Finding 1173289 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-02-11
Audit: 386833
Organization: Framingham State University (MA)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The University failed to report a student's enrollment status change to NSLDS within the required 60-day timeframe.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 34 CFR 685.309(b)(2) and timely reporting obligations under federal student aid programs.
  • Recommended Follow-up: Provide training for staff on NSLDS reporting rules and establish better procedures to ensure timely updates, including discussions with the National Student Clearinghouse.

Finding Text

Criteria According to 34 CFR 685.309(b)(2): Unless [the institution] 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 – (i) 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; or (ii) A student who is enrolled at the school and who received a loan under title IV of the Act has changed his or her permanent address. The Dear Colleague Letter GEN-12-6 issued by the U.S. Department of Education (“ED”) on March 30, 2012 states that in addition to student loan borrowers, Enrollment Reporting files will include two additional groups of students: Pell Grant and Perkins Loan recipients. According to 2 CFR Part 200, Appendix XI Compliance Supplement updated November 2025: Under the Pell Grant and loan programs, institutions must complete and return within 15 days the Enrollment Reporting roster file placed in their Student Aid Internet Gateway mailboxes sent by ED via the National Student Loan Data System (“NSLDS”). The institution determines how often it receives the Enrollment Reporting roster file with the default set at a minimum of every 60 days. Once received, the institution must update for changes in student status, report the date the enrollment status was effective, enter the new anticipated completion date, and submit the changes electronically through the batch method or the NSLDS website. Institutions are responsible for timely reporting, whether they report directly or via a third-party servicer. Condition The Federal Government requires the University to report student enrollment changes to the National Student Loan Data System (“NSLDS”) within 60 days. During our testing, we noted 1 student, out of a sample of 40, who were not reported to NSLDS days within the required timeframe. Cause The University did not have adequate procedures in place to ensure that students with status changes were reported to NSLDS within the required timeframe. Effect The University did not report the student’s status changes to NSLDS within the required timeframe, which may impact the students’ loan grace periods. Questioned Costs Not applicable Perspective Our sample was not, and was not intended to be, statistically valid. Of the 40 students selected for testing, 1 student, or 2.5% of our sample, had status changes that were not reported to NSLDS within the required timeframe. Identification as a Repeat Finding, if applicable Not applicable Recommendation The University should provide training to employees responsible for processing information for the NSLDS and ensure that they have adequate knowledge in the related rules and regulations. This training should include an explanation of the University’s date of determination of withdrawal, the importance of reporting the timely and the consequences of late reporting. The University should also discuss the required processing lead times with the National Student Clearinghouse to ensure a timely upload to NSLDS. Additionally, submission of additional rosters may reduce the likelihood of the finding in the future. View of Responsible Officials The University agrees with the finding.

Corrective Action Plan

Corrective Action Plan: The individual did not have a social security number (“SSN”) on file in Banner. As a result, although the enrollment data was transmitted to the National Student Clearinghouse, the missing SSN went unnoticed until June 2025, when materials were being gathered for the audit. The Director of Student Financial Aid was able to locate the student’s SSN in PowerFaids and provide it accordingly. We then manually updated the student’s Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 enrollment data in NSLDS to ensure their record was complete. To help prevent this type of issue in the future, both the Registrar and Director of Student Financial Aid have implemented a process that compares missing or potentially incorrect SSNs in Banner against the data in PowerFaids. Timeline for Implementation of Corrective Action Plan: The corrective action plan was implemented as of October 2025. Contact Person: Caitlin Laurie, Director of Financial Aid Mark Powers, Registrar

Categories

Student Financial Aid Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1173288 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1173290 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1173291 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $12.69M
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $7.36M
43.014 CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED PROGRAMS $826,621
10.560 STATE ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES FOR CHILD NUTRITION $790,168
94.006 AMERICORPS STATE AND NATIONAL 94.006 $714,066
47.076 STEM EDUCATION (FORMERLY EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES) $357,094
84.116 FUND FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION $211,409
84.166 FUND FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION $172,972
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $145,195
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $92,965
10.574 TEAM NUTRITION GRANTS $45,155
45.162 PROMOTION OF THE HUMANITIES TEACHING AND LEARNING RESOURCES AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT $34,774
84.038 FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN PROGRAM $10,872
45.301 MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA $2,119