Audit 350372

FY End
2024-06-30
Total Expended
$244.70M
Findings
4
Programs
125
Organization: Syracuse University (NY)
Year: 2024 Accepted: 2025-03-30
Auditor: Kpmg LLP

Organization Exclusion Status:

Checking exclusion status...

Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
540601 2024-001 Significant Deficiency - N
540602 2024-001 Significant Deficiency - N
1117043 2024-001 Significant Deficiency - N
1117044 2024-001 Significant Deficiency - N

Programs

ALN Program Spent Major Findings
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $150.63M Yes 1
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $15.92M Yes 1
84.038 Federal Perkins Loan Program_federal Capital Contributions $12.10M Yes 0
93.323 Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases (elc) $6.69M - 0
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $3.70M Yes 0
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $2.33M Yes 0
59.077 Community Navigator Pilot Program $1.99M - 0
12.U01 Army Defense Comptrollership Program & Defense Programs $1.55M - 0
59.044 Veterans Outreach Program $1.29M - 0
47.076 Stem Education (formerly Education and Human Resources) $1.23M - 0
93.433 Acl National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research $1.18M - 0
97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) $736,529 - 0
12.U02 Department of Navy - Military Motion Media and Photojournalism $547,515 - 0
93.732 Mental and Behavioral Health Education and Training Grants $476,229 - 0
84.042 Trio Student Support Services $453,944 - 0
93.286 Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health $450,084 - 0
66.203 Environmental Finance Center Grants $432,900 - 0
12.RD Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency $416,886 - 0
97.132 Financial Assistance for Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention $401,274 - 0
81.117 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Information Dissemination, Outreach, Training and Technical Analysis/assistance $328,010 - 0
47.RD National Science Foundation $317,393 - 0
10.937 Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities $293,846 - 0
47.083 Integrative Activities $292,231 - 0
84.217 Trio McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement $290,543 - 0
84.206 Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education $287,770 - 0
11.034 2023 Mbda Capital Readiness Program $282,207 - 0
12.RD US Air Force Research Labs/wright Patterson Afb $232,671 - 0
45.312 National Leadership Grants $219,223 - 0
81.010 Office of Technology Transitions (ott)-Technology Deployment, Demonstration and Commercialization $205,742 - 0
19.009 Academic Exchange Programs - Undergraduate Programs $186,115 - 0
84.379 Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants (teach Grants) $181,056 Yes 0
93.847 Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research $180,238 - 0
19.010 Academic Exchange Programs - Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program $176,889 - 0
84.015 National Resource Centers Program for Foreign Language and Area Studies Or Foreign Language and International Studies Program and Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship Program $158,346 - 0
10.761 Water and Waste Technical Assistance and Training Grants $149,261 - 0
59.043 Women's Business Ownership Assistance $148,835 - 0
12.420 Military Medical Research and Development $142,334 - 0
47.074 Biological Sciences $133,233 - 0
12.RD National Security Agency $131,746 - 0
93.839 Blood Diseases and Resources Research $128,893 - 0
12.RD US Air Force Reseach Labs/rome $128,834 - 0
93.RD Center for Disease Control and Prevention/dhhs $126,472 - 0
64.056 Legal Services for Veterans Grants $124,958 - 0
93.361 Nursing Research $121,613 - 0
66.446 Technical Assistance for Treatment Works (clean Water Act [cwa] Section 104(b)(8)) $121,452 - 0
98.001 Usaid Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas $112,370 - 0
12.910 Research and Technology Development $103,494 - 0
21.008 Low Income Taxpayer Clinics $100,000 - 0
47.049 Mathematical and Physical Sciences $96,012 - 0
47.078 Polar Programs $93,903 - 0
10.762 Solid Waste Management Grants $92,230 - 0
43.001 Science $89,092 - 0
84.215 Innovative Approaches to Literacy; Promise Neighborhoods; Full-Service Community Schools; and Congressionally Directed Spending for Elementary and Secondary Education Community Projects $86,780 - 0
10.069 Conservation Reserve Program $86,365 - 0
81.086 Conservation Research and Development $81,755 - 0
96.007 Social Security Research and Demonstration $75,822 - 0
81.049 Office of Science Financial Assistance Program $74,374 - 0
10.253 Consumer Data and Nutrition Research $66,455 - 0
