Finding Text
Inaccurate and Untimely Returns to Title IV (R2T4) Material Weakness DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ALN #: 84.007, 84.063, 84.268 and 84.379 Federal Award Identification #: 2021-2022 Financial Aid Year Condition: When students withdrew either officially or unofficially, the University did not always return unearned Title IV aid within the required 45 days, and therefore, Department of Education considers the return of funds to be untimely. The University also inaccurately calculated R2T4?s for students who withdrew from modular programs. Criteria: 34 CFR 668.22 Questioned Costs: $34,362 Context: Out of 57 students tested who officially or unofficially withdrew, 12 students had funds returned late ranging from 10 to 290 days, 9 students had incorrect R2T4 calculations and funds returned late and 2 students had incorrect R2T4 calculations. Cause: Staffing challenges due to the continued impacts of COVID-19, complexity of new modular withdrawal regulations, particularly due to the high number of students with all failing grades in those programs. Also the financial aid office is not receiving attendance records timely and used incorrect calendars for calculations. Effect: Unearned aid not returned accurately and timely Identification as repeat finding, if applicable: 2021-001 Recommendation: We recommend that the financial aid office work with the registrar office and those monitoring attendance to ensure that students who stop attending after 2 weeks are followed up on timely to determine if R2T4's are required and ensure that funds are returned within the required 45 days. We recommend additional training in the new modular withdrawal regulations. We also recommend the University have a secondary review of each calendar set up for R2T4 calculations to ensure the correct number of days is used. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action: Management agrees with the finding. See corrective action plan.