Audit 33924

FY End
2022-06-30
Total Expended
$126.31M
Findings
20
Programs
75
Organization: University of San Diego (CA)
Year: 2022 Accepted: 2022-11-14
Auditor: Moss Adams LLP

Organization Exclusion Status:

Checking exclusion status...

Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
33561 2022-001 Significant Deficiency Yes N
33562 2022-001 Significant Deficiency Yes N
33563 2022-001 Significant Deficiency Yes N
33564 2022-001 Significant Deficiency Yes N
33565 2022-001 Significant Deficiency Yes N
33566 2022-001 Significant Deficiency Yes N
33567 2022-002 Significant Deficiency - N
33568 2022-001 Significant Deficiency Yes N
33569 2022-002 Significant Deficiency - N
33570 2022-001 Significant Deficiency Yes N
610003 2022-001 Significant Deficiency Yes N
610004 2022-001 Significant Deficiency Yes N
610005 2022-001 Significant Deficiency Yes N
610006 2022-001 Significant Deficiency Yes N
610007 2022-001 Significant Deficiency Yes N
610008 2022-001 Significant Deficiency Yes N
610009 2022-002 Significant Deficiency - N
610010 2022-001 Significant Deficiency Yes N
610011 2022-002 Significant Deficiency - N
610012 2022-001 Significant Deficiency Yes N

Programs

ALN Program Spent Major Findings
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans - Ug $70.11M Yes 2
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans - Ls $22.39M Yes 2
84.425 Covid-19 Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund $9.55M Yes 0
84.038 Federal Perkins Loan Program $5.70M Yes 1
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $5.24M Yes 1
93.264 Nurse Faculty Loan Program $3.33M Yes 0
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $1.35M Yes 1
19.703 Oral Adversarial Skill Building Initiative (oasis) $1.25M Yes 0
12.800 Synthetic and Constructive Mathematics of Higher Structures in Homotopy Type Theory $1.19M Yes 0
84.007 Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants $823,643 Yes 1
84.425 Covid-19 Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (esser) $657,099 Yes 0
93.925 Scholarships for Health Professionals From Disadvantaged Backgrounds $620,000 Yes 0
93.732 Opioid Workforce Expansion Program-Professional $432,895 - 0
93.732 Improving Access to Effective Child and Family Services Through Integrated Primary Care $316,261 - 0
47.076 Collaborative Research: Fostering Elementary School Students' Visuospatial Skills and Mathematical Competencies Through An Origami-Based Program $280,008 Yes 0
84.047 Trio - Upward Bound Program $274,135 - 0
11.020 Expanding the San Diego Regional Energy Innovation Network to Underserved Areas in Southern California $193,473 Yes 0
84.217 Trio - McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement $179,659 - 0
59.037 2021 Small Business Development Centers $132,770 - 0
84.367 California Global Education Project Statewide Office $129,603 - 0
59.037 2022 Small Business Development Centers $123,807 - 0
47.076 Engaging with Community for Undergraduate Student Success in Mathematics, Engineering and Science $116,077 Yes 0
47.079 Ires Track I: US-Sweden Clinical Bioinformatics Research Training Program $97,449 Yes 0
21.008 Low-Income Taxpayer Clinics $96,192 - 0
47.041 Expanding Access to and Participation in Midfield $93,887 Yes 0
16.030 The Establishment of A National Center on Restorative Justice $89,544 - 0
16.575 Victims of Crime Act (voca) Legal Assist Program $89,195 - 0
47.050 Career: Small-Scale Plankton-Aggregate Dynamics and the Biological Pump: Integrating Mathematical Biology in Research and Education $77,387 Yes 0
11.420 Assessing Ecosystem Health Through Status and Trends of Contaminants $68,302 Yes 0
16.609 Fy19 Project Safe Neighborhoods (psn) - Southern District of California $61,269 Yes 0
47.041 Iuse/pfe Red: Developing Changemaking Engineers $59,523 Yes 0
84.379 Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (teach) Grants $57,989 Yes 1
47.049 Leaps-Mps: An Ultracold Atom Platform for Undergraduate Training in Quantum Technology $57,581 Yes 0
47.049 Collaborative Research (rui): Understanding Potential Structures and Ion Dynamics Near Sheaths in Electronegative and Electropositive Multi-Species Bounded Plasma $56,536 Yes 0
47.049 Rui: Terpenes As Versatile Building Blocks for Multivalent Polymeric and Nanoparticle Systems $53,505 Yes 0
47.049 Rui: Quantum Kinetics of Neutrinos: A Window on Nuclear and Particle Astrophysics in the Early Universe and Compact Objects $51,954 Yes 0
47.076 Biology Undergraduate Mathematics Attitudes and Anxiety Program (biomaap) $49,057 Yes 0
21.027 Covid-19 Veterans Legal Clinic - Helping Veterans Experiencing Homelessness and Housing Insecurity $46,622 - 0
47.041 Asset-Based Practices in Engineering Design (aprende): Formation of Engineers Through A Funds of Knowledge Approach $45,747 Yes 0
12.800 Mapping Molecular-Level Dynamics to Mesoscale Mechanics in Composite Dna-Based Biomaterials $44,718 Yes 0
12.903 Gencyber Academy of Distinction $40,247 - 0
47.049 Collaborative Research (rui): Understanding Sheath Formation in Electronegative and Electropositive Multiple Ion Species Plasma, Including Both Unmagnetized and Magnetized Cases $39,923 Yes 0
47.076 An Interdisciplinary Faculty Community Using A Protein-Focused Course Based Undergraduate Research Experience (cure) to Improve Student Learning $36,537 Yes 0
47.049 Rui: Phosphine-Directed C-H Borylation: Catalysis Development to Bifunctional Ligand Synthesis $36,529 Yes 0
47.049 Reu Site: Multidisciplinary Chemistry Research: Empowering Scientists to Improve Society $36,341 Yes 0
47.041 Research: Collaborative Research: Sustaining and Scaling the Impact of the Midfield Project at the American Society for Engineering Education $35,768 Yes 0
16.030 National Center on Restorative Justice (ncrj) $35,763 - 0
16.609 Fy18 Project Safe Neighborhoods (psn) - Southern District of California $31,580 Yes 0
45.163 Composite Culture in South Asian History $31,569 - 0
47.076 Reimagining Energy: A Culturally-Sustaining Approach to Engineering Education $31,265 Yes 0
12.630 Overcoming the Bias Against Novelty in High Reliability Organizations $30,439 Yes 0
21.027 Covid-19 Usd California Volunteers Climate Action Scholarship $26,944 - 0
84.367 California Global Education Project at University of San Diego $24,997 - 0
12.800 Homotopy Type Theory: Unified Foundations of Mathematics and Computations $20,901 Yes 0
19.703 Online Course in Oral Litigation Studies and Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms $20,900 Yes 0
47.049 Rui: Quantum Kinetics of Neutrinos: Studying the Universe at the Interface of Neutrino and Nuclear Astrophysics $19,853 Yes 0
47.079 Collaborative Research: Rui: Ires-Track I: Brown Carbon Aerosol Formation by Photooxidation of Phenolic Compounds in Nanodroplets $19,781 Yes 0
14.259 Outreach and Awareness Campaign $13,722 - 0
47.041 Mri: Acquisition of A Rheometer for Interdisciplinary Material Science Research and Training of Undergraduate Researchers $12,273 Yes 0
43.001 NASA "cold Atom Lab Project" $10,352 Yes 0
47.074 Rcn Ube: A National Malate Dehydrogenase Protein-Centric Molecular Life Sciences Course-Based Undergraduate Research Network $8,937 Yes 0
12.556 Oceanside Unified School District Project Service $7,402 - 0
93.242 Personalizing Parent Training Interventions for Culturally Diverse Families $6,252 Yes 0
12.800 Design and Realtime Characterization of Topologically Active Dna-Based Materials $6,162 Yes 0
