Summary
| Report Number: | 02-025 |
|---|---|
| Report Title: | Universities and Community Colleges - Florida Student Assistance Grants (FSAG) |
| Report Period: | FYE 06/30/2000 |
| Release Date: | 08/30/2001 |
Audit Scope and Objectives
This operational audit focused on the public universities’ and community colleges’ administration of the various compliance and administrative requirements for the Florida Student Assistance Grants (FSAG) received from FDOE. Our review concentrated on the Fall 1999 and Spring 2000 terms at each institution. Our audit focused primarily on each institution’s procedures for determining eligibility and awards, reporting requirements, and management controls over available moneys. The objectives of our audit were as follows:
- To determine that the State’s universities and community colleges properly administered and accounted for Program moneys in accordance with the governing provisions of laws, administrative rules, and other guidelines.
- To determine the extent to which the State’s universities’ and community colleges’ management controls promote and encourage compliance with applicable laws, administrative rules, and other guidelines; the reliability of financial records and reports; and the safeguarding of assets relating to the Program.
- To identify statutory and fiscal changes in the category of substantive law and policy issues related to the Program that may be recommended to the Legislature pursuant to Section 11.42(6), Florida Statutes.
Summary of Audit Findings
Finding No. 1: We noted that three reports used by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) to monitor program requirements were not always timely filed by participating institutions.
Finding No. 2: Three institutions did not return the undisbursed Florida Student Assistance Grants (FSAG) funds to FDOE by April 1, 2000, preventing redistribution of funds to other eligible students. Also, these institutions did not return final unused funds to FDOE prior to June 1, 2000, preventing a final accounting and receipt of unused funds for the year.
Finding No. 3: Several institutions did not complete an annual reconciliation of their financial aid disbursement records with those of FDOE, while other institutions did not do so in a timely manner. We also noted that some institutions did not complete an annual reconciliation of institutional accounting records with FDOE records.
Finding No. 4: We noted numerous instances in which institutions reported incorrect grade point averages and credit hours earned. In addition, there was no comparability of reporting among some institutions because of confusion over how to report grade point average and hours earned.
Finding No. 5: We noted that five students at four institutions received FSAG awards although these students appeared to be ineligible.
Finding No. 6: Contrary to the FDOE State Program Policy Manual, 20 students received the total annual FSAG award amount in one term, even though the students were enrolled full-time for just one term.
Finding No. 7: We noted that institutions were not determining if FSAG recipients were in default on a State loan program or owed a repayment of a State grant.
The Presidents of the universities and community colleges provided their responses to our audit findings and recommendations which are included in audit report No. 02-025. The responses, in their entirety, may be viewed on the Auditor General's Web site.