Finding 1171309 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-01-30
Audit: 384581
Auditor: WIPFLI LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: NSLDS records for 11 out of 25 students were not updated correctly regarding their program begin dates and last days of attendance.
  • Impacted Requirements: Accurate reporting of the program begin date and effective status date is essential for compliance with NSLDS criteria.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Review and correct the NSLDS entries for the affected students to ensure accurate data reporting moving forward.

Finding Text

Criteria: NSLDS must accurately reflect the student’s program begin date for the CIP code program they are enrolled in and the student's status effective date must accurately reflect their last day of attendance when they withdraw. Condition: The examination disclosed 11 student out of 25 out of school student files tested, in which NSLDS was not updated correctly. Eight of the eleven students’ Program Begin Date reported to NSLDS is the same date as the student's most recent effective status date, although the student has been enrolled in the program with the same CIP code with prior statuses such as Full time or Three-Quarter Time. The remaining three students were withdrawn students whose last day of attendance was not reported accurately.

Corrective Action Plan

Condition: The examination disclosed 11 out of 25 student status change files tested, in which NSLDS was not updated correctly. Eight of the eleven students’ Program Begin Date reported to NSLDS is the same date as the student's most recent effective status date, although the student has been enrolled in the program with the same CIP code with prior statuses such as Full time or Three-Quarter Time. The remaining three students were withdrawn students whose last day of attendance was not reported accurately. The auditor identified noncompliance and a significant deficiency in internal control over compliance related to the administration of Title IV federal financial aid. ________________________________________ Cause: After thorough review, it was discovered that programmatic data manipulation occurred as a result of attempts to circumvent or bypass National Student Clearinghouse enrollment system error messages, by the Information Technology department. This practice developed due to incomplete resolution of underlying system integration issues and insufficient supervisory review of the corrective steps being taken, in the past. Although no evidence of intentional misrepresentation was found, the manipulation of system data reduced the reliability of automated submissions from the Information Technology department. Furthermore, it was discovered that a Jenzabar system defect causing withdrawal dates to be incorrectly reported to the National Student Clearinghouse has occurred. Further review has discovered a default date was entered in the NSLDS system by National Student Clearinghouse, in place of the correct withdrawal date listed in the Jenzabar system. Corrective Action Plan: Action Step Responsible Persons Timeline for Completion Status/Follow-Up Identify and document all programmatic data manipulations performed to address error messages and assess impact on compliance reporting. Kylee Bump, Director of Financial Aid; Brandy Chasteen, Registrar; Raj Siddaraju, CIO November 2025 Complete Work with National Student Clearinghouse to resolve underlying system integration and understand error message issues. Kylee Bump, Director of Financial Aid; Brandy Chasteen, Registrar; Raj Siddaraju, CIO December 2025 Complete Implement formal data correction policy requiring supervisory approval for any system data adjustments. Sarah Gray, CFO & Raj Siddaraju, CIO January 2026 Completed Conduct staff training on proper error resolution procedures and reinforce internal control expectations. Sarah Gray, CFO & Raj Siddaraju, CIO January 2026 Completed Perform quarterly internal reviews of data integrity and system-generated compliance reports. Kylee Bump, Director of Financial Aid; Brandy Chasteen, Registrar; Raj Siddaraju, CIO In Place Ongoing To ensure accuracy moving forward, our Registrar will review a random sampling of our enrollment reporting through the National Student Clearinghouse throughout the semester and after degrees have been confirmed for each semester.

Categories

Student Financial Aid

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $2.27M
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $413,512
84.042 TRIO_STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES $293,546
11.307 ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE $223,764
84.048 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION -- BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $82,042
84.002 ADULT EDUCATION - BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $73,036
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $53,127
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $18,005