Finding 1168977 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-01-14
Audit: 381647
Organization: Converse University (SC)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The University failed to report student enrollment changes to the NSLDS within the required 60-day timeframe.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with federal reporting standards for the Pell Grant Program and Direct Student Loans.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement a process to ensure timely and accurate reporting of student status changes to the NSLDS.

Finding Text

Reference No. 2025-001 Identification of the Federal Program: Student Financial Aid Cluster, Assistance Listing # 84.007, 84.033, 84.038, 84.063, 84.268, 84.379 Compliance Requirement: Special Test and Provisions – Enrollment Reporting Criteria: Institutions are required to report enrollment information under the Federal Pell Grant Program and Federal Direct Student Loans via the National Student Loan Data System (“NSLDS”). Institutions must report changes to enrollment information within 60 days of the change. Condition: The University did not consistently report changes in attendance levels, graduated, withdrawn, dropped out, or enrolled changes to the NSLDS within 60 days of the change. Cause: One student included in the sample withdrew in December 2024, and the student’s status change was not reported until February 2025. One student included in the sample graduated in May 2025, and the student’s status change was not reported until the first reporting date for the following Fall 2025 semester. Effect: The University did not report status changes to the NSLDS accurately or timely. Questioned Costs: None. Context: The University submitted status changes to the NLSDS for two students who withdrew after 60 days. Identification as a Repeat Finding: Repeat of prior year finding 2024-002. Recommendation: The University should put in place a process to accurately and timely capture student changes so that they can be reported to the NSLDS. Views of Responsible Officials: The University concurs with this finding. See enclosed management’s corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Enrollment Reporting - Withdrawal Corrective Action Plan Issue Identified: An enrollment reporting error occurred due to a student’s withdrawal date not being transmitted to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). The student submitted a withdrawal form after the last enrollment file for the semester had been reported to the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC). Upon receipt, the withdrawal date was entered retroactively as the final day of the semester. Because the semester had already been reported, the withdrawal was not included until the subsequent first-ofterm enrollment report, resulting in a reporting delay that exceeded the 60-day submission requirement. Corrective Action Taken: The University Registrar consulted with the National Student Clearinghouse to verify the appropriate process for reporting withdrawals received after the final enrollment submission for a term. Based on this guidance, the following corrective measures have been implemented: 1. Manual Reporting of Late Withdrawals: If a withdrawal form is received after the final enrollment file for a term has been submitted, the Registrar’s Office will manually update NSC with the correct withdrawal date. 2. Implementation Date: This procedure became effective at the beginning of the Fall 2025 semester. 3. Ongoing Compliance: The Registrar’s Office will continue to submit timely and accurate enrollment reports to NSLDS, ensuring that all changes to student enrollment status are reported within required federal deadlines. Responsible Office: The Office of the Registrar, under the direct supervision of the University Registrar, is responsible for the implementation, monitoring, and ongoing adherence to this corrective action plan. Enrollment Reporting - Graduation Corrective Action Plan Issue Identified: A reporting error occurred in which a student’s graduation date did not appear in the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). The discrepancy was caused by the graduation date being recorded as the commencement date of May 17, 2025, while the official semester end date was May 15, 2025.The final enrollment file was submitted to the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) on May 15, 2025, prior to the entry of the graduation date, resulting in the omission from the report. Corrective Action Taken: The University Registrar reviewed the reporting procedures and determined that graduation dates must align with the official academic calendar, specifically the last day of class for the semester. To ensure compliance, the following measures have been implemented: 1. Standardization of Graduation Dates: All future graduation dates will be recorded as the official last day of class for the semester, rather than the commencement ceremony date. 2. Adjustment of Final Reporting Timeline: The final enrollment report for each term will not be submitted until all graduation records have been updated in the system to ensure accurate transmission to NSC and NSLDS. 3. Implementation Date: This procedure is effective beginning with the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 graduation reporting cycle. 4. Ongoing Compliance: The Registrar’s Office will continue to monitor reporting practices to ensure all graduation and enrollment data are transmitted to NSLDS in accordance with federal reporting requirements. Responsible Office: The Office of the Registrar, under the direct supervision of the University Registrar, is responsible for the implementation, oversight, and continued compliance of this corrective action plan. Shannon Bishop Shannon.bishop@converse.edu University Registrar

Categories

Student Financial Aid Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1168972 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1168973 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1168974 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1168975 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1168976 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $8.02M
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $2.41M
84.026 MEDIA AND CAPTIONING SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES $272,997
84.038 FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN PROGRAM_FEDERAL CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS $236,274
93.859 BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND RESEARCH TRAINING $95,851
47.074 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES $86,463
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $65,840
84.379 TEACHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE FOR COLLEGE AND HIGHER EDUCATION GRANTS (TEACH GRANTS) $65,067
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $47,962
94.006 AMERICORPS STATE AND NATIONAL 94.006 $5,459