid in excess of their COA. ? For 1 of 25 students selected for testing, the University did not properly calculate the student?s Pell award. Identification of Repeat Finding: No similar findings noted in the prior year. Recommendation: We recommend the University enhance its policies and procedures to ensure that Title IV aid is properly calculated, awarded and disbursed, consistent with federal regulations.