10.290 Agricultural Market and Economic Research $65,766 - 0
11.U00 Department of Commerce $65,652 - 0
93.172 Human Genome Research $65,141 - 0
12.RD Department of the Navy $62,581 - 0
47.050 Geosciences $59,799 - 0
47.041 Engineering $58,205 - 0
12.RD Department of Defense Navy $56,441 - 0
16.838 Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Other Substances Use Program $52,606 - 0
45.161 Promotion of the Humanities Research $48,045 - 0
66.445 Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Program (sdwa 1459e) $47,528 - 0
10.307 Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative $46,778 - 0
93.865 Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research $46,028 - 0
66.436 Surveys, Studies, Investigations, Demonstrations, and Training Grants and Cooperative Agreements - Section 104(b)(3) of the Clean Water Act $45,372 - 0
15.078 Snow Water Supply Forecasting $44,366 - 0
93.631 Developmental Disabilities Projects of National Significance $43,520 - 0
81.RD Department of Energy $40,050 - 0
81.087 Renewable Energy Research and Development $37,141 - 0
93.307 Minority Health and Health Disparities Research $36,179 - 0
93.853 Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders $36,117 - 0
12.598 Centers for Academic Excellence $36,000 - 0
12.RD Department of Defense $34,079 - 0
84.325 Special Education - Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities $33,820 - 0
15.RD Dept of the Interior - Large Whale Spatial and Behavioral Research $33,643 - 0
12.431 Basic Scientific Research $31,951 - 0
64.043 Vha Mental Health Residential $30,841 - 0
16.560 National Institute of Justice Research, Evaluation, and Development Project Grants $29,282 - 0
10.250 Agricultural and Rural Economic Research, Cooperative Agreements and Collaborations $27,778 - 0
93.173 Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders $27,354 - 0
10.664 Cooperative Forestry Assistance $25,593 - 0
93.647 Social Services Research and Demonstration $25,454 - 0
47.070 Computer and Information Science and Engineering $24,282 - 0
15.805 Assistance to State Water Resources Research Institutes $23,538 - 0
93.242 Mental Health Research Grants $23,476 - 0
93.632 University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service $22,819 - 0
93.391 Activities to Support State, Tribal, Local and Territorial (stlt) Health Department Response to Public Health Or Healthcare Crises $22,789 - 0
93.866 Aging Research $22,577 - 0
15.820 National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers $22,368 - 0
12.300 Basic and Applied Scientific Research $21,790 - 0
93.273 Alcohol Research Programs $21,654 - 0
43.008 Office of Stem Engagement (ostem) $21,131 - 0
12.630 Basic, Applied, and Advanced Research in Science and Engineering $20,392 - 0
66.129 Geographic Programs - Southeast New England Coastal Watershed Restoration Program $18,049 - 0
12.800 Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program $16,848 - 0
45.313 Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program $15,680 - 0
20.200 Highway Research and Development Program $15,629 - 0
93.846 Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research $15,159 - 0
93.297 Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Program $14,793 - 0
45.024 Promotion of the Arts Grants to Organizations and Individuals $14,464 - 0
47.084 Nsf Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships $11,987 - 0
45.129 Promotion of the Humanities Federal/state Partnership $10,413 - 0
27.011 Intergovernmental Personnel Act (ipa) Mobility Program $10,308 - 0
20.205 Highway Planning and Construction $9,586 - 0
10.255 Research Innovation and Development Grants in Economic (ridge) $8,131 - 0
64.054 Research and Development $8,125 - 0
45.160 Promotion of the Humanities Fellowships and Stipends $7,651 - 0
66.516 P3 Award: National Student Design Competition for Sustainability $7,586 - 0
15.U03 Department of the Interior $7,043 - 0
10.320 Sun Grant Program $6,500 - 0
93.855 Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research $6,127 - 0
97.061 Centers for Homeland Security $5,125 - 0
47.075 Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences $4,111 - 0
93.213 Research and Training in Complementary and Integrative Health $3,226 - 0
10.177 Regional Food System Partnerships $2,613 - 0
16.582 Crime Victim Assistance/discretionary Grants $1,775 - 0
93.279 Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs $1,547 - 0
10.310 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (afri) $1,542 - 0
93.859 Biomedical Research and Research Training $627 - 0

Contacts

Name Title Type
C4BXLBC11LC6 Jean Gallipeau Auditee
