Finding 626581 (2022-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-03-30
Audit: 43391
Organization: Wheaton College (MA)
Auditor: Rsm US LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The College misclassified amounts in its HEERF reports to the DOE, leading to incorrect financial reporting.
  • Impacted Requirements: Reporting must accurately reflect expenditures and lost revenue as per DOE guidelines, which were not followed.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Amend the incorrect reports and establish a control system to monitor future changes in DOE regulations.

Finding Text

Finding No. 2022-001 Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Reporting Federal Agency: Department of Education (DOE) Program: COVID-19 Education Stabilization Fund Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act): ALN: 84.425F Criteria: Reporting requirements to the DOE state that the institutional portion of HEERF is reported by quarter in the quarter funds are drawn from the G5 system and reported for the allowable categories under the grant. The reports filed should include all information about expenditures incurred or lost revenue claimed under the grant. Condition: Amounts reported for the institutional portion by the College were originally reported in the wrong category (misclassified). Questioned Costs: None Prevalence: 1 of 1 institutional quarterly report tested. The sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. Effect: Incorrect amounts and classifications were reported to the DOE. Improper reporting could result in the DOE withholding payments to the College. Cause: Changes to the program rules, regulations and reporting for the HEERF programs were evolving throughout the different phases of the program. This issue is the result of improper tracking of those changes as they were occurring which resulted in errors in the original filing. Recommendation: We recommend the College amend the incorrect reports. The Federal funding for this program has ended. If the DOE should add additional funding or create new or similar programs, we recommend that management implement a control to regularly monitor and manage changes to rules and regulations promulgated by the DOE. View of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding, and corrective measures have been made.

Categories

HUD Housing Programs Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 50138 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 50139 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 50140 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 626580 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 626582 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $8.42M
84.425 Economic Stabilization Fund $1.75M
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $1.68M
84.038 Federal Perkins Loan Program $1.37M
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $292,549
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $285,805
16.525 Grants to Reduce Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking on Campus $77,127
10.164 Wholesale Farmers and Alternative Market Development $23,373
43.001 Science $15,344