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Session # 25

Session # 25. R2T4 COMPLIANCE ISSUES Dan Klock Federal Student Aid. Today’s Agenda. R2T4 - Compliance Issues Collection of withdrawal information R2T4 Calculation Notification DCL issues Compliance self-monitoring Q & A. Presentation Objectives:.

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Session # 25

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  1. Session # 25 R2T4 COMPLIANCE ISSUES Dan Klock Federal Student Aid

  2. Today’s Agenda • R2T4 - Compliance Issues • Collection of withdrawal information • R2T4 Calculation • Notification • DCL issues • Compliance self-monitoring • Q & A

  3. Presentation Objectives: • Understand that R2T4 non-compliance remains a top finding • Today’s session will equip you to prevent R2T4 findings from occurring on your campus

  4. R2T4 – Compliance Issues • Return to Title IV Funds is a “Top-10” compliance issue for institutions & FSA • FAAs are risk managers • Maximize compliance = Minimize risk • Clear policies and procedures • Quality Control – how do you measure up?

  5. R2T4 - Compliance Issues Top Compliance Concerns: • Incorrect Refund Calculation • Return of Title IV Funds Not Made • Withdrawal Incomplete/Incorrect /Untimely • Refunds Made Late to Title IV Funds Account • Students Not Notified of Refund to Lender • Notification and Confirmation of PWD

  6. R2T4 – Compliance Issues R2T4 on the Web: • How many people use our Free R2T4 OTW software? • How many people are using someone else’s software? • How many are doing hand calculations?

  7. R2T4 – Compliance Issues Policies and Procedures: • Standards of Administrative Capabilities • 34 CFR 668.16(b)(3) – communicates all info received by ANY institutional office that bears on a student’s eligibility for Title IV aid to the person designated to be responsible for administering Title IV, HEA programs

  8. R2T4 – Compliance Issues Policies and Procedures: • Coordination among all campus administrators • Integration between Campus Refund policy and R2T4 policy • Clear information to students • Regular processing • Report generation and problem resolution

  9. Collection of Withdrawal Info. • Institutions required to take attendance • Outside entity has a requirement that the institution take attendance - Nov. 1,2002 change (67 FR 67073)

  10. Required to Take Attendance When the student begins the official withdrawal process at the school When student exceeds the institution’s policy on unexcused absences, not more than two weeks after the withdrawal date Not Required to Take Attendance - When the student begins the official withdrawal process at the school The date the institution becomes aware that the student has ceased attendance Collection of Withdrawal Info. - Date of Determination

  11. Required to Take Attendance The last recorded date of attendance from the institution’s attendance records Not Required to Take Attendance Begins the formal withdrawal process Date student provided intent to withdraw Midpoint – unofficial withdrawal The date a LOA began for a student who does not return from an LOA Illness, accident, grievous personal loss, events beyond the student’s control Academically-related activity Collection of Withdrawal Info. – Withdrawal Date

  12. R2T4 Calculation • For a standardterm based program, use payment period. • For a non-term based or non-standard term program, use payment period or period of enrollment. • For a non-term or non-standard term based program, an institution must consistently use either a PP or POE for all students (in a category) in a particular program.

  13. R2T4 Calculation Since HERA, the Percentage Earned is a one-step process • clock hours scheduled to complete equals > 60% clock hours in the period student has earned 100% of title IV Funds

  14. R2T4 Calculation • Percentage Earned is equal to – calendar days completed calendar days in the period • Note: Exclude institutionally scheduled breaks of 5 or more consecutive days • When a student has completed MORE than 60%, 100% of Title IV funds are earned

  15. R2T4 Calculation Aid That Could Have Been Disbursed • Old Policy -- Aid that could have been disbursed before withdrawal. Did not include - Second loan disbursement, or - Loan within first 30 days. • New Policy -- All aid for period, if conditions for late disbursement were met before the student withdrew. (668.164(g)(2)) • However, if limitations apply, that aid may not be paid to the student. (668.164(g)(4))

  16. R2T4 Calculation • After you calc the amount the student earned - 3 possibilities: • A. The amount disbursed = the amount earned • Eureka! No further action necessary! • B. The amount disbursed > the amount earned • The unearned portion must be returned to the programs • C. The amount disbursed < the amount earned • Post-withdrawal disbursement

  17. R2T4 Calculation • B. The amount disbursed > the amount earned • Calculate the unearned portion from the school • Institution returns the lesser of – • 1.) amount disbursed • 2.) institutional charges x percentage not earned • Calculate the unearned portion that the student owes: Total unearned amt. less amt. school paid