84.408 Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant (iasg) $6,125 Yes 1
11.008 National Ocean Sciences Bowl 2022 $6,043 - 0
93.859 A Novel in Vitro Microscopy Suite to Elucidate Intracellular Transport and Conformational Dynamics of Nucleic Acids $5,917 Yes 0
47.050 Collaborative Research: Gp-Extra: Oceanographic Shipboard and Lab Research for Diverse Students: Experiential Learning As A Gateway to Geoscience Careers $2,722 Yes 0
11.008 National Ocean Sciences Bowl 2021 $1,144 - 0
93.859 Ecological and Evolutionary Causes and Consequences of Host Heterogeneity Induced by Prior Exposure $803 Yes 0
47.049 Collaborative Research: Understanding Sheaths and Pre-Sheaths in Magnetized and Unmagnetized Plasmas $650 Yes 0
11.008 National Ocean Sciences Bowl 2020 $341 - 0
81.049 Collaborative Research: Understanding Sheaths and Pre-Sheaths in Magnetized and Unmagnetized Plasmas $85 Yes 0
47.076 Integrating and Scaffolding Research Into Undergraduate Curricula: Probing Faculty, Student, Disciplinary, and Institutional Pathways to Transformational Change $57 Yes 0
59.037 Covid-19 - Covid-19 Assistance (sba-Cares) - Sbdc $38 - 0

Contacts

Name Title Type
V6S1GT51XD56 Kathryn Roig Auditee
6192067404 Melissa Harman Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Title: Note 3 - Federal Student Loan Programs: Accounting Policies: Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:Expenditures reported in the Schedule are reported on the accrual basis of accounting. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in 2 CFR 200 subpart E, Uniform Grant Guidance Cost Principles, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. Pass-through identifying numbers are presented where available.The University has elected not to use the 10 percent de minimis indirect cost rate as allowed under the Uniform Guidance. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The University has elected not to use the 10 percent de minimis indirect cost rate as allowed under the Uniform Guidance. The federal student loan programs listed subsequently are administered directly by the University, and balances and transactions related to these programs are included in the Universitys basic financial statements. The prior year loan balance plus loans made during the year are included in the federal expenditures presented in the Schedule. The balances of loans outstanding at June 30, 2022, consist of the following: (See SEFA Note - 3 - Federal Student Loan Programs, for table reference). No administrative cost allowance for the Federal Perkins Loans was claimed for the 20212022 school year.
Title: Note 1 - Basis of Presentation: Accounting Policies: Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:Expenditures reported in the Schedule are reported on the accrual basis of accounting. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in 2 CFR 200 subpart E, Uniform Grant Guidance Cost Principles, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. Pass-through identifying numbers are presented where available.The University has elected not to use the 10 percent de minimis indirect cost rate as allowed under the Uniform Guidance. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The University has elected not to use the 10 percent de minimis indirect cost rate as allowed under the Uniform Guidance. The accompanying schedule of expenditures of federal awards (the Schedule) includes the federal grant activity of University of San Diego (the University) under programs of the federal government for the year ended June 30, 2022. The information in this Schedule is presented in accordance with the requirements of Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements,Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance). Because the Schedule presents only a selected portion of the operations of the University, it is not intended to, and does not, present the financial position, changes in net assets, or cash flows of the University.

Finding Details

FINDING 2022-001 ? Special Tests and Provisions ? Enrollment Reporting: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance "SEE SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTION COSTS FOR CHART/TABLE" Criteria ? Direct Loan, 34 CFR section 685.309(b)(2)(i): An institution is required to notify the Department of Education within 30 to 60 days (depending on the method of communication) if it discovers that a Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, or Direct PLUS Loan has been made to or on behalf of a student who enrolled at that school but has ceased to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis. Condition/Context ? A sample of 34 federal aid recipient students were selected from system generated reports of students who graduated, reported a physical address change, withdrew, or dropped during the 2021-2022 academic year. The enrollment information and withdrawal, address change, or graduation date per the University?s records was compared to the information reported to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) in order to determine if status changes were reported within the required timeframes. An exception was noted whereby the permanent physical address change for 1 student was not reported within the required timeframe to the NSLDS. Effect ? The NSLDS database did not include accurate information until the point at which it was corrected. This information is utilized by Department of Education, the Direct Loan program, lenders, and other institutions to determine in-school status, deferment, and grace periods of student loans. Incorrect information could result in incorrect deferment, grace periods, Billing, and repayment of student loans. Cause ? The University of San Diego contracts with a third-party intermediary to transmit enrollment information to NSLDS. Ultimately, the University of San Diego is responsible for the accuracy and timeliness of its reporting, regardless of whether it uses a third party. For the exceptions noted above, the student status change was not reported within the required time frame or not correctly reported due to the University of San Diego not having effective internal controls established to prevent or detect and correct the non-compliance in a timely manner. Repeat Finding ? This is a repeat finding. See 2021-001. Recommendation ? We recommend the University of San Diego revise its policies to establish a requirement that the list of graduates submitted to NSLDS be reviewed prior to and after being submitted to the NSLDS. We also recommend the University of San Diego establish an internal control to identify and report status changes prior to the established deadline. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions ? Management concurs with this finding. This student had a permanent physical address change before we implemented the change in the process described in finding 2021-001. During the 2021 audit, we identified that the exception to the timeframe for reporting a permanent physical address update was due to an incorrect parameter in the report used to provide the data as a result of employee turnover in the Registrar's Office. Management amended the report parameters to correctly report students who make permanent physical address changes and believes these enhancements will be sufficient to prevent future errors.
