Student Financial Assistance Cluster ? Assistance Listing No. Various Recommendation: We recommend the Universities review their reporting procedures to ensure that students? statuses are accurately and timely reported to NSLDS and all errors are corrected within the appropriate timeframe as require...
Student Financial Assistance Cluster ? Assistance Listing No. Various Recommendation: We recommend the Universities review their reporting procedures to ensure that students? statuses are accurately and timely reported to NSLDS and all errors are corrected within the appropriate timeframe as required by regulations. University of Maine at Fort Kent (UMFK) Condition: During our testing of 40 students, we noted five students at the University of Maine at Fort Kent (UMFK) whose campus enrollment date was not timely reported. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: The Registrar responsible for reporting campus enrollment during the year under audit left the position on August 15, 2022. The errors noted during the audit have been discussed with both the Interim Registrar and new Registrar to ensure understanding of and compliance with enrollment reporting requirements. In response to this finding, the new Registrar has worked very closely with the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) to correct and update the required reporting dates through the next several terms. They have confirmed all dates in their calendar. The Director of Financial Aid now also receives reporting email notifications from the NSC as an internal control process for ensuring that reporting is occurring in a timely manner. Name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action: Sara Best, Registrar for the University of Maine at Fort Kent Planned completion date for corrective action plan: Completed September 2022 University of Maine at Farmington (UMF) Condition: During our testing of 40 students, we noted for one student at the University of Maine at Farmington (UMF), the enrollment effective date did not match the enrollment effective date per UMF?s records. In addition, for one student, the program enrollment effective date did not match the program enrollment effective date per UMF?s records. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: Immediate corrections to the reported dates were made upon notification of the finding. The Assistant Registrar runs the ?Student Clearinghouse File? report in its student system, MaineStreet, that transmits enrollment information to the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC). This reports both the enrollment effective date and the program enrollment effective date. In December 2021 the NSC implemented a new warning code series (1801 ? 1806) that kicks back any inconsistencies with the two dates as reported. To prevent similar errors in the future, a process has been implemented whereby the Assistant Registrar reviews these warnings and makes required corrections. UMF was previously sending a Degree Verify Report, which is a report run in MaineStreet, to the NSC three times a year for May graduates, August graduates and December graduates. We have changed our reporting timeline for graduates and are now sending the Degree Verify Report monthly to pick up any students who get cleared for graduation late. The Assistant Registrar who is responsible for reporting to the NSC is participating in the regular webinars provided by the NSC, to address reporting issues. Person responsible for corrective action: Lisa Beane, Assistant Registrar for the University of Maine at Farmington Planned completion date for corrective action plan: Completed July 25, 2022 University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI) Condition: During our testing of 40 students, we noted for two students at the University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI), the program enrollment effective date did not match the program enrollment effective date per the University?s records. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: The Registrar responsible for reporting campus enrollment during the year under audit left the position in July 2022. The errors noted during the audit have been discussed with both the Interim Registrar and new Registrar to ensure understanding of and compliance with reporting requirements. The new Registrar has updated policies and procedures regarding the reporting process and all reporting dates are confirmed in their calendar. The Director of Financial Aid now also receives reporting email notifications from the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) as an internal control process for ensuring that reporting is occurring in a timely manner. In addition, the student records team at UMPI have received additional guidance and training from the NSC. Name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action: Lisa Smith, Registrar for the University of Maine at Presque Isle Planned completion date for corrective action plan: Completed August 2022