Finding 1169296 (2025-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-01-16
Audit: 382234

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Columbus State Community College inaccurately reported student status changes for withdrawals, impacting compliance with Pell Grant program requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Institutions must report enrollment information accurately and timely under the Pell Grant program (34 CFR 690.83(b)(2)).
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The College should enhance its control processes to ensure timely and accurate reporting of all student status changes, including implementing a monitoring report for post-semester adjustments.

Finding Text

Assistance Listing Number, Federal Agency, and Program Name ALNs 84.063; Department of Education; Federal Pell Grant Program Federal Award Identification Number and Year N/A Pass through Entity N/A Finding Type Significant deficiency and material noncompliance with laws and regulations Repeat Finding No Criteria Institutions are required to report enrollment information under the Pell Grant program via the NSLDS (OMB No. 1845 0035) (Pell, 34 CFR 690.83(b)(2). The administration of the Title IV programs depends heavily on the accuracy and timeliness of the enrollment information reported by institutions. Condition Columbus State Community College did not report student status changes accurately for certain students who withdrew during the year. Questioned Costs None If Questioned Costs are not Determinable, Description of Why Known Questioned Costs Were Undetermined or Otherwise Could not be Reported N/A Identification of How Questioned Costs Were Computed N/A Context Of the 40 students tested for student status change, 2 student status changes were not properly reported. Cause and Effect The College did not have a process in place to ensure proper reporting for all student status changes. As a result, there were instances where reporting of a student who withdrew did not occur. Recommendation We recommend that the College modify its control process in place to ensure all student status changes are reported timely and accurately Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan Looking into this finding further, both students identified as not reported had status adjustments after the end of the spring semester. As a solution to this issue, the enrollment services operations office at Columbus State Community College, currently responsible for National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) reporting, will create a report to monitor for any post semester enrollment changes that occur due to processes such as end of semester grade adjustments or the retroactive withdrawal and administrative withdrawal to make sure that status changes are reported to the NSC in a timely manner. This report will be monitored, and updates will be made monthly, like the enrollment verification reporting cadence that happens during the semester.

Corrective Action Plan

Condition: Columbus State Community College did not report student status changes accurately for certain students who withdrew during the year. Planned Corrective Action: As a solution to this issue, the Enrollment Services Operations office at Columbus State Community College, currently responsible for National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) reporting, will create a report to monitor for any post-semester enrollment changes that occur due to processes such as end-of-semester grade adjustments or the retroactive withdrawal and administrative withdrawal, to make sure that status changes are reported to the NSC in a timely manner. This report will be monitored, and updates will be made monthly, like the enrollment verification reporting cadence that happens during the semester. Contact person responsible for corrective action: Dina Galley Anticipated Completion Date: 03/01/2026

Categories

Student Financial Aid

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $44.45M
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $23.71M
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $1.12M
17.261 WORKFORCE DATA QUALITY INITIATIVE (WDQI) $718,525
11.611 MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP $703,483
84.048 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION -- BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $537,998
84.042 TRIO STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES $527,978
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $444,129
64.116 VETERAN READINESS AND EMPLOYMENT $351,517
21.027 COVID-19 - CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $341,259
84.047 TRIO UPWARD BOUND $269,517
84.116 FUND FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION $265,964
84.044 TRIO TALENT SEARCH $251,936
84.002 ADULT EDUCATION - BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $216,398
21.023 EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM $204,675
59.037 SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS $146,346
17.277 WIOA NATIONAL DISLOCATED WORKER GRANTS / WIA NATIONAL EMERGENCY GRANTS $139,428
84.335 CHILD CARE ACCESS MEANS PARENTS IN SCHOOL $137,159
47.084 NSF TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION, AND PARTNERSHIPS $68,532
93.822 HEALTH CAREERS OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM (HCOP) $56,511
94.006 AMERICORPS STATE AND NATIONAL 94.006 $41,879
17.258 WIOA ADULT PROGRAM $28,818
81.253 MANUFACTURING AND ENERGY SUPPLY CHAIN DEMONSTRATIONS AND COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS $27,430
12.006 NATIONAL DEFENSE EDUCATION PROGRAM $26,965
81.086 CONSERVATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT $6,474
45.310 GRANTS TO STATES $1,507
47.076 STEM EDUCATION (FORMERLY EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES) $1,067