FINDING 2022-001 ? Special Tests and Provisions ? Enrollment Reporting: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance "SEE SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTION COSTS FOR CHART/TABLE" Criteria ? Direct Loan, 34 CFR section 685.309(b)(2)(i): An institution is required to notify the Department of Education within 30 to 60 days (depending on the method of communication) if it discovers that a Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, or Direct PLUS Loan has been made to or on behalf of a student who enrolled at that school but has ceased to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis. Condition/Context ? A sample of 34 federal aid recipient students were selected from system generated reports of students who graduated, reported a physical address change, withdrew, or dropped during the 2021-2022 academic year. The enrollment information and withdrawal, address change, or graduation date per the University?s records was compared to the information reported to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) in order to determine if status changes were reported within the required timeframes. An exception was noted whereby the permanent physical address change for 1 student was not reported within the required timeframe to the NSLDS. Effect ? The NSLDS database did not include accurate information until the point at which it was corrected. This information is utilized by Department of Education, the Direct Loan program, lenders, and other institutions to determine in-school status, deferment, and grace periods of student loans. Incorrect information could result in incorrect deferment, grace periods, Billing, and repayment of student loans. Cause ? The University of San Diego contracts with a third-party intermediary to transmit enrollment information to NSLDS. Ultimately, the University of San Diego is responsible for the accuracy and timeliness of its reporting, regardless of whether it uses a third party. For the exceptions noted above, the student status change was not reported within the required time frame or not correctly reported due to the University of San Diego not having effective internal controls established to prevent or detect and correct the non-compliance in a timely manner. Repeat Finding ? This is a repeat finding. See 2021-001. Recommendation ? We recommend the University of San Diego revise its policies to establish a requirement that the list of graduates submitted to NSLDS be reviewed prior to and after being submitted to the NSLDS. We also recommend the University of San Diego establish an internal control to identify and report status changes prior to the established deadline. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions ? Management concurs with this finding. This student had a permanent physical address change before we implemented the change in the process described in finding 2021-001. During the 2021 audit, we identified that the exception to the timeframe for reporting a permanent physical address update was due to an incorrect parameter in the report used to provide the data as a result of employee turnover in the Registrar's Office. Management amended the report parameters to correctly report students who make permanent physical address changes and believes these enhancements will be sufficient to prevent future errors.
FINDING 2022-001 ? Special Tests and Provisions ? Enrollment Reporting: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance "SEE SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTION COSTS FOR CHART/TABLE" Criteria ? Direct Loan, 34 CFR section 685.309(b)(2)(i): An institution is required to notify the Department of Education within 30 to 60 days (depending on the method of communication) if it discovers that a Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, or Direct PLUS Loan has been made to or on behalf of a student who enrolled at that school but has ceased to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis. Condition/Context ? A sample of 34 federal aid recipient students were selected from system generated reports of students who graduated, reported a physical address change, withdrew, or dropped during the 2021-2022 academic year. The enrollment information and withdrawal, address change, or graduation date per the University?s records was compared to the information reported to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) in order to determine if status changes were reported within the required timeframes. An exception was noted whereby the permanent physical address change for 1 student was not reported within the required timeframe to the NSLDS. Effect ? The NSLDS database did not include accurate information until the point at which it was corrected. This information is utilized by Department of Education, the Direct Loan program, lenders, and other institutions to determine in-school status, deferment, and grace periods of student loans. Incorrect information could result in incorrect deferment, grace periods, Billing, and repayment of student loans. Cause ? The University of San Diego contracts with a third-party intermediary to transmit enrollment information to NSLDS. Ultimately, the University of San Diego is responsible for the accuracy and timeliness of its reporting, regardless of whether it uses a third party. For the exceptions noted above, the student status change was not reported within the required time frame or not correctly reported due to the University of San Diego not having effective internal controls established to prevent or detect and correct the non-compliance in a timely manner. Repeat Finding ? This is a repeat finding. See 2021-001. Recommendation ? We recommend the University of San Diego revise its policies to establish a requirement that the list of graduates submitted to NSLDS be reviewed prior to and after being submitted to the NSLDS. We also recommend the University of San Diego establish an internal control to identify and report status changes prior to the established deadline. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions ? Management concurs with this finding. This student had a permanent physical address change before we implemented the change in the process described in finding 2021-001. During the 2021 audit, we identified that the exception to the timeframe for reporting a permanent physical address update was due to an incorrect parameter in the report used to provide the data as a result of employee turnover in the Registrar's Office. Management amended the report parameters to correctly report students who make permanent physical address changes and believes these enhancements will be sufficient to prevent future errors.
FINDING 2022-001 ? Special Tests and Provisions ? Enrollment Reporting: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance "SEE SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTION COSTS FOR CHART/TABLE" Criteria ? Direct Loan, 34 CFR section 685.309(b)(2)(i): An institution is required to notify the Department of Education within 30 to 60 days (depending on the method of communication) if it discovers that a Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, or Direct PLUS Loan has been made to or on behalf of a student who enrolled at that school but has ceased to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis. Condition/Context ? A sample of 34 federal aid recipient students were selected from system generated reports of students who graduated, reported a physical address change, withdrew, or dropped during the 2021-2022 academic year. The enrollment information and withdrawal, address change, or graduation date per the University?s records was compared to the information reported to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) in order to determine if status changes were reported within the required timeframes. An exception was noted whereby the permanent physical address change for 1 student was not reported within the required timeframe to the NSLDS. Effect ? The NSLDS database did not include accurate information until the point at which it was corrected. This information is utilized by Department of Education, the Direct Loan program, lenders, and other institutions to determine in-school status, deferment, and grace periods of student loans. Incorrect information could result in incorrect deferment, grace periods, Billing, and repayment of student loans. Cause ? The University of San Diego contracts with a third-party intermediary to transmit enrollment information to NSLDS. Ultimately, the University of San Diego is responsible for the accuracy and timeliness of its reporting, regardless of whether it uses a third party. For the exceptions noted above, the student status change was not reported within the required time frame or not correctly reported due to the University of San Diego not having effective internal controls established to prevent or detect and correct the non-compliance in a timely manner. Repeat Finding ? This is a repeat finding. See 2021-001. Recommendation ? We recommend the University of San Diego revise its policies to establish a requirement that the list of graduates submitted to NSLDS be reviewed prior to and after being submitted to the NSLDS. We also recommend the University of San Diego establish an internal control to identify and report status changes prior to the established deadline. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions ? Management concurs with this finding. This student had a permanent physical address change before we implemented the change in the process described in finding 2021-001. During the 2021 audit, we identified that the exception to the timeframe for reporting a permanent physical address update was due to an incorrect parameter in the report used to provide the data as a result of employee turnover in the Registrar's Office. Management amended the report parameters to correctly report students who make permanent physical address changes and believes these enhancements will be sufficient to prevent future errors.
