Finding Text
Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Title: Student Financial Aid Cluster Assistance Listing Number: 84.268 – Federal Direct Student Loans Award Period: June 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025 Type of Finding: Other Matters Finding related to Compliance within Uniform Guidance and Significant Deficiency in Internal Controls Over Compliance. Criteria or Specific Requirement: Institutions are required to report enrollment information under the Pell grant and the Direct loan 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). Institutions must review, update, and verify student enrollment statuses, program information, and effective dates that appear on the Enrollment Reporting Roster file or on the Enrollment Maintenance page of the NSLDS Professional Access (NSLDSFAP) website. There are two categories of enrollment information with separate record types; “Campus Level” and “Program Level,” both of which need to be reported accurately and timely. The NSLDS Enrollment Reporting Guide provides the requirements and guidance for reporting enrollment details using the NSLDS Enrollment Reporting Process. Institutions must report enrollment changes within 30 days; however, if a roster file is expected within 60 days, you may provide the updated data on that roster file. Condition: During our testing of the Direct Loan and Pell Grant programs, we selected a sample of 40 students to test for timeliness and accurate reporting of student status changes to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). Of the 40 students tested, 3 had instances of noncompliance where the student's program and campus enrollment effective dates reported to NSLDS did not agree to the Institution's records. Questioned Costs: None Context: Out of a sample of 40 students selected for testing for the requirement noted above, we noted the exceptions as described above. Cause: The University’s processes and controls did not ensure that student status changes were properly reported to NSLDS. Effect: The NSLDS system is not updated with the student information which can cause over awarding should the student transfer to another institution and the students may not properly enter the repayment period. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend the University review data reported by the NSC to NSLDS to ensure that students’ statuses are accurately reported to NSLDS as required by regulations. Views of Responsible Officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. See Corrective Action Plan prepared by the College.