A Performance Audit
An Audit Report on Financial Management Processes at the Higher Education Coordinating Board
June 2020
Summary Analysis
The Higher Education Coordinating Board (Coordinating Board) complied with the requirements of the Texas Education Code and the Texas Administrative Code for allocating and distributing Toward Excellence, Access, and Success (TEXAS) grant funds to higher education institutions for fiscal year 2020.
In addition, Tarleton State University and the University of Houston-Downtown administered the TEXAS grant in accordance with requirements by awarding TEXAS grants to eligible students. Both universities also had sufficient controls over the information systems that maintained TEXAS grant student financial aid data and eligibility information.
Audited Contract
The Coordinating Board administered its contract with Nelnet Servicing, LLC for its loan management system in accordance with most applicable statutes and the State of Texas Contract Management Guide. Specifically, the Coordinating Board (1) performed contract planning activities necessary for determining the contract objectives, (2) identified the appropriate procurement method, (3) formed the contract with all key contract provisions required by the State of Texas Contract Management Guide, and (4) monitored key contract deliverables. However, it did not consistently ensure that all members of the evaluation team signed required disclosure forms.
The Higher Education Coordinating Board (Coordinating Board) complied with the requirements of the Texas Education Code and the Texas Administrative Code for allocating and distributing Toward Excellence, Access and Success (TEXAS) grant funds to institutions of higher education for fiscal year 2020.
Tarleton State University and the University of Houston-Downtown administered the TEXAS grant in accordance with Texas Education Code and the Texas Administrative Code requirements. Both universities also had sufficient controls over the information systems that maintained TEXAS grant student financial aid data and eligibility information.
The Coordinating Board administered the audited contract in accordance with applicable statutes and the State of Texas Contract Management Guide. Specifically, the Coordinating Board (1) performed contract planning activities necessary for determining the contract objectives; (2) identified the appropriate procurement method; (3) formed the contract with all key contract provisions required by the State of Texas Contract Management Guide; and (4) monitored key contract deliverables.
The Coordinating Board did not ensure that all members of the bid evaluation team and contract management personnel involved in the audited contract completed the required disclosure forms.
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