  18. R2T4 Calculation • B. The amount disbursed > the amount earned • Amount of unearned the student owes = • Less Title IV Loans – repay in accordance with the loan repayment provisions • Title IV Grants – the initial amount of the grant (disb’d or could have been disb’d) is multiplied by 50%, this is the amount of TIV grant funds that are protected. The amount of TIV grant funds above this amount is the amount that the student has responsibility to repay

  19. Notification • C. The amount disbursed < the amount earned • Post-withdrawal disbursement (PWD) • Credit the student’s account for direct costs with grant funds only • Notification and confirmation – must notify the student/borrower of all loan amounts for any PWD/Late disbursement and any grant amounts that will be directly disbursed (NOTE: Nov 1, 07 Final Regs) • Must wait for confirmation from the student/borrower • Title IV grant funds • If Title IV loan funds are credited, must notify borrower of right to cancel or reduce loan • If PWD exceeds costs credited – institution must offer PWD w/in 30 days of the date of determination

  20. Notification • Post-withdrawal disbursement (PWD) • 14-day Rule • Institutional flexibility beyond 14-day Rule • 180 days to complete the PWD (NO APPEAL)

  21. Notification • Grant Overpayment Notification • 45-day period of extended eligibility • Notify student w/in 30 days of Date of Determination that s/he must take Positive Action • Fully repay the overpayment • Make arrangements with school to repay • Make arrangements with ED to repay • Institutional monitoring

  22. PWD Notifications/Authorizations Prior RuleHERA Rule Crediting PWD to AccountCrediting PWD to Account Grant-Credit direct cost, w/auth Grant – Credit direct cost, indirect costs w/auth indirect costs Loan-Notify student/parent Loan-Notify and receive confirmation Direct DisbursementDirect Disbursement Grant-Receive confirmation Grant-Notify & receive confirmation Loan-Receive confirmation Loan- Notify & receive confirmation

  23. Written Notifications - HERA • Must ask if student/parent wants • loan credited to the account, and • grant or loan funds as direct disbursement (Nov 1, 2007 Final removes requirement for TIV grant notification for direct disbursement) • Must include reminder of obligation to repay loan funds • Notification ASAP but no later than 30 days after the Date of Determination

  24. Written Notifications - HERA • Student/parent can accept some or all of the aid • Student/parent has 14 days to respond • School can give longer time, provided the timeframe applies both to loan funds to be credited to account or directly disbursed • If response from student/parent is late, school has the option of making the PWD

  25. Written Notifications - HERA • PWD 180-day rule - Nov 1, 07 Final Regs, otherwise 120-day rule • If student/parent declines loan funds to be credited to account, school must comply • Student may not receive direct disbursement of loan funds that the institution wishes to credit to account unless school agrees

  26. Written Notifications - HERA • If no response to the notification is received • loan cannot be credited to account • grant or loan cannot be directly disbursed (Note: Nov 1, 07 Final Regs) • School must document results of notification and final PWD determination

  27. Notifications – Final Regs • Direct disbursement of a Title IV Grant – written notification not needed. • Must disburse ASAP, no later than 45 days after Date of Determination • Loans – written notification ASAP but no later than 30 days after Date of Determination

  28. Compliance Self-Monitoring • R2T4 is one of the most common audit findings • Use our free software • Ease of use • Use reports to manage the process and assure compliance

  29. Compliance Self- Monitoring

  30. Compliance Self-Monitoring • How do I access R2T4OTW? • It’s Easy! • SIGNUP! • Signup via SAIG Enrollment website • https://www.fsawebenroll.ed.gov/PMEnroll Note: The R2T4 Web Application when available will be accessed via FAA Access • https://fafsa.ed.gov/faa/faa.htm

  31. Compliance Self-Monitoring • CUSTOMER SERVICE • Software Support • CPS/WAN Technical Support • CPSSAIG@ed.gov • (800) 330-5947 • Policy • ED's Customer Support center • fsa.customer.support@ed.gov • (800) 433-7327

  32. General Provisions NPRM • Proposed: • Eliminate 34 CFR 668.4(d), thus clock hour and nonterm credit hour programs may not have more than 2 payment periods • Credit hour programs with terms that are NOT substantially equal for R2T4, school must use the payment period during which the student withdrew that ends later (see graphic on next slide).

