Finding 1166496 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2025-12-23
Audit: 377500
Organization: Lewis University (IL)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The University failed to update the NSLDS with timely notifications of student status changes for three graduates.
  • Impacted Requirements: Schools must report enrollment changes within 30 days, including updates on student status and anticipated completion dates.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement a monitoring system for reporting dates and provide training to staff to ensure compliance with reporting requirements.

Finding Text

Information on the federal program – Department of Education – Federal Pell Grant Program, CFDA 84.063; Federal Direct Loan Program, CFDA 84.268 Criteria or specific requirement – Under the Pell grant and loan programs, schools must complete and return within 30 days the Enrollment Reporting roster file. Once received, the University must update for changes in student status, report the date the enrollment status was effective, enter the new anticipated completion date, and submit the changes electronically through the batch method or the NSLDS website. Institutions are responsible for timely reporting, whether they report directly or via a third-party servicer. Unless the school expects to complete its next roster within 60 days, the school must notify the lender or the guaranty agency within 30 days, if it discovers that a student who received a Pell grant or loan either did not enroll or ceased to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis (Direct Loans - 34 CFR 685.309(2))(i); Pell - 34 CFR 690.83(b)(2)). Condition – Notification of the student status change (graduated) did not reach the NSLDS within the required time frame. Questioned costs – None – nonmonetary finding. Context – NSLDS was not provided timely notification for three May and December graduates. Effect – NSLDS did not contain current information with respect to the status of these students. Cause – Due to an administrative oversight, the status of these students were not updated in the Enrollment Reporting Roster File sent to the NSLDS. Identification as a repeat finding, if applicable – N/A Recommendation – We recommend the University monitor and evaluate the schedule reporting dates to the NSLDS and confirm or modify existing policies, procedures, or processes for timely identification to ensure that status changes can be communicated to the NSLDS within the regulatory timeframes. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions – All graduate and withdrawn student files will be reviewed on a monthly basis to verify any status changes are reported to NSLDS within regulatory timeframes. Training and professional development will be required for responsible staff to ensure a compliance schedule is developed. Personnel will be evaluated to ensure existing policies, procedures, and processes are followed and supported through corrective action where needed.

Corrective Action Plan

All graduate and withdrawn student files will be reviewed on a monthly basis to verify any status changes are reported to NSLDS within regulatory timeframes. Training and professional development will be required for responsible staff to ensure a compliance schedule is developed. Personnel will be evaluated to ensure existing policies, procedures, and processes are followed and supported through corrective action where needed.

Categories

Student Financial Aid

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1166495 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $29.66M
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $11.04M
11.617 CONGRESSIONALLY-IDENTIFIED PROJECTS $949,994
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $595,182
93.178 NURSING WORKFORCE DIVERSITY $540,782
84.215 INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO LITERACY; PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS; FULL-SERVICE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS; AND CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING FOR ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION COMMUNITY PROJECTS $536,260
93.732 MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EDUCATION AND TRAINING GRANTS $443,153
20.112 AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNICAL WORKFORCE GRANT PROGRAM $402,906
84.126 REHABILITATION SERVICES VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION GRANTS TO STATES $382,105
84.184 SCHOOL SAFELY NATIONAL ACTIVITIES $379,142
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $225,901
47.076 STEM EDUCATION (FORMERLY EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES) $197,873
93.243 SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROJECTS OF REGIONAL AND NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE $181,420
93.264 NURSE FACULTY LOAN PROGRAM (NFLP) $137,642
16.525 GRANTS TO REDUCE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING ON CAMPUS $98,877
97.132 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR TARGETED VIOLENCE AND TERRORISM PREVENTION $50,562
47.041 ENGINEERING $17,031
84.379 TEACHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE FOR COLLEGE AND HIGHER EDUCATION GRANTS (TEACH GRANTS) $16,974
84.369 GRANTS FOR STATE ASSESSMENTS AND RELATED ACTIVITIES $4,531
93.226 RESEARCH ON HEALTHCARE COSTS, QUALITY AND OUTCOMES $3,059