Finding 1169359 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-01-16
Audit: 382298

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The University failed to notify the NSLDS about student enrollment status changes accurately and on time.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 34 CFR 685.309(b) regarding timely updates and notifications for student enrollment status.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement a review process to ensure accurate reporting and establish a formal reconciliation to validate compliance regularly.

Finding Text

Student Financial Assistance Cluster U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Direct Loans CFDA 84.268 Federal Pell Grant Program 84.063 Award Year: 7/1/2024 – 6/30/2025 Criteria or Specific Requirement – Special Tests and Provisions: NSLDS Reporting 34 CFR 685.309(b) states that upon receipt of an enrollment report from the Secretary, a school must update all information included in the report and return the report to the Secretary in the manner and format prescribed by the Secretary and within the timeframe prescribed by the Secretary. Unless it expects to submit its next updated enrollment report to the Secretary within the next 60 days, a school must notify the Secretary within 30 days after the date the school discovers that a loan under Title IV of the Act was made to or on behalf of a student who was enrolled or accepted for enrollment at the school, and the student has ceased to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis or failed to enroll on at least a half-time basis for the period for which the loan was intended. Condition - The University did not ensure accurate and timely notification to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) of student status changes and program-level enrollment data. Cause – Management oversight during a status update report submission. Effect – The NSLDS was not notified of the student enrollment status or program-level records on a timely and accurate basis. Questioned Costs – None noted. Context – Out of a population of 384 student enrollment status changes requiring notification, a sample of 25 students were selected for testing. Out of these 25 students, there was one selected where the campus and program-level record information was not in agreement between the NSLDS and the campus level information. Out of these 25 students selected for testing, there were six instances in which the student's status change was reported after the 60 day requirement. The sample was not, and was not intended to be, a statistically valid sample. Identification as a Repeat Finding – Not a repeat finding. Recommendation – The University should review and update its processes and controls to ensure student status changes for program-level records are reported to the NSLDS in a timely and accurate manner. Additionally, we recommend that a formal reconciliation process is completed to validate the procedure is completed on a regular basis. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions – Missouri Western State University will meet the requirements in accordance with 34 CFR Section 685.309 by reviewing the enrollment reporting submitted to NSLDS through the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) each month and comparing to Missouri Western State University’s student information system to ensure that all dates and information submitted for the month is accurate and timely.

Corrective Action Plan

Missouri Western State University will meet the requirements in accordance with 34 CFR Section 685.309 by reviewing the enrollment reporting submitted to NSLDS through the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) each month and comparing to Missouri Western State University’s student information system to ensure that all dates and information submitted for the month is accurate and timely.

Categories

Student Financial Aid

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1169355 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169356 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169357 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1169358 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $8.46M
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $6.18M
47.070 COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING $524,794
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $356,337
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $191,732
47.074 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES $58,642
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $22,916
84.379 TEACHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE FOR COLLEGE AND HIGHER EDUCATION GRANTS (TEACH GRANTS) $19,805
84.048 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION -- BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $15,888