3154433765 Marysa A. Santos Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Title: Perkins Loan Program Accounting Policies: The accompanying supplementary schedule of expenditures of federal awards (the Schedule) summarizes the expenditures of Syracuse University (the University) under programs of the federal government for the year ended June 30, 2024. For purposes of the Schedule, federal awards include all grants, contracts and similar agreements entered into directly between the University and agencies and departments of the federal government and all subawards to the University by nonfederal organizations pursuant to federal grants, contracts and similar agreements. Expenditures for direct costs are recognized as incurred using the accrual method of accounting and the cost accounting principles contained in Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (the Uniform Guidance). Under those cost principles, certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. Moreover, expenditures include a portion of costs associated with general University activities (facilities and administrative costs) which are allocated to awards under negotiated formulas commonly referred to as facilities and administrative cost rates. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The University has obtained predetermined facilities and administrative cost rates for fiscal year 2024, which have been reviewed and approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The base rate for on-campus research was 49.00% and for off-campus research was 26.0%. The University did not elect to utilize the 10% de minimus indirect cost rate in Part 200.514 of the Uniform Guidance. Total facilities and administrative costs recovered for fiscal year 2024 amounted to approximately $12.2 million. The Perkins Loan Program (CFDA 84.038) listed below is administered directly by the University, and balances and transactions relating to this program are included in the University's consolidated financial statements. Loan activities and balances consist of the following: Balance of as June 30,2023 - $12,096,601 , Payments and Adjustments ($3,793,819) and Balance as of June 30,2024 - $8,302,782. As required by the Uniform Guidance, the amount shown on the Schedule as expenditures for the Perkins Loan Program is equal to the balance of the loans outstanding at June 30,2023. Under federal law, the Perkins Loan Program ended on September 30,2017, and final disbursements under the program were permitted through June 30,2018.
Title: Federal Direct Student Loans Accounting Policies: The accompanying supplementary schedule of expenditures of federal awards (the Schedule) summarizes the expenditures of Syracuse University (the University) under programs of the federal government for the year ended June 30, 2024. For purposes of the Schedule, federal awards include all grants, contracts and similar agreements entered into directly between the University and agencies and departments of the federal government and all subawards to the University by nonfederal organizations pursuant to federal grants, contracts and similar agreements. Expenditures for direct costs are recognized as incurred using the accrual method of accounting and the cost accounting principles contained in Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (the Uniform Guidance). Under those cost principles, certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. Moreover, expenditures include a portion of costs associated with general University activities (facilities and administrative costs) which are allocated to awards under negotiated formulas commonly referred to as facilities and administrative cost rates. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The University has obtained predetermined facilities and administrative cost rates for fiscal year 2024, which have been reviewed and approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The base rate for on-campus research was 49.00% and for off-campus research was 26.0%. The University did not elect to utilize the 10% de minimus indirect cost rate in Part 200.514 of the Uniform Guidance. Total facilities and administrative costs recovered for fiscal year 2024 amounted to approximately $12.2 million. During the year ended June 30,2024, the University processed new loans of $150,629,749 under the Federal Direct Student Loans program. With respect to this program, the University is responsible only for the performance of certain administrative duties and, accordingly, these loans are not included in the University's consolidated financial statements. It is not practical to determine the balances of loans outstanding to students of the University under the Federal Direct Student Loans program as of June 30,2024.

