Finding 1165227 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2025-12-17
Audit: 375564
Organization: Mitchell Hamline School of Law (MN)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Timely reporting of student enrollment status changes to NSLDS was not met for 2 out of 40 students.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 34 CFR 685.309, which mandates reporting within 30 or 60 days.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Review and improve reporting procedures to ensure timely notifications of status changes.

Finding Text

Federal Agency: United States Department of Education Federal Program Name: Student Financial Aid Assistance Listing Number: Student Financial Aid Cluster Award Period: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 Type of Finding: • Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance • Other Matters Criteria or Specific Requirement: The Code of Federal Regulations, 34 CFR 685.309 requires that enrollment status changes for students be reported to NSLDS within 30 days or within 60 days if the student with the status change will be reported on a scheduled transmission within 60 days of the change in status. Condition: During our testing, we noted for 2 out of 40 students, the change in status was not reported timely. Questioned Costs: None Context: During our testing, we noted Mitchell Hamline School of Law’s current procedures did not operate effectively to verify student status changes were reported timely. Cause: The notification of status change was erroneously sent to the wrong Mitchell Hamline email, so the Financial Aid office was not aware of this student's change in a timely manner. Effect: Mitchell Hamline School of Law did not comply with Department of Education (ED) regulations by reporting student enrollment status changes timely. Repeat Finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend Mitchell Hamline School of Law review its reporting procedures to ensure the students' statuses are timely reported to NSLDS as required by regulations. Views of Responsible Official: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.

Corrective Action Plan

Recommendation: We recommend Mitchell Hamline School of Law review its reporting procedures to ensure the students' statuses are timely reported to NSLDS as required by regulations. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: Starting in January 2026, the Registrar’s Office will be performing the monthly reporting. In preparation for this change in responsibilities, Student Financial Aid has provided training to multiple individuals in the Registrar’s Office along with detailed documented procedures. Student Financial Aid and the Registrar’s Office will coordinate responses/requests from NSLDS. Name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action: Sheila Tolley, Executive Registrar and Nick Anderson, Director of Financial Aid Planned completion date for corrective action plan: Spring Semester 2026

Categories

Student Financial Aid Reporting Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1165225 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1165226 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $35.73M
93.421 STRENGTHENING PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEMS AND SERVICES THROUGH NATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS TO IMPROVE AND PROTECT THE NATION’S HEALTH $377,412
84.038 FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN PROGRAM_FEDERAL CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS $265,600
93.465 TOBACCO PREVENTION AND CONTROL LEGAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE $241,642
93.110 MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH FEDERAL CONSOLIDATED PROGRAMS $175,923
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $135,692
93.439 STATE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND NUTRITION (SPAN $51,422
93.279 DRUG USE AND ADDICTION RESEARCH PROGRAMS $39,705
93.231 EPIDEMIOLOGY PROGRAM $33,346
93.304 RACIAL AND ETHNIC APPROACHES TO COMMUNITY HEALTH $20,183
93.137 COMMUNITY PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE MINORITY HEALTH $9,746
93.762 A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO GOOD HEALTH AND WELLNESS IN INDIAN COUNTY – FINANCED SOLELY BY PREVENTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH $6,627
93.479 GOOD HEALTH AND WELLNESS IN INDIAN COUNTRY $4,746
66.046 CLIMATE POLLUTION REDUCTION GRANTS $1,980
93.393 CANCER CAUSE AND PREVENTION RESEARCH $775
93.772 TRIBAL PUBLIC HEALTH CAPACITY BUILDING AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT UMBRELLA COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT $95