Finding 971199 (2023-002)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-04-26
Audit: 304642
Organization: Benedict College (SC)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The College failed to meet several requirements for Tier Two arrangements related to Title IV credit balances, including posting contracts and cost information on its website.
  • Impacted Requirements: Key regulations under 34 CFR 668.164 regarding disclosures, documentation, and cost information were not followed.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement controls to ensure compliance with Tier Two arrangement requirements and conduct semiannual reviews of service provider arrangements.

Finding Text

Assistance Listing, Federal Agency, and Program Name - Student Financial Assistance Cluster - 84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program, 84.268 Federal Direct Student Loan Program Federal Award Identification Number and Year - 2022-2023 Pass through Entity - Not applicable Finding Type - Significant deficiency Repeat Finding - No Criteria - Schools may use a servicer or financial institution to deliver Title IV credit balances to a card or other access device. A School's Tier Two arrangements under 34 CFR 668.164 are subject to certain disclosures and other requirements: a. A school must disclose conspicuously on its Web site the contract(s) establishing the Tier Two arrangement (34 CFR 668.164(f)(4)(iii)). b. A school must also provide to U.S. Department of Education (ED) an up to date URL for the contract for publication in a centralized database accessible to the public.(34 CFR 668.164(f)(4)(iii)(B)) c. A school maintains documentation of that the school is performing such reviews at least every two years to ascertain whether the fees imposed under the arrangement are consistent with or below prevailing market rates (34 CFR 668.164(f)(4)(viii)(A)) d. Required cost information related to the arrangement must exist on the school’s website and that the cost information was updated within 60 days after the end of each award year (34 CFR 668.164(f)(4)(iv)(B)) Condition - The College did not follow all the Tier Two arrangement requirements and disclosures. Questioned Costs - None Identification of How Questioned Costs Were Computed - Not applicable Context - The College did not: a. Post the Tier Two arrangement contract on its website b. Provide a URL for the contract to ED for publication in the Cash Management Contracts Database c. Document the due diligence review at least every two years to ascertain whether the fees imposed under the agreement are consistent with or below prevailing market rates d. Post the required cost information related to the arrangement on its website Cause and Effect - The College did not have a control in place to ensure all requirements and disclosures related to the Tier Two arrangements were met. As a result, these requirements were not met during the audit period. Recommendation - We recommend a control be put in place to ensure all requirements and disclosures are made related to the Tier Two arrangement. Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan - The College will ensure that regulations related to Tier Two arrangements are reviewed. On a semiannual basis, the College will review all arrangements service providers for compliance with regulations. In addition, the College will review cash management regulations and references such as Dear Colleague letters on the subject matter to remain current with requirements.

Categories

Student Financial Aid Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Cash Management Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 394755 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 394756 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 394757 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 394758 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 394759 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 971197 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 971198 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 971200 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 971201 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.031 Higher Education_institutional Aid $1.57M
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $468,654
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $447,572
81.123 National Nuclear Security Administration (nnsa) Minority Serving Institutions (msi) Program $334,756
15.904 Historic Preservation Fund Grants-in-Aid $304,939
93.354 Public Health Emergency Response: Cooperative Agreement for Emergency Response: Public Health Crisis Response $229,506
11.028 Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program $179,349
59.043 Women's Business Ownership Assistance $151,076
47.049 Mathematical and Physical Sciences $124,177
84.120 Minority Science and Engineering Improvement $115,620
47.070 Computer and Information Science and Engineering $104,283
93.297 Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Program $83,655
59.077 Community Navigator Pilot Program $83,524
84.047 Trio_upward Bound $75,112
84.425 Covid-19 - Education Stabilization Fund $64,050
47.076 Education and Human Resources $63,988
43.002 Aeronautics $61,551
20.701 University Transportation Centers Program $57,598
81.104 Environmental Remediation and Waste Processing and Disposal $52,822
20.215 Highway Training and Education $40,455
47.083 Integrative Activities $38,618
43.008 Education $31,208
43.RD Aeronautics $15,000
59.043 Covid-19 - Women's Business Ownership Assistance $14,248
17.289 Community Project Funding/congressionally Directed Spending $12,571
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $9,317
11.024 Build to Scale $6,638
93.859 Biomedical Research and Research Training $5,222
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $5,196
12.431 Basic Scientific Research $756