Finding Details

(3) Findings and Questioned Costs Relating to Federal Awards Finding No.: 2024-001 – Enrollment Reporting Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Pass-through Agency: Direct Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster – Federal Direct Loan Program, Federal Pell Grant Program ALN Numbers: 84.268, 84.063 Federal Award Year: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024 Criteria Institutions are required to report enrollment information under the Pell grant, Direct Loan, and Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) programs via the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) (OMB No. 1845-0035) (Pell, 34 CFR 690.83(b)(2); Direct Loan, 34 CFR 685.309). The administration of the Title IV programs depends heavily on the accuracy and timeliness of the enrollment reported by institutions. The Department of Education lists several certification methods for enrollment reporting, including certifying directly through the NSLDS web site, certifying through the NSLDS’s batch enrollment reporting process, or through certification of rosters provided to the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC). Per 2 CFR 200.303, a non-federal entity must establish and maintain effective internal control over the federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-federal entity is managing the federal award in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and terms and conditions of the federal award. Condition Found In testing the Campus-Level enrollment reporting data elements as reported to NSLDS, key items to test are: OPEID Number, Enrollment Effective Date, Enrollment Status, and Certification Date. In testing the Program-Level enrollment reporting data elements, key items to test, if applicable, are: OPEID Number, CIP Code, CIP Year, Credential Level, Published Program Length Measurement, Published Program Length, Program Begin Date, Program Enrollment Status, and Program Enrollment Effective Date. Of the 40 students with enrollment changes that we selected for testwork, we identified three (3) students whose changes in enrollment status were not transmitted to NSLDS timely, as follows: • For two (2) students, the University was notified of each student’s enrollment status change from fulltime to graduated in May 2024. Accordingly, the students’ status changes should have been transmitted within sixty (60) days of degree conferral. However, submission was not timely, as the final submission of change of status ranged from sixty-nine (69) days to eighty-one (81) days after the required timeframe. • For one (1) student, the University was notified of the student’s enrollment status change from fulltime to withdrawn in May 2024. Accordingly, the student’s status change should have been transmitted within sixty (60) days of withdrawal date. However, submission was not timely, as the final submission of change of status was fifty-eight (58) days after the required submission date. Cause For the aforementioned three (3) students, the University’s internal control processes did not operate consistently to ensure that all enrollment information is transmitted to NSLDS timely. In each of these samples, additional manual intervention was required in order to successfully transmit the correct status due to either the original status submissions coming back as G Not Applied statuses, or students being enrolled in multiple concurrent programs which can create complexity with respect to status reporting. Due to staffing and resource constraints, the manual intervention required to resolve these items so that the correct status is reported to NSLDS did not occur in a timely manner. Possible Asserted Effect Untimely submission of student enrollment status information affects the determinations that lenders and servicers of students’ loans make related to in-school status, deferments, grace periods, and repayment schedules, as well as the federal government’s payment of interest subsidies. Questioned Costs No questioned costs were identified. Statistical Sampling The sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. Repeat Finding This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation We recommend that the University review and enhance its processes and internal controls to ensure that all enrollment information and status changes, including those effective at the end of a semester, are reported to NSLDS in a timely and accurate manner. Views of Responsible Officials The University has identified a remediation plan in response to the finding, including the following: 1. Immediate Mitigations (within 90 Days): a. The Office of the Registrar and Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship programs will formalize a quarterly check-in meeting with multiple levels of stakeholders to ensure that our enrollment reporting process is complying and to address any new concerns that may arise. These check-in meetings have been scheduled and begin on March 26, 2025. 2. Long-Term Mitigations (within 12 months) a. The Office of the Registrar will work with ITS colleagues to implement a Graduates Only Enrollment file for multi-career students to increase the quantity of records that can be automatically processed. This work will be made productional by February 1, 2026 i. This will reduce our error rate and decrease the volume of records requiring manual review, allowing for more focused attention on the most complicated scenarios.