FINDING 2022-001 ? Special Tests and Provisions ? Enrollment Reporting: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance "SEE SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTION COSTS FOR CHART/TABLE" Criteria ? Direct Loan, 34 CFR section 685.309(b)(2)(i): An institution is required to notify the Department of Education within 30 to 60 days (depending on the method of communication) if it discovers that a Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, or Direct PLUS Loan has been made to or on behalf of a student who enrolled at that school but has ceased to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis. Condition/Context ? A sample of 34 federal aid recipient students were selected from system generated reports of students who graduated, reported a physical address change, withdrew, or dropped during the 2021-2022 academic year. The enrollment information and withdrawal, address change, or graduation date per the University?s records was compared to the information reported to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) in order to determine if status changes were reported within the required timeframes. An exception was noted whereby the permanent physical address change for 1 student was not reported within the required timeframe to the NSLDS. Effect ? The NSLDS database did not include accurate information until the point at which it was corrected. This information is utilized by Department of Education, the Direct Loan program, lenders, and other institutions to determine in-school status, deferment, and grace periods of student loans. Incorrect information could result in incorrect deferment, grace periods, Billing, and repayment of student loans. Cause ? The University of San Diego contracts with a third-party intermediary to transmit enrollment information to NSLDS. Ultimately, the University of San Diego is responsible for the accuracy and timeliness of its reporting, regardless of whether it uses a third party. For the exceptions noted above, the student status change was not reported within the required time frame or not correctly reported due to the University of San Diego not having effective internal controls established to prevent or detect and correct the non-compliance in a timely manner. Repeat Finding ? This is a repeat finding. See 2021-001. Recommendation ? We recommend the University of San Diego revise its policies to establish a requirement that the list of graduates submitted to NSLDS be reviewed prior to and after being submitted to the NSLDS. We also recommend the University of San Diego establish an internal control to identify and report status changes prior to the established deadline. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions ? Management concurs with this finding. This student had a permanent physical address change before we implemented the change in the process described in finding 2021-001. During the 2021 audit, we identified that the exception to the timeframe for reporting a permanent physical address update was due to an incorrect parameter in the report used to provide the data as a result of employee turnover in the Registrar's Office. Management amended the report parameters to correctly report students who make permanent physical address changes and believes these enhancements will be sufficient to prevent future errors.
FINDING 2022-001 ? Special Tests and Provisions ? Enrollment Reporting: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance "SEE SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTION COSTS FOR CHART/TABLE" Criteria ? Direct Loan, 34 CFR section 685.309(b)(2)(i): An institution is required to notify the Department of Education within 30 to 60 days (depending on the method of communication) if it discovers that a Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, or Direct PLUS Loan has been made to or on behalf of a student who enrolled at that school but has ceased to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis. Condition/Context ? A sample of 34 federal aid recipient students were selected from system generated reports of students who graduated, reported a physical address change, withdrew, or dropped during the 2021-2022 academic year. The enrollment information and withdrawal, address change, or graduation date per the University?s records was compared to the information reported to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) in order to determine if status changes were reported within the required timeframes. An exception was noted whereby the permanent physical address change for 1 student was not reported within the required timeframe to the NSLDS. Effect ? The NSLDS database did not include accurate information until the point at which it was corrected. This information is utilized by Department of Education, the Direct Loan program, lenders, and other institutions to determine in-school status, deferment, and grace periods of student loans. Incorrect information could result in incorrect deferment, grace periods, Billing, and repayment of student loans. Cause ? The University of San Diego contracts with a third-party intermediary to transmit enrollment information to NSLDS. Ultimately, the University of San Diego is responsible for the accuracy and timeliness of its reporting, regardless of whether it uses a third party. For the exceptions noted above, the student status change was not reported within the required time frame or not correctly reported due to the University of San Diego not having effective internal controls established to prevent or detect and correct the non-compliance in a timely manner. Repeat Finding ? This is a repeat finding. See 2021-001. Recommendation ? We recommend the University of San Diego revise its policies to establish a requirement that the list of graduates submitted to NSLDS be reviewed prior to and after being submitted to the NSLDS. We also recommend the University of San Diego establish an internal control to identify and report status changes prior to the established deadline. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions ? Management concurs with this finding. This student had a permanent physical address change before we implemented the change in the process described in finding 2021-001. During the 2021 audit, we identified that the exception to the timeframe for reporting a permanent physical address update was due to an incorrect parameter in the report used to provide the data as a result of employee turnover in the Registrar's Office. Management amended the report parameters to correctly report students who make permanent physical address changes and believes these enhancements will be sufficient to prevent future errors.
FINDING 2022-002 - Special Tests and Provisions - Borrower Data Transmission and Reconciliation: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance: See Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs for Chart/Table. Criteria - 34 CFR 685.300(b)(5) - On a monthly basis, the school must reconcile institutional records with Direct Loan funds received from the Secretary and Direct Loan disbursement records submitted to and accepted by the Secretary. Condition / Context - The University of San Diego operates a law school and an undergraduate and graduate school. A sample of 6 direct loan reconciliations were selected from the population of all reconciliations performed by the University, under both schools during the year ended June 30, 2022. We obtained the supporting schedules used to reconcile the disbursed direct loan funds to the federal government?s records. The University did not complete reconciliations of its direct loan program disbursements for the undergraduate and graduate school. Cause - The process for reconciling this data was revised during the year ended June 30, 2022, and the change was not reflected in the University of San Diego?s policies and procedures. There was turnover in the position responsible for reconciling this data, and the responsibility did not transfer to another individual, and as a result, the reconciliations were not completed. Effect - There is a chance that the University of San Diego?s records may not match the federal government?s records of direct loan disbursement. Repeat finding - This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation - We recommend the University revise its existing policies and procedures to accommodate the change. View of responsible officials - Management concurs with this finding. This exception was due to a change in the undergraduate and graduate school monthly reconciliation process that was not subsequently communicated during employee turnover in the Controller?s Office. Management updated the direct lending servicing system reconciliation procedures to accommodate the change in process. Management believes these enhancements will be sufficient to prevent future errors.
