Finding Text
Student Financial Assistance Cluster, ALN 84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program, ALN 84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans, U.S. Department of Education Program Year 2021?2022 Criteria or Specific Requirement ? Special Tests and Provisions: Return of Title IV Funding, 34 CFR Section 668.22 Condition ? The return of four students? Title IV funding was not appropriately applied to the students? accounts and communicated to the students. The return of five students? Title IV funding was not completed timely. Questioned Costs ? $241 ? Computed as the amount of Title IV aid under-refunded. Context ? Out of the population of 294 students that received federal student financial assistance but withdrew or dropped out during the year, a sample of 40 students was selected for testing. Four returns of Title IV calculations were not correctly calculated, which resulted in overpayment to the respective programs of $2,640 and underpayments to the respective programs of $241. Additionally, five students? Title IV funding was not returned within 45 days. Our sample was not, and was not intended to be, statistically valid. Effect ? Four refunds were incorrect, and funds were either over-remitted or underremitted to the Department of Education. Five refunds were not remitted to the Department of Education within 45 days. Cause ? Due to turnover in the student financial aid office, reviews of return of Title IV calculations were not being performed timely or in enough detail. Indication as a Repeat Finding ? N/A Recommendation ? The University should review its procedures for ensuring appropriate dates are entered into Jenzabar for all related return of Title IV calculations and ensure a secondary review is performed of these calculations on a timely basis to ensure the calculations are being performed accurately and in compliance with Department of Education guidelines. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions ? Management agrees with the finding and hired a new Director of Financial Aid in June 2022. Weekly reviews of return of Title IV calculations have been implemented to help eliminate late returns and accuracy issues regarding the return calculations.