(3) Findings and Questioned Costs Relating to Federal Awards Finding No.: 2024-001 – Enrollment Reporting Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Pass-through Agency: Direct Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster – Federal Direct Loan Program, Federal Pell Grant Program ALN Numbers: 84.268, 84.063 Federal Award Year: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024 Criteria Institutions are required to report enrollment information under the Pell grant, Direct Loan, and Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) programs via the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) (OMB No. 1845-0035) (Pell, 34 CFR 690.83(b)(2); Direct Loan, 34 CFR 685.309). The administration of the Title IV programs depends heavily on the accuracy and timeliness of the enrollment reported by institutions. The Department of Education lists several certification methods for enrollment reporting, including certifying directly through the NSLDS web site, certifying through the NSLDS’s batch enrollment reporting process, or through certification of rosters provided to the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC). Per 2 CFR 200.303, a non-federal entity must establish and maintain effective internal control over the federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-federal entity is managing the federal award in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and terms and conditions of the federal award. Condition Found In testing the Campus-Level enrollment reporting data elements as reported to NSLDS, key items to test are: OPEID Number, Enrollment Effective Date, Enrollment Status, and Certification Date. In testing the Program-Level enrollment reporting data elements, key items to test, if applicable, are: OPEID Number, CIP Code, CIP Year, Credential Level, Published Program Length Measurement, Published Program Length, Program Begin Date, Program Enrollment Status, and Program Enrollment Effective Date. Of the 40 students with enrollment changes that we selected for testwork, we identified three (3) students whose changes in enrollment status were not transmitted to NSLDS timely, as follows: • For two (2) students, the University was notified of each student’s enrollment status change from fulltime to graduated in May 2024. Accordingly, the students’ status changes should have been transmitted within sixty (60) days of degree conferral. However, submission was not timely, as the final submission of change of status ranged from sixty-nine (69) days to eighty-one (81) days after the required timeframe. • For one (1) student, the University was notified of the student’s enrollment status change from fulltime to withdrawn in May 2024. Accordingly, the student’s status change should have been transmitted within sixty (60) days of withdrawal date. However, submission was not timely, as the final submission of change of status was fifty-eight (58) days after the required submission date. Cause For the aforementioned three (3) students, the University’s internal control processes did not operate consistently to ensure that all enrollment information is transmitted to NSLDS timely. In each of these samples, additional manual intervention was required in order to successfully transmit the correct status due to either the original status submissions coming back as G Not Applied statuses, or students being enrolled in multiple concurrent programs which can create complexity with respect to status reporting. Due to staffing and resource constraints, the manual intervention required to resolve these items so that the correct status is reported to NSLDS did not occur in a timely manner. Possible Asserted Effect Untimely submission of student enrollment status information affects the determinations that lenders and servicers of students’ loans make related to in-school status, deferments, grace periods, and repayment schedules, as well as the federal government’s payment of interest subsidies. Questioned Costs No questioned costs were identified. Statistical Sampling The sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. Repeat Finding This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation We recommend that the University review and enhance its processes and internal controls to ensure that all enrollment information and status changes, including those effective at the end of a semester, are reported to NSLDS in a timely and accurate manner. Views of Responsible Officials The University has identified a remediation plan in response to the finding, including the following: 1. Immediate Mitigations (within 90 Days): a. The Office of the Registrar and Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship programs will formalize a quarterly check-in meeting with multiple levels of stakeholders to ensure that our enrollment reporting process is complying and to address any new concerns that may arise. These check-in meetings have been scheduled and begin on March 26, 2025. 2. Long-Term Mitigations (within 12 months) a. The Office of the Registrar will work with ITS colleagues to implement a Graduates Only Enrollment file for multi-career students to increase the quantity of records that can be automatically processed. This work will be made productional by February 1, 2026 i. This will reduce our error rate and decrease the volume of records requiring manual review, allowing for more focused attention on the most complicated scenarios.
