Finding 619558 (2022-003)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-03-28
Audit: 41612
Organization: Ottawa University (KS)
Auditor: Rubinbrown LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The University inaccurately reported the number of students eligible for Emergency Financial Aid Grants, excluding around 400 non-Title IV eligible students.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR sections 200.328 and 200.329, which mandate accurate quarterly and annual reporting to the Department of Education.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should establish a system with proper controls to ensure adherence to the latest HEERF reporting guidelines and correct previously filed reports by April 2023.

Finding Text

Finding 2022-003 ? Significant Deficiency, Compliance and Control Federal Assistance Listing No. 84.425E U.S. Department Of Education ESF Section 2 ? Higher Education (Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF)) - Reporting Criteria: 2 CFR section 200.328 and 2 CFR section 200.329 requires grantees to submit quarterly reports for both student and institutional portions along with an annual report to the Department of Education. Condition: In our nonstatistical testing of 2 quarterly reports and 1 annual report, it was noted that for the one student report selected, the University excluded a subset of non-Title IV eligible students from the estimated total number of students at the institution that are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CARES (a)(1) subprogram and the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) subprograms. Cause: Management based the reporting requirement on the HEERF 1 guidance, which had more stringent eligibility requirements, in reporting the estimated total number of students at the institution that are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CARES (a)(1) subprogram and the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) subprograms. Effect: The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to receive emergency financial aid grants to students reported was less than the actual by approximately 400 students. Questioned Costs: Not applicable Context: One item on the selected student report was not reported in conformity with the guidance. Identification As A Repeat Finding: Not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that management develop a system with appropriate controls that allows for implementing the most recent guidance on HEERF reporting. Views Of Responsible Officials/Corrective Action Plan (Unaudited): The Controller and Compliance Officers are working together to correct the previously filed reports to update the estimated total number of students at the institution that are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CARES (a)(1) subprogram and the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) subprograms. Completion Date: April 2023 Contact Person: Tom Corley, Controller and Director of Fiscal Operations and Carrie Stevens, Associate Vice President of Compliance

Categories

Student Financial Aid Eligibility Reporting Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 43104 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 43105 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 43106 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 43107 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 43108 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 43109 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 43110 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 43111 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 43112 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 43113 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 43114 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 43115 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 43116 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 43117 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 43118 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 619546 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 619547 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 619548 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 619549 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 619550 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 619551 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 619552 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 619553 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 619554 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 619555 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 619556 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 619557 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 619559 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 619560 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $32.65M
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $5.54M
84.038 Federal Perkins Loan Program $2.02M
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $256,990
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $237,464
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $193,878
84.379 Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants (teach Grants) $66,952