  33. R2T4 – Payment periods for nonstandard, credit hour programs with terms substantially not equal Academic Year = 24 credit hours & 30 weeks of instruction Terms are 10, 6 and 14 wks in length Payment Periods (PP): Loan – Terms 1 & 2 = 15 wks each Pell - Term 1= 10 wks, Term 2 = 6 wks, Term 3 = 14 wks. Loan PP1 Loan PP2 WD at day 50 Expected to complete 12 hours &15 wks of instructional time Expected to complete Expected to complete 8 hrs and 10 wks 13 hrs and 16 wks of instruction Pell PP1 Pell PP2 Pell PP3

  34. R2T4 – Payment periods for nonstandard, credit hour programs with terms substantially not equal PROPOSED: A. As of the student’s withdrawal date, determine which payment periods ends later Loan PP 1 = 15 wks, or Pell PP 1 = 10 wks, B. Pell Payment Periods and the corresponding amount based on a Scheduled Award of $4,310: PP 1 = 10/30 * $4,310 = $1,437 PP 2 = 6/30 * $4,310 = $ 862 PP 3 = 14/30 * $4,310 = $2,011 Total = $4,310

  35. R2T4 – Payment periods for nonstandard, credit hour programs with terms substantially not equal PROPOSED: C. As of the student’s withdrawal date and before the R2T4 calculation, you must attribute the portion of Pell PP 2 to be included as Aid That Could Have Been Disbursed • Loan PP 1 = 15 wks • Pell PP 1 = 10 wks • Attribution for 5 wks of Pell PP 2 = 5/6 * $862 = $718 D. Total Title IV Aid disbursed or Could Have Been Disbursed for the R2T4 calculation: Loan PP 1 = $1,750 Pell PP 1 = $1,437 Attrib portion of Pell PP 2 = $ 718 Total $3,905

  36. General Provisions NPRM • Late disbursements – from 120 days to 180 days, but no appeal • Crediting a student’s account for minor prior year charges – from $100 to $200

  37. Escheated funds - prohibited • Schools prohibited from allowing Title IV funds to escheat (paid to a third party) • Credit balances and post-withdrawal disbursements • School must ensure that Title IV funds are used only for educational purposes intended • Funds cannot escheat to a third party (state or institutional coffers) • Must have a process to identify non-negotiated checks and return the funds to the Title IV programs before the checks are stale and escheat to an unintended third party • When paid by check, funds must be returned within 240 days after check issued. (See 34 CFR 668.164(h)

  38. Dear Colleague Letter (DCL)GEN-04-03 • Title IV Credit Balances • Aid That Could Have Been Disbursed • Verification not completed before withdrawal • No Passing Grades • Non-Term Programs • Date of Determination that Student Withdrew • Treatment of LEAP Funds

  39. DCL Issues - Title IV Credit Balances • Hold all Title IV Credit Balances until R2T4 calculation is completed. • Credit Balance is “Aid Disbursed.” • Determine if Credit Balance changes because of a Refund Policy or R2T4. • Use Credit Balance to repay TIV Grant Overpayment on behalf of student. • Release Credit Balance within 14 days.

  40. DCL Issues -Aid That Could Have Been Disbursed Old Policy -- Aid that could have been disbursed before withdrawal. Did not include - Second loan disbursement, or - Loan within first 30 days. • New Policy -- All aid for period, if conditions for late disbursement were met before the student withdrew. (668.164(g)(2)) • However, if limitations apply, that aid may not be paid to the student. (668.164(g)(4))

  41. DCL Issues – Conditions for a Late Disbursement • All Student Aid (including Pell) - ED processed SAR/ISIR with official (not necessarily a valid) EFC. (Not needed for PLUS.) • FFEL/Direct Loan - Institution certified or originated the loan. • Perkins/FSEOG - Institution made the award

  42. DCL Issues – Limitations on Making a Late Disbursement • No second or subsequent disbursements of FFEL/DL, unless student completes the period. • No FFEL/DL unless student completes the 30-day delay period. • No Pell Grant without a valid SAR/ISIR by the deadlines in the Federal Register. • No 2nd pp Pell if 1st pp not completed. • No 2nd pp FFEL/DL if 1st pp not completed

  43. DCL – Importance of Aid That Could Have Been Disbursed • If total aid (Aid That Could Have Been Disbursed plus Aid Disbursed) is greater, the amount earned will be greater. • Results in a smaller amount to be returned, or in a post-withdrawal disbursement. • Remember - Aid must correspond to the period for which you are doing the Return Calculation. (pp or period of enrollment)

  44. DCL Issues -Verification • Must complete R2T4 within 30 days. • If Verification not completed • Return Interim Disbursements of aid subject to verification. • Include Unsubsidized and PLUS loans in R2T4. • If Verification completed later, but within Verification timelines • School must perform new R2T4 calculation using additional eligible aid.

  45. DCL Issues – No Passing Grades • School must have a process for determining if student completed. • No passing grade, institution must document completion of period. • Grading Policy that differentiates between Failing, Completed; and Failing, Did Not Complete.

  46. DCL Issues - Non-Term, Credit Hour Programs • Percentage Earned is equal to calendar days completed divided by calendar days in the period. • Project calendar days in period if student is in a Self-Paced Program.

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