Finding Text
2022-003 Student Aid Grants Criteria - When making grants to students under the Education Stabilization Fund - student aid portion, institutions must prioritize students with exceptional need. The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III Frequently Asked Questions, question #12 further states that if the institution established preconditions for students to receive emergency financial aid grants (e.g., (1) establishing a minimum GPA, (2) imposing other academic or athletic performance or good standing requirements, (3) requiring continued enrollment in the institution or (4) required the student to first pay any outstanding debt or balance) that results in failure to prioritize students with exceptional need. Condition - During fiscal year 2022, the Institute incurred expenses for student aid grant payments that contained academic, performance or attendance provisions: ? $17,000 of student aid grants established a minimum GPA ? $12,000 of student aid grants included performance measures ? $16,000 of student aid grants were paid to students that had been nominated by high school counselors for attendance at the Institute ? $6,759 of student aid grants were for students with parents who graduated from the institution Effect - As a result of grants containing academic or attendance provisions, students with exceptional need were not prioritized. Cause - The identified non-compliance was caused by the interpretation of how to ?prioritize students with exceptional need.? The root of this cause was the fluid nature of guidance on administrating Educational Stabilization Funds and how the guidance would ultimately be interpreted. Questioned Costs - $51,759 Context - During fiscal year 2022, the Institute incurred expenses for student aid grant payments totaling $275,050. Of this amount, it was noted that student aid grants issued totaling $51,759 contained academic or attendance provisions. Recommendation - We recommend that the Institute establish controls and procedures to ensure that grants to student under the Education Stabilization Fund - student aid portion prioritize students with exceptional need. Response - It is our position that students with an exceptional need were prioritized through the Cares Student Emergency Hardship Grant. Throughout the funding period students with exceptional or acute need have had access to an emergency grant application. Applications are reviewed by a committee and awarded for eligible expenses to students who demonstrate exceptional need. All enrolled students have access to this application. Conclusion - Response accepted.