Finding 1168956 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-01-14
Audit: 381537
Organization: Seward County Community College (KS)
Auditor: ADAMSBROWN LLC

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Inaccurate and untimely reporting of student graduation statuses to NSLDS affects compliance with federal financial aid programs.
  • Impacted Requirements: Institutions must ensure accurate enrollment information is reported for Pell Grants and Federal Direct Student Loans.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Review and enhance control policies to improve the accuracy and timeliness of graduation reporting.

Finding Text

2025-001 – Student Financial Assistance Cluster – Special Tests and Provisions – NSLDS Enrollment Reporting Criteria or specific requirement Institutions are required to report enrollment information under the Pell Grant Program and the Federal Direct Student Loans via the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). Because the administration of the Title IV programs depends heavily upon the accuracy and timeliness of the enrollment information reported by institutions, they must review, update, and certify student enrollment statuses, program information, and effective dates that appear on the Enrollment Reporting Roster file. Condition During testing, it was determined that 3 of the 60 students tested for enrollment status changes had a missing graduation status or a late certification date for a graduation status reflected within their NSLDS reporting. Context 2 of the 3 students noted had graduated from their program, but that graduation status was not reported to NSLDS. Upon the students failing to enroll in the subsequent compulsory term, they were instead mistakenly reported as being withdrawn. For the final student, their graduation status was not reported timely. Cause The office responsible for the graduation reporting was short-staffed at times during the year ended June 30, 2025. As a result of the increased workload on the remaining staff members, reporting accuracy and timeliness was not always met. Human error was responsible for the remainder. Effect Certain students did not have wholly accurate and timely information reported within NSLDS. Recommendation We recommend that the College review its control policies to ensure that reporting is completed accurately and timely. Views of responsible officials See Corrective Action Plan.

Corrective Action Plan

2025-001 - Student Financial Assistance Cluster - Special Tests and Provisions - NSLDS Enrollment Reporting Condition During testing, it was determined that 3 of the 60 students tested for enrollment status changes had a missing graduation status or a late certification date for a graduation status reflected within their NSLDS reporting. Recommendation We recommend that the College review its control policies to ensure that reporting is completed accurately and timely. Comments on the Finding Management is aware of the oversight and will ensure that there are processes in place for this to be corrected. Actions Taken As of November 2025, there has been a change in personnel within the Registrar's Office. With this new change in staff, the registrar's department will be trained to understand the importance of reporting correct information to the National Student Clearinghouse. They will also set calendar reminders to get the information filed in a timely manner so that students are correctly labeled for the following reporting period. The Registrar's Office will also ensure that there are at least two individuals within the office trained on these processes and importance/adherence to reporting deadlines.

Categories

Student Financial Aid Special Tests & Provisions

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1168953 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1168954 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1168955 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $2.40M
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $676,945
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $366,938
84.042 TRIO STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES $345,904
84.002 ADULT EDUCATION - BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $254,747
84.048 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION -- BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $157,166
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $52,745
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $47,039
12.598 CENTERS FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE $27,948
47.076 STEM EDUCATION (FORMERLY EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES) $8,729