FINDING 2022-001 ? Special Tests and Provisions ? Enrollment Reporting: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance "SEE SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTION COSTS FOR CHART/TABLE" Criteria ? Direct Loan, 34 CFR section 685.309(b)(2)(i): An institution is required to notify the Department of Education within 30 to 60 days (depending on the method of communication) if it discovers that a Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, or Direct PLUS Loan has been made to or on behalf of a student who enrolled at that school but has ceased to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis. Condition/Context ? A sample of 34 federal aid recipient students were selected from system generated reports of students who graduated, reported a physical address change, withdrew, or dropped during the 2021-2022 academic year. The enrollment information and withdrawal, address change, or graduation date per the University?s records was compared to the information reported to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) in order to determine if status changes were reported within the required timeframes. An exception was noted whereby the permanent physical address change for 1 student was not reported within the required timeframe to the NSLDS. Effect ? The NSLDS database did not include accurate information until the point at which it was corrected. This information is utilized by Department of Education, the Direct Loan program, lenders, and other institutions to determine in-school status, deferment, and grace periods of student loans. Incorrect information could result in incorrect deferment, grace periods, Billing, and repayment of student loans. Cause ? The University of San Diego contracts with a third-party intermediary to transmit enrollment information to NSLDS. Ultimately, the University of San Diego is responsible for the accuracy and timeliness of its reporting, regardless of whether it uses a third party. For the exceptions noted above, the student status change was not reported within the required time frame or not correctly reported due to the University of San Diego not having effective internal controls established to prevent or detect and correct the non-compliance in a timely manner. Repeat Finding ? This is a repeat finding. See 2021-001. Recommendation ? We recommend the University of San Diego revise its policies to establish a requirement that the list of graduates submitted to NSLDS be reviewed prior to and after being submitted to the NSLDS. We also recommend the University of San Diego establish an internal control to identify and report status changes prior to the established deadline. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions ? Management concurs with this finding. This student had a permanent physical address change before we implemented the change in the process described in finding 2021-001. During the 2021 audit, we identified that the exception to the timeframe for reporting a permanent physical address update was due to an incorrect parameter in the report used to provide the data as a result of employee turnover in the Registrar's Office. Management amended the report parameters to correctly report students who make permanent physical address changes and believes these enhancements will be sufficient to prevent future errors.
FINDING 2022-002 - Special Tests and Provisions - Borrower Data Transmission and Reconciliation: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance: See Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs for Chart/Table. Criteria - 34 CFR 685.300(b)(5) - On a monthly basis, the school must reconcile institutional records with Direct Loan funds received from the Secretary and Direct Loan disbursement records submitted to and accepted by the Secretary. Condition / Context - The University of San Diego operates a law school and an undergraduate and graduate school. A sample of 6 direct loan reconciliations were selected from the population of all reconciliations performed by the University, under both schools during the year ended June 30, 2022. We obtained the supporting schedules used to reconcile the disbursed direct loan funds to the federal government?s records. The University did not complete reconciliations of its direct loan program disbursements for the undergraduate and graduate school. Cause - The process for reconciling this data was revised during the year ended June 30, 2022, and the change was not reflected in the University of San Diego?s policies and procedures. There was turnover in the position responsible for reconciling this data, and the responsibility did not transfer to another individual, and as a result, the reconciliations were not completed. Effect - There is a chance that the University of San Diego?s records may not match the federal government?s records of direct loan disbursement. Repeat finding - This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation - We recommend the University revise its existing policies and procedures to accommodate the change. View of responsible officials - Management concurs with this finding. This exception was due to a change in the undergraduate and graduate school monthly reconciliation process that was not subsequently communicated during employee turnover in the Controller?s Office. Management updated the direct lending servicing system reconciliation procedures to accommodate the change in process. Management believes these enhancements will be sufficient to prevent future errors.
FINDING 2022-001 ? Special Tests and Provisions ? Enrollment Reporting: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance "SEE SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTION COSTS FOR CHART/TABLE" Criteria ? Direct Loan, 34 CFR section 685.309(b)(2)(i): An institution is required to notify the Department of Education within 30 to 60 days (depending on the method of communication) if it discovers that a Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, or Direct PLUS Loan has been made to or on behalf of a student who enrolled at that school but has ceased to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis. Condition/Context ? A sample of 34 federal aid recipient students were selected from system generated reports of students who graduated, reported a physical address change, withdrew, or dropped during the 2021-2022 academic year. The enrollment information and withdrawal, address change, or graduation date per the University?s records was compared to the information reported to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) in order to determine if status changes were reported within the required timeframes. An exception was noted whereby the permanent physical address change for 1 student was not reported within the required timeframe to the NSLDS. Effect ? The NSLDS database did not include accurate information until the point at which it was corrected. This information is utilized by Department of Education, the Direct Loan program, lenders, and other institutions to determine in-school status, deferment, and grace periods of student loans. Incorrect information could result in incorrect deferment, grace periods, Billing, and repayment of student loans. Cause ? The University of San Diego contracts with a third-party intermediary to transmit enrollment information to NSLDS. Ultimately, the University of San Diego is responsible for the accuracy and timeliness of its reporting, regardless of whether it uses a third party. For the exceptions noted above, the student status change was not reported within the required time frame or not correctly reported due to the University of San Diego not having effective internal controls established to prevent or detect and correct the non-compliance in a timely manner. Repeat Finding ? This is a repeat finding. See 2021-001. Recommendation ? We recommend the University of San Diego revise its policies to establish a requirement that the list of graduates submitted to NSLDS be reviewed prior to and after being submitted to the NSLDS. We also recommend the University of San Diego establish an internal control to identify and report status changes prior to the established deadline. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions ? Management concurs with this finding. This student had a permanent physical address change before we implemented the change in the process described in finding 2021-001. During the 2021 audit, we identified that the exception to the timeframe for reporting a permanent physical address update was due to an incorrect parameter in the report used to provide the data as a result of employee turnover in the Registrar's Office. Management amended the report parameters to correctly report students who make permanent physical address changes and believes these enhancements will be sufficient to prevent future errors.
FINDING 2022-001 ? Special Tests and Provisions ? Enrollment Reporting: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance "SEE SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTION COSTS FOR CHART/TABLE" Criteria ? Direct Loan, 34 CFR section 685.309(b)(2)(i): An institution is required to notify the Department of Education within 30 to 60 days (depending on the method of communication) if it discovers that a Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, or Direct PLUS Loan has been made to or on behalf of a student who enrolled at that school but has ceased to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis. Condition/Context ? A sample of 34 federal aid recipient students were selected from system generated reports of students who graduated, reported a physical address change, withdrew, or dropped during the 2021-2022 academic year. The enrollment information and withdrawal, address change, or graduation date per the University?s records was compared to the information reported to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) in order to determine if status changes were reported within the required timeframes. An exception was noted whereby the permanent physical address change for 1 student was not reported within the required timeframe to the NSLDS. Effect ? The NSLDS database did not include accurate information until the point at which it was corrected. This information is utilized by Department of Education, the Direct Loan program, lenders, and other institutions to determine in-school status, deferment, and grace periods of student loans. Incorrect information could result in incorrect deferment, grace periods, Billing, and repayment of student loans. Cause ? The University of San Diego contracts with a third-party intermediary to transmit enrollment information to NSLDS. Ultimately, the University of San Diego is responsible for the accuracy and timeliness of its reporting, regardless of whether it uses a third party. For the exceptions noted above, the student status change was not reported within the required time frame or not correctly reported due to the University of San Diego not having effective internal controls established to prevent or detect and correct the non-compliance in a timely manner. Repeat Finding ? This is a repeat finding. See 2021-001. Recommendation ? We recommend the University of San Diego revise its policies to establish a requirement that the list of graduates submitted to NSLDS be reviewed prior to and after being submitted to the NSLDS. We also recommend the University of San Diego establish an internal control to identify and report status changes prior to the established deadline. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions ? Management concurs with this finding. This student had a permanent physical address change before we implemented the change in the process described in finding 2021-001. During the 2021 audit, we identified that the exception to the timeframe for reporting a permanent physical address update was due to an incorrect parameter in the report used to provide the data as a result of employee turnover in the Registrar's Office. Management amended the report parameters to correctly report students who make permanent physical address changes and believes these enhancements will be sufficient to prevent future errors.
FINDING 2022-001 ? Special Tests and Provisions ? Enrollment Reporting: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance "SEE SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTION COSTS FOR CHART/TABLE" Criteria ? Direct Loan, 34 CFR section 685.309(b)(2)(i): An institution is required to notify the Department of Education within 30 to 60 days (depending on the method of communication) if it discovers that a Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, or Direct PLUS Loan has been made to or on behalf of a student who enrolled at that school but has ceased to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis. Condition/Context ? A sample of 34 federal aid recipient students were selected from system generated reports of students who graduated, reported a physical address change, withdrew, or dropped during the 2021-2022 academic year. The enrollment information and withdrawal, address change, or graduation date per the University?s records was compared to the information reported to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) in order to determine if status changes were reported within the required timeframes. An exception was noted whereby the permanent physical address change for 1 student was not reported within the required timeframe to the NSLDS. Effect ? The NSLDS database did not include accurate information until the point at which it was corrected. This information is utilized by Department of Education, the Direct Loan program, lenders, and other institutions to determine in-school status, deferment, and grace periods of student loans. Incorrect information could result in incorrect deferment, grace periods, Billing, and repayment of student loans. Cause ? The University of San Diego contracts with a third-party intermediary to transmit enrollment information to NSLDS. Ultimately, the University of San Diego is responsible for the accuracy and timeliness of its reporting, regardless of whether it uses a third party. For the exceptions noted above, the student status change was not reported within the required time frame or not correctly reported due to the University of San Diego not having effective internal controls established to prevent or detect and correct the non-compliance in a timely manner. Repeat Finding ? This is a repeat finding. See 2021-001. Recommendation ? We recommend the University of San Diego revise its policies to establish a requirement that the list of graduates submitted to NSLDS be reviewed prior to and after being submitted to the NSLDS. We also recommend the University of San Diego establish an internal control to identify and report status changes prior to the established deadline. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions ? Management concurs with this finding. This student had a permanent physical address change before we implemented the change in the process described in finding 2021-001. During the 2021 audit, we identified that the exception to the timeframe for reporting a permanent physical address update was due to an incorrect parameter in the report used to provide the data as a result of employee turnover in the Registrar's Office. Management amended the report parameters to correctly report students who make permanent physical address changes and believes these enhancements will be sufficient to prevent future errors.
FINDING 2022-001 ? Special Tests and Provisions ? Enrollment Reporting: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance "SEE SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTION COSTS FOR CHART/TABLE" Criteria ? Direct Loan, 34 CFR section 685.309(b)(2)(i): An institution is required to notify the Department of Education within 30 to 60 days (depending on the method of communication) if it discovers that a Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, or Direct PLUS Loan has been made to or on behalf of a student who enrolled at that school but has ceased to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis. Condition/Context ? A sample of 34 federal aid recipient students were selected from system generated reports of students who graduated, reported a physical address change, withdrew, or dropped during the 2021-2022 academic year. The enrollment information and withdrawal, address change, or graduation date per the University?s records was compared to the information reported to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) in order to determine if status changes were reported within the required timeframes. An exception was noted whereby the permanent physical address change for 1 student was not reported within the required timeframe to the NSLDS. Effect ? The NSLDS database did not include accurate information until the point at which it was corrected. This information is utilized by Department of Education, the Direct Loan program, lenders, and other institutions to determine in-school status, deferment, and grace periods of student loans. Incorrect information could result in incorrect deferment, grace periods, Billing, and repayment of student loans. Cause ? The University of San Diego contracts with a third-party intermediary to transmit enrollment information to NSLDS. Ultimately, the University of San Diego is responsible for the accuracy and timeliness of its reporting, regardless of whether it uses a third party. For the exceptions noted above, the student status change was not reported within the required time frame or not correctly reported due to the University of San Diego not having effective internal controls established to prevent or detect and correct the non-compliance in a timely manner. Repeat Finding ? This is a repeat finding. See 2021-001. Recommendation ? We recommend the University of San Diego revise its policies to establish a requirement that the list of graduates submitted to NSLDS be reviewed prior to and after being submitted to the NSLDS. We also recommend the University of San Diego establish an internal control to identify and report status changes prior to the established deadline. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions ? Management concurs with this finding. This student had a permanent physical address change before we implemented the change in the process described in finding 2021-001. During the 2021 audit, we identified that the exception to the timeframe for reporting a permanent physical address update was due to an incorrect parameter in the report used to provide the data as a result of employee turnover in the Registrar's Office. Management amended the report parameters to correctly report students who make permanent physical address changes and believes these enhancements will be sufficient to prevent future errors.
