Finding 1172003 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-02-03

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The University failed to update the enrollment status for two students who graduated, leading to inaccurate reporting to NSLDS.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 34 CFR 685.309, which mandates timely reporting of enrollment status changes within 30 to 60 days.
  • Recommended Follow-up: The University should review and improve its reporting procedures to ensure accurate and timely updates to student enrollment statuses.

Finding Text

Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program Title: Student Financial Assistance Cluster ALN Numbers: Various Award Period: July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 Type of Finding: • Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance • Other Matters Criteria or Specific Requirement: The Code of Federal Regulations, 34 CFR 685.309 requires that enrollment status changes for students be reported to NSLDS within 30 days or within 60 days if the student with the status change will be reported on a scheduled transmission within 60 days of the change in status. The school is required to report changes in the student’s enrollment status, the effective date of the status, and an anticipated completion date as well as program enrollment effective date. This data must match the institutions' records. Condition: During our testing, we noted 2 instances out of 40 students tested where the enrollment status on the campus level and program level was correctly reported to NSLDS as withdrawal in December 2024; however, both students graduated in March 2025 and that enrollment status was not updated at the campus level or the program level. Questioned Costs: None Context: During our testing, it was noted there were two students whose enrollment status change was not updated accurately or timely. Cause: The University did not appropriately update the student's enrollment status when they changed to a graduate. Effect: The University did not comply with Department of Education (ED) regulations by reporting student enrollment status changes accurately and timely. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend the University review its reporting procedures to ensure that students’ statuses are accurately and timely reported to NSLDS as required by regulations. Views of Responsible Officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.

Corrective Action Plan

Student Financial Assistance – Assistance Listing No. Various Recommendation: We recommend the University review its reporting procedures to ensure that students’ statuses are accurately and timely reported to NSLDS as required by regulations. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: Auditors identified two students for whom enrollment status on the campus level and program level was correctly reported to NSLDS as withdrawal in December 2024; however, both students graduated in March 2025 and that enrollment status was not updated at the campus level or the program level. We have a manual tracking procedure in place for students who complete missing coursework after their last term of enrollment that results in completion of their program. These two students were missed in that process. As a result of this finding, we have reviewed the procedure with the relevant staff and will continue to monitor the process, adding routine spot-checking of this tracking list. Names of the contact persons responsible for corrective action: Gwenn Sherburne, Registrar, and Lynette Wahl, Student Financial Aid Director Planned completion date for corrective action plan: October 31, 2025

Categories

Student Financial Aid Reporting Significant Deficiency Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1171998 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1171999 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1172000 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1172001 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1172002 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $14.88M
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $4.98M
84.038 FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN PROGRAM_FEDERAL CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS $822,427
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $361,354
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $302,663
84.116 FUND FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION $278,776
84.031 HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONAL AID $208,710
84.002 ADULT EDUCATION - BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $118,403
11.473 OFFICE FOR COASTAL MANAGEMENT $98,929
66.516 P3 AWARD: NATIONAL STUDENT DESIGN COMPETITION FOR SUSTAINABILITY $92,732
47.047 SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PROJECT SUPPORT $36,548
97.036 DISASTER GRANTS - PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (PRESIDENTIALLY DECLARED DISASTERS) $24,434
47.049 MATHEMATICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES $24,354
84.379 TEACHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE FOR COLLEGE AND HIGHER EDUCATION GRANTS (TEACH GRANTS) $19,786
15.654 NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM ENHANCEMENTS $995