(3) Findings and Questioned Costs Relating to Federal Awards Finding No.: 2024-001 – Enrollment Reporting Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Pass-through Agency: Direct Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster – Federal Direct Loan Program, Federal Pell Grant Program ALN Numbers: 84.268, 84.063 Federal Award Year: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024 Criteria Institutions are required to report enrollment information under the Pell grant, Direct Loan, and Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) programs via the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) (OMB No. 1845-0035) (Pell, 34 CFR 690.83(b)(2); Direct Loan, 34 CFR 685.309). The administration of the Title IV programs depends heavily on the accuracy and timeliness of the enrollment reported by institutions. The Department of Education lists several certification methods for enrollment reporting, including certifying directly through the NSLDS web site, certifying through the NSLDS’s batch enrollment reporting process, or through certification of rosters provided to the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC). Per 2 CFR 200.303, a non-federal entity must establish and maintain effective internal control over the federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-federal entity is managing the federal award in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and terms and conditions of the federal award. Condition Found In testing the Campus-Level enrollment reporting data elements as reported to NSLDS, key items to test are: OPEID Number, Enrollment Effective Date, Enrollment Status, and Certification Date. In testing the Program-Level enrollment reporting data elements, key items to test, if applicable, are: OPEID Number, CIP Code, CIP Year, Credential Level, Published Program Length Measurement, Published Program Length, Program Begin Date, Program Enrollment Status, and Program Enrollment Effective Date. Of the 40 students with enrollment changes that we selected for testwork, we identified three (3) students whose changes in enrollment status were not transmitted to NSLDS timely, as follows: • For two (2) students, the University was notified of each student’s enrollment status change from fulltime to graduated in May 2024. Accordingly, the students’ status changes should have been transmitted within sixty (60) days of degree conferral. However, submission was not timely, as the final submission of change of status ranged from sixty-nine (69) days to eighty-one (81) days after the required timeframe. • For one (1) student, the University was notified of the student’s enrollment status change from fulltime to withdrawn in May 2024. Accordingly, the student’s status change should have been transmitted within sixty (60) days of withdrawal date. However, submission was not timely, as the final submission of change of status was fifty-eight (58) days after the required submission date. Cause For the aforementioned three (3) students, the University’s internal control processes did not operate consistently to ensure that all enrollment information is transmitted to NSLDS timely. In each of these samples, additional manual intervention was required in order to successfully transmit the correct status due to either the original status submissions coming back as G Not Applied statuses, or students being enrolled in multiple concurrent programs which can create complexity with respect to status reporting. Due to staffing and resource constraints, the manual intervention required to resolve these items so that the correct status is reported to NSLDS did not occur in a timely manner. Possible Asserted Effect Untimely submission of student enrollment status information affects the determinations that lenders and servicers of students’ loans make related to in-school status, deferments, grace periods, and repayment schedules, as well as the federal government’s payment of interest subsidies. Questioned Costs No questioned costs were identified. Statistical Sampling The sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. Repeat Finding This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation We recommend that the University review and enhance its processes and internal controls to ensure that all enrollment information and status changes, including those effective at the end of a semester, are reported to NSLDS in a timely and accurate manner. Views of Responsible Officials The University has identified a remediation plan in response to the finding, including the following: 1. Immediate Mitigations (within 90 Days): a. The Office of the Registrar and Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship programs will formalize a quarterly check-in meeting with multiple levels of stakeholders to ensure that our enrollment reporting process is complying and to address any new concerns that may arise. These check-in meetings have been scheduled and begin on March 26, 2025. 2. Long-Term Mitigations (within 12 months) a. The Office of the Registrar will work with ITS colleagues to implement a Graduates Only Enrollment file for multi-career students to increase the quantity of records that can be automatically processed. This work will be made productional by February 1, 2026 i. This will reduce our error rate and decrease the volume of records requiring manual review, allowing for more focused attention on the most complicated scenarios.
