Southern University Board Scholarship Program Needs Stronger Oversight; Some Awards Exceeded Maximum Amount Allowed Per Board Member

Of 141 scholarships the Southern University System Board of Supervisors (Board) disbursed over the past two academic years, seven students received scholarship amounts above the maximum $1,000; one student got a scholarship without meeting the GPA requirements; and two board members recommended more in scholarship dollars than their allotted amount.

These were some of the oversight problems Louisiana Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera found with the System's Educational Assistance Scholarship (scholarship) program when financial auditors checked to see whether the scholarships awarded in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 school years complied with the Board's own policy.

Each academic year, each Board member is allotted a certain amount in scholarships, or partial tuition waivers not to exceed $1,000 each, to award to students attending any System institution.

The state auditor found that the System Scholarship Committee had not established the criteria students must meet to receive an award, other than to say that students must be enrolled full- or part-time and that they must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 for undergraduate students and 3.0 for graduate students. Of $143,000 in scholarship money available during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 years, scholarships totaling more than $111,000 were awarded to students.

In the 2013-14 year, 63 scholarships totaling $57,057 were awarded to System students. Of the students receiving those 63 scholarships, five students received more than the maximum $1,000 award and one student received a scholarship without meeting the GPA requirements after transfer credits were applied.

In the 2014-15 year, 78 scholarships totaling $54,000 were awarded to System students. Auditors reviewed 20 scholarship recipients and determined that two students did not receive scholarship amounts in accordance with the scholarship policy. The report also notes that the System Scholarship Committee did not identify that two board members recommended more in scholarship dollars than their allotted amounts.

In addition, the state auditor found that the Board Scholarship Reports the Board submitted as required to the legislature each year reported inaccurate scholarship dollar amounts; listed the names of students who did not receive scholarships; included misspelled student names and inaccurate campus identifications; and were submitted 27 and 58 days late, respectively.

The Legislative Auditor is recommending the System establish more detailed criteria for the awarding of the scholarships and that the System Scholarship Committee and campuses' Offices of Student Financial Aid ensure awards are given according to System policy and accurate, timely reports are submitted to the legislature.