FINDING 2022-001 ? Special Tests and Provisions ? Enrollment Reporting: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance "SEE SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTION COSTS FOR CHART/TABLE" Criteria ? Direct Loan, 34 CFR section 685.309(b)(2)(i): An institution is required to notify the Department of Education within 30 to 60 days (depending on the method of communication) if it discovers that a Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, or Direct PLUS Loan has been made to or on behalf of a student who enrolled at that school but has ceased to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis. Condition/Context ? A sample of 34 federal aid recipient students were selected from system generated reports of students who graduated, reported a physical address change, withdrew, or dropped during the 2021-2022 academic year. The enrollment information and withdrawal, address change, or graduation date per the University?s records was compared to the information reported to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) in order to determine if status changes were reported within the required timeframes. An exception was noted whereby the permanent physical address change for 1 student was not reported within the required timeframe to the NSLDS. Effect ? The NSLDS database did not include accurate information until the point at which it was corrected. This information is utilized by Department of Education, the Direct Loan program, lenders, and other institutions to determine in-school status, deferment, and grace periods of student loans. Incorrect information could result in incorrect deferment, grace periods, Billing, and repayment of student loans. Cause ? The University of San Diego contracts with a third-party intermediary to transmit enrollment information to NSLDS. Ultimately, the University of San Diego is responsible for the accuracy and timeliness of its reporting, regardless of whether it uses a third party. For the exceptions noted above, the student status change was not reported within the required time frame or not correctly reported due to the University of San Diego not having effective internal controls established to prevent or detect and correct the non-compliance in a timely manner. Repeat Finding ? This is a repeat finding. See 2021-001. Recommendation ? We recommend the University of San Diego revise its policies to establish a requirement that the list of graduates submitted to NSLDS be reviewed prior to and after being submitted to the NSLDS. We also recommend the University of San Diego establish an internal control to identify and report status changes prior to the established deadline. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions ? Management concurs with this finding. This student had a permanent physical address change before we implemented the change in the process described in finding 2021-001. During the 2021 audit, we identified that the exception to the timeframe for reporting a permanent physical address update was due to an incorrect parameter in the report used to provide the data as a result of employee turnover in the Registrar's Office. Management amended the report parameters to correctly report students who make permanent physical address changes and believes these enhancements will be sufficient to prevent future errors.
FINDING 2022-001 ? Special Tests and Provisions ? Enrollment Reporting: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance "SEE SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTION COSTS FOR CHART/TABLE" Criteria ? Direct Loan, 34 CFR section 685.309(b)(2)(i): An institution is required to notify the Department of Education within 30 to 60 days (depending on the method of communication) if it discovers that a Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, or Direct PLUS Loan has been made to or on behalf of a student who enrolled at that school but has ceased to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis. Condition/Context ? A sample of 34 federal aid recipient students were selected from system generated reports of students who graduated, reported a physical address change, withdrew, or dropped during the 2021-2022 academic year. The enrollment information and withdrawal, address change, or graduation date per the University?s records was compared to the information reported to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) in order to determine if status changes were reported within the required timeframes. An exception was noted whereby the permanent physical address change for 1 student was not reported within the required timeframe to the NSLDS. Effect ? The NSLDS database did not include accurate information until the point at which it was corrected. This information is utilized by Department of Education, the Direct Loan program, lenders, and other institutions to determine in-school status, deferment, and grace periods of student loans. Incorrect information could result in incorrect deferment, grace periods, Billing, and repayment of student loans. Cause ? The University of San Diego contracts with a third-party intermediary to transmit enrollment information to NSLDS. Ultimately, the University of San Diego is responsible for the accuracy and timeliness of its reporting, regardless of whether it uses a third party. For the exceptions noted above, the student status change was not reported within the required time frame or not correctly reported due to the University of San Diego not having effective internal controls established to prevent or detect and correct the non-compliance in a timely manner. Repeat Finding ? This is a repeat finding. See 2021-001. Recommendation ? We recommend the University of San Diego revise its policies to establish a requirement that the list of graduates submitted to NSLDS be reviewed prior to and after being submitted to the NSLDS. We also recommend the University of San Diego establish an internal control to identify and report status changes prior to the established deadline. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions ? Management concurs with this finding. This student had a permanent physical address change before we implemented the change in the process described in finding 2021-001. During the 2021 audit, we identified that the exception to the timeframe for reporting a permanent physical address update was due to an incorrect parameter in the report used to provide the data as a result of employee turnover in the Registrar's Office. Management amended the report parameters to correctly report students who make permanent physical address changes and believes these enhancements will be sufficient to prevent future errors.
FINDING 2022-001 ? Special Tests and Provisions ? Enrollment Reporting: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance "SEE SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTION COSTS FOR CHART/TABLE" Criteria ? Direct Loan, 34 CFR section 685.309(b)(2)(i): An institution is required to notify the Department of Education within 30 to 60 days (depending on the method of communication) if it discovers that a Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, or Direct PLUS Loan has been made to or on behalf of a student who enrolled at that school but has ceased to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis. Condition/Context ? A sample of 34 federal aid recipient students were selected from system generated reports of students who graduated, reported a physical address change, withdrew, or dropped during the 2021-2022 academic year. The enrollment information and withdrawal, address change, or graduation date per the University?s records was compared to the information reported to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) in order to determine if status changes were reported within the required timeframes. An exception was noted whereby the permanent physical address change for 1 student was not reported within the required timeframe to the NSLDS. Effect ? The NSLDS database did not include accurate information until the point at which it was corrected. This information is utilized by Department of Education, the Direct Loan program, lenders, and other institutions to determine in-school status, deferment, and grace periods of student loans. Incorrect information could result in incorrect deferment, grace periods, Billing, and repayment of student loans. Cause ? The University of San Diego contracts with a third-party intermediary to transmit enrollment information to NSLDS. Ultimately, the University of San Diego is responsible for the accuracy and timeliness of its reporting, regardless of whether it uses a third party. For the exceptions noted above, the student status change was not reported within the required time frame or not correctly reported due to the University of San Diego not having effective internal controls established to prevent or detect and correct the non-compliance in a timely manner. Repeat Finding ? This is a repeat finding. See 2021-001. Recommendation ? We recommend the University of San Diego revise its policies to establish a requirement that the list of graduates submitted to NSLDS be reviewed prior to and after being submitted to the NSLDS. We also recommend the University of San Diego establish an internal control to identify and report status changes prior to the established deadline. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions ? Management concurs with this finding. This student had a permanent physical address change before we implemented the change in the process described in finding 2021-001. During the 2021 audit, we identified that the exception to the timeframe for reporting a permanent physical address update was due to an incorrect parameter in the report used to provide the data as a result of employee turnover in the Registrar's Office. Management amended the report parameters to correctly report students who make permanent physical address changes and believes these enhancements will be sufficient to prevent future errors.
FINDING 2022-002 - Special Tests and Provisions - Borrower Data Transmission and Reconciliation: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance: See Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs for Chart/Table. Criteria - 34 CFR 685.300(b)(5) - On a monthly basis, the school must reconcile institutional records with Direct Loan funds received from the Secretary and Direct Loan disbursement records submitted to and accepted by the Secretary. Condition / Context - The University of San Diego operates a law school and an undergraduate and graduate school. A sample of 6 direct loan reconciliations were selected from the population of all reconciliations performed by the University, under both schools during the year ended June 30, 2022. We obtained the supporting schedules used to reconcile the disbursed direct loan funds to the federal government?s records. The University did not complete reconciliations of its direct loan program disbursements for the undergraduate and graduate school. Cause - The process for reconciling this data was revised during the year ended June 30, 2022, and the change was not reflected in the University of San Diego?s policies and procedures. There was turnover in the position responsible for reconciling this data, and the responsibility did not transfer to another individual, and as a result, the reconciliations were not completed. Effect - There is a chance that the University of San Diego?s records may not match the federal government?s records of direct loan disbursement. Repeat finding - This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation - We recommend the University revise its existing policies and procedures to accommodate the change. View of responsible officials - Management concurs with this finding. This exception was due to a change in the undergraduate and graduate school monthly reconciliation process that was not subsequently communicated during employee turnover in the Controller?s Office. Management updated the direct lending servicing system reconciliation procedures to accommodate the change in process. Management believes these enhancements will be sufficient to prevent future errors.
FINDING 2022-001 ? Special Tests and Provisions ? Enrollment Reporting: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance "SEE SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTION COSTS FOR CHART/TABLE" Criteria ? Direct Loan, 34 CFR section 685.309(b)(2)(i): An institution is required to notify the Department of Education within 30 to 60 days (depending on the method of communication) if it discovers that a Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, or Direct PLUS Loan has been made to or on behalf of a student who enrolled at that school but has ceased to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis. Condition/Context ? A sample of 34 federal aid recipient students were selected from system generated reports of students who graduated, reported a physical address change, withdrew, or dropped during the 2021-2022 academic year. The enrollment information and withdrawal, address change, or graduation date per the University?s records was compared to the information reported to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) in order to determine if status changes were reported within the required timeframes. An exception was noted whereby the permanent physical address change for 1 student was not reported within the required timeframe to the NSLDS. Effect ? The NSLDS database did not include accurate information until the point at which it was corrected. This information is utilized by Department of Education, the Direct Loan program, lenders, and other institutions to determine in-school status, deferment, and grace periods of student loans. Incorrect information could result in incorrect deferment, grace periods, Billing, and repayment of student loans. Cause ? The University of San Diego contracts with a third-party intermediary to transmit enrollment information to NSLDS. Ultimately, the University of San Diego is responsible for the accuracy and timeliness of its reporting, regardless of whether it uses a third party. For the exceptions noted above, the student status change was not reported within the required time frame or not correctly reported due to the University of San Diego not having effective internal controls established to prevent or detect and correct the non-compliance in a timely manner. Repeat Finding ? This is a repeat finding. See 2021-001. Recommendation ? We recommend the University of San Diego revise its policies to establish a requirement that the list of graduates submitted to NSLDS be reviewed prior to and after being submitted to the NSLDS. We also recommend the University of San Diego establish an internal control to identify and report status changes prior to the established deadline. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions ? Management concurs with this finding. This student had a permanent physical address change before we implemented the change in the process described in finding 2021-001. During the 2021 audit, we identified that the exception to the timeframe for reporting a permanent physical address update was due to an incorrect parameter in the report used to provide the data as a result of employee turnover in the Registrar's Office. Management amended the report parameters to correctly report students who make permanent physical address changes and believes these enhancements will be sufficient to prevent future errors.
FINDING 2022-002 - Special Tests and Provisions - Borrower Data Transmission and Reconciliation: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance: See Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs for Chart/Table. Criteria - 34 CFR 685.300(b)(5) - On a monthly basis, the school must reconcile institutional records with Direct Loan funds received from the Secretary and Direct Loan disbursement records submitted to and accepted by the Secretary. Condition / Context - The University of San Diego operates a law school and an undergraduate and graduate school. A sample of 6 direct loan reconciliations were selected from the population of all reconciliations performed by the University, under both schools during the year ended June 30, 2022. We obtained the supporting schedules used to reconcile the disbursed direct loan funds to the federal government?s records. The University did not complete reconciliations of its direct loan program disbursements for the undergraduate and graduate school. Cause - The process for reconciling this data was revised during the year ended June 30, 2022, and the change was not reflected in the University of San Diego?s policies and procedures. There was turnover in the position responsible for reconciling this data, and the responsibility did not transfer to another individual, and as a result, the reconciliations were not completed. Effect - There is a chance that the University of San Diego?s records may not match the federal government?s records of direct loan disbursement. Repeat finding - This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation - We recommend the University revise its existing policies and procedures to accommodate the change. View of responsible officials - Management concurs with this finding. This exception was due to a change in the undergraduate and graduate school monthly reconciliation process that was not subsequently communicated during employee turnover in the Controller?s Office. Management updated the direct lending servicing system reconciliation procedures to accommodate the change in process. Management believes these enhancements will be sufficient to prevent future errors.
FINDING 2022-001 ? Special Tests and Provisions ? Enrollment Reporting: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance "SEE SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTION COSTS FOR CHART/TABLE" Criteria ? Direct Loan, 34 CFR section 685.309(b)(2)(i): An institution is required to notify the Department of Education within 30 to 60 days (depending on the method of communication) if it discovers that a Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, or Direct PLUS Loan has been made to or on behalf of a student who enrolled at that school but has ceased to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis. Condition/Context ? A sample of 34 federal aid recipient students were selected from system generated reports of students who graduated, reported a physical address change, withdrew, or dropped during the 2021-2022 academic year. The enrollment information and withdrawal, address change, or graduation date per the University?s records was compared to the information reported to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) in order to determine if status changes were reported within the required timeframes. An exception was noted whereby the permanent physical address change for 1 student was not reported within the required timeframe to the NSLDS. Effect ? The NSLDS database did not include accurate information until the point at which it was corrected. This information is utilized by Department of Education, the Direct Loan program, lenders, and other institutions to determine in-school status, deferment, and grace periods of student loans. Incorrect information could result in incorrect deferment, grace periods, Billing, and repayment of student loans. Cause ? The University of San Diego contracts with a third-party intermediary to transmit enrollment information to NSLDS. Ultimately, the University of San Diego is responsible for the accuracy and timeliness of its reporting, regardless of whether it uses a third party. For the exceptions noted above, the student status change was not reported within the required time frame or not correctly reported due to the University of San Diego not having effective internal controls established to prevent or detect and correct the non-compliance in a timely manner. Repeat Finding ? This is a repeat finding. See 2021-001. Recommendation ? We recommend the University of San Diego revise its policies to establish a requirement that the list of graduates submitted to NSLDS be reviewed prior to and after being submitted to the NSLDS. We also recommend the University of San Diego establish an internal control to identify and report status changes prior to the established deadline. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions ? Management concurs with this finding. This student had a permanent physical address change before we implemented the change in the process described in finding 2021-001. During the 2021 audit, we identified that the exception to the timeframe for reporting a permanent physical address update was due to an incorrect parameter in the report used to provide the data as a result of employee turnover in the Registrar's Office. Management amended the report parameters to correctly report students who make permanent physical address changes and believes these enhancements will be sufficient to prevent future errors.