(3) Findings and Questioned Costs Relating to Federal Awards Finding No.: 2024-001 – Enrollment Reporting Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Pass-through Agency: Direct Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster – Federal Direct Loan Program, Federal Pell Grant Program ALN Numbers: 84.268, 84.063 Federal Award Year: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024 Criteria Institutions are required to report enrollment information under the Pell grant, Direct Loan, and Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) programs via the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) (OMB No. 1845-0035) (Pell, 34 CFR 690.83(b)(2); Direct Loan, 34 CFR 685.309). The administration of the Title IV programs depends heavily on the accuracy and timeliness of the enrollment reported by institutions. The Department of Education lists several certification methods for enrollment reporting, including certifying directly through the NSLDS web site, certifying through the NSLDS’s batch enrollment reporting process, or through certification of rosters provided to the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC). Per 2 CFR 200.303, a non-federal entity must establish and maintain effective internal control over the federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-federal entity is managing the federal award in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and terms and conditions of the federal award. Condition Found In testing the Campus-Level enrollment reporting data elements as reported to NSLDS, key items to test are: OPEID Number, Enrollment Effective Date, Enrollment Status, and Certification Date. In testing the Program-Level enrollment reporting data elements, key items to test, if applicable, are: OPEID Number, CIP Code, CIP Year, Credential Level, Published Program Length Measurement, Published Program Length, Program Begin Date, Program Enrollment Status, and Program Enrollment Effective Date. Of the 40 students with enrollment changes that we selected for testwork, we identified three (3) students whose changes in enrollment status were not transmitted to NSLDS timely, as follows: • For two (2) students, the University was notified of each student’s enrollment status change from fulltime to graduated in May 2024. Accordingly, the students’ status changes should have been transmitted within sixty (60) days of degree conferral. However, submission was not timely, as the final submission of change of status ranged from sixty-nine (69) days to eighty-one (81) days after the required timeframe. • For one (1) student, the University was notified of the student’s enrollment status change from fulltime to withdrawn in May 2024. Accordingly, the student’s status change should have been transmitted within sixty (60) days of withdrawal date. However, submission was not timely, as the final submission of change of status was fifty-eight (58) days after the required submission date. Cause For the aforementioned three (3) students, the University’s internal control processes did not operate consistently to ensure that all enrollment information is transmitted to NSLDS timely. In each of these samples, additional manual intervention was required in order to successfully transmit the correct status due to either the original status submissions coming back as G Not Applied statuses, or students being enrolled in multiple concurrent programs which can create complexity with respect to status reporting. Due to staffing and resource constraints, the manual intervention required to resolve these items so that the correct status is reported to NSLDS did not occur in a timely manner. Possible Asserted Effect Untimely submission of student enrollment status information affects the determinations that lenders and servicers of students’ loans make related to in-school status, deferments, grace periods, and repayment schedules, as well as the federal government’s payment of interest subsidies. Questioned Costs No questioned costs were identified. Statistical Sampling The sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. Repeat Finding This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation We recommend that the University review and enhance its processes and internal controls to ensure that all enrollment information and status changes, including those effective at the end of a semester, are reported to NSLDS in a timely and accurate manner. Views of Responsible Officials The University has identified a remediation plan in response to the finding, including the following: 1. Immediate Mitigations (within 90 Days): a. The Office of the Registrar and Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship programs will formalize a quarterly check-in meeting with multiple levels of stakeholders to ensure that our enrollment reporting process is complying and to address any new concerns that may arise. These check-in meetings have been scheduled and begin on March 26, 2025. 2. Long-Term Mitigations (within 12 months) a. The Office of the Registrar will work with ITS colleagues to implement a Graduates Only Enrollment file for multi-career students to increase the quantity of records that can be automatically processed. This work will be made productional by February 1, 2026 i. This will reduce our error rate and decrease the volume of records requiring manual review, allowing for more focused attention on the most complicated scenarios.