FAC Explorer

Finding 962668 (2023-001)

Material Weakness
Requirement
A
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-03-27
Audit: 298657
Organization: William Paterson University of New Jersey (NJ)
Auditor: Baker Tilly US LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The University failed to return Title IV funds for 4 out of 21 students within the required 45 days after withdrawal.
  • Impacted Requirements: This non-compliance with 34 CFR 668.22 resulted in questioned costs totaling $13,752.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The University should enhance its monitoring processes to ensure timely returns of Title IV funds and adherence to established procedures.

Finding Text

Criteria: 34 CFR 668.22 requires that when a recipient of Title IV grant or loan assistance withdraws from an institution during a payment period or period of enrollment in which the recipient began attendance, the institution must determine the amount of Title IV grant or loan assistance that the student earned as of the student's withdrawal date in accordance with Federal regulations and return the unearned portion of the grant or loan funds to the Title IV programs as soon as possible but no later than 45 days after the withdrawal date. Condition/Context: The federal aid for 4 of 21 students tested was not returned within 45 days from the date of withdrawal. The sample was not a statistically valid sample. Questioned Costs: For the 4 students that were not returned within the 45 days totaled $13,752. Cause: The University's procedures for the return of Title IV funds were not followed for unofficial withdrawals in January 2023. A counselor was provided the necessary information to process the returns timely, but the counselor did not perform the task. Upon discovery in March 2023, the student financial aid director had the returns processed but it was after the 45 days as described above. Effect: The University was not in compliance with return of Title IV funds in a timely manner. Recommendation: The University should continue to review and adhere to its procedures for refunding awards and implement a process that monitors the deadlines for reporting of Title IV grant or loan assistance return calculations.

Categories

Student Financial Aid Reporting Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 386226 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 386227 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 386228 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 386229 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 386230 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 386231 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 386232 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 962669 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 962670 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 962671 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 962672 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 962673 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 962674 2023-001
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $41.37M
84.063 Federal Pell Grant $16.02M
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $926,235
93.925 Scholarships for Health Professions Students From Disadvantaged Backgrounds Program Website $638,694
84.031 Hispanic-Serving Institutions Stem and Articulation Program $586,989
87.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $581,709
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program (including Administrative Cost Allowance of $52,762) $521,115
93.264 Nurse Faculty Loan Program (nflp) $499,140
84.365 English Language Acquisition State Grants $187,231
59.037 Small Business Development Centers $150,616
59.075 Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program $137,622
93.243 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services_projects of Regional and National Significance $129,131
47.050 Geosciences $119,104
47.075 Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences $117,443
93.273 Alcohol Research Programs $107,891
47.078 Polar Programs $103,945
93.276 Drug-Free Communities Support Program Grants $103,239
93.991 Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant $73,921
84.027 Special Education Grants to States $73,605
47.076 Education and Human Resources $65,229
84.031 Higher Education Institutional Aid $46,587
84.305 Education Research, Development and Dissemination $34,946
93.859 Biomedical Research and Research Training $30,521
45.024 Promotion of the Arts, Grants to Organizations and Individuals $22,729
47.079 Office of International Science and Engineering $19,861
93.279 Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs $19,516
15.954 National Park Service Conservation, Protection, Outreach and Education $18,629
84.287 21st Century Community Learning Center $15,387
84.335 Child Care Access Means Parents in School $13,563
84.021 Overseas Programs- Group Projects Abroad $10,396
45.149 Promotion of the Arts_locals Program $10,000
11.417 Sea Grant Support $7,704
45.162 Promotion of the Humanities Teaching and Learning Resources and Curriculum Development $4,006
84.116 Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education $3,513
47.074 Biological Sciences $1,116
84.379 Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant $943