The University Finance Board's reducing of financial aid to

The University Finance Board's reducing of financial aid to underprivileged students fails at recognizing the real and compelling needs of these students.

Before the underlined part begins, the question stem says "The university Finance Board's", the word next should explain the action of the Finance Board. Now let's look at the answer choices.

1. The correct work after Finance board is reduction and not reducing. Using this split we can eliminate choices A and B.
2. The subject is here singular, so 'represent' is not correct. The correct usage is 'represents'. We can eliminate choice E.

Now we are left with C and D

In choice C, the wording 'represents a failure at recognizing' is awkward.

Choice D does not have any errors and it's the best choice in my opinion.

Ans: D

VeritasPrepKarishma - Can you please let me know the right choice between 'Failure at recognizing' and 'Failure to recognize'