Finding 1175518 (2025-003)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-02-26
Audit: 389292
Organization: St. Catherine University (MN)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The University failed to report student enrollment status changes to the NSLDS accurately and on time.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 34 CFR 685.309(b) and 34 CFR 682.610 regarding timely and accurate enrollment reporting.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Review and improve reporting procedures to ensure compliance with federal regulations.

Finding Text

Enrollment Reporting Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Federal Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster Assistance Listing Number: 84.007 – Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants 84.033 – Federal Work Study Program 84.038 – Federal Perkins Loan Program 84.063 – Federal Pell Grant Program 84.268 – Federal Direct Student Loans 84.379 - Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant Federal Award Identification Number and Year: N/A Pass-Through Agency: N/A Pass-Through Number(s): N/A Award Period: June 1, 2024 to May 31, 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(b), states schools must have some arrangement to report student enrollment data to National Student Loan Database System (NSLDS) through an enrollment roster file. The school is required to report changes in the student’s enrollment status, the effective date of the status, and an anticipated completion date. Also, the Code of Federal Regulations, 34 CFR 682.610, states that institutions must report accurately the enrollment status of all students regardless if they receive aid from the institution or not. Changes to said status are required to be reported within 30 days of becoming aware of the status change, or with the next scheduled transmission of statuses if the scheduled transmission is within 60 day. Condition: During our testing, it was noted that 10 out of the 40 students tested were not reported timely. In addition, it was noted that 4 out of the 40 students tested did not have Campus Level detail that matches the Program Level detail. Questioned Costs: None Context: Updates to NSLDS were not completed in a timely manner. In addition, the enrollment roster file contained dates that were incorrect for the Enrollment and Program Level effective dates. Cause: The University's process for NSLDS enrollment reporting did not provide accurate and timely reporting.Effect: The University did not comply with Department of Education (ED) regulations by reporting student enrollment status changes timely and accurately. Repeat Finding: Yes – 2024-001 Auditor’s Recommendation: We recommend the University review its reporting procedures to ensure the students’ statuses are accurately and timely reported to NSLDS as required by regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.

Corrective Action Plan

Student Financial Aid Cluster – Assistance Listing No.: Various Recommendation: We recommend the University review its reporting procedures to ensure the 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: We continue to have system-related issues, for example, the NSC FTP didn't accept our October report, so it was late and it took a long time for us to figure out what had happened. Also, the wrong dates were sent in fall. Our system sent summer dates during the fall semester. Student Affairs staff are now contacting students who have withdrawn in the semester to encourage them to complete a “Leave of Absence” (LOA) request if they think they will not be returning in the subsequent semester. Students have the ability to make their decision at any time. Once we are notified of an LOA, we are updating our system and sending that information to NSLDS. Name of the contact person responsible for corrective action: Kerri Vickers, Registrar. Planned completion date for corrective action plan: On-going.

Categories

Student Financial Aid

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1175513 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175514 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175515 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175516 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175517 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175519 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175520 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175521 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175522 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175523 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1175524 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $29.35M
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $6.84M
84.038 FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN PROGRAM_FEDERAL CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS $1.50M
84.160 TRAINING INTERPRETERS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DEAF AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DEAF-BLIND $957,019
93.516 PUBLIC HEALTH TRAINING CENTERS PROGRAM $555,793
84.116 FUND FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION $499,893
84.042 TRIO STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES $408,722
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $406,341
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $393,582
93.866 AGING RESEARCH $373,461
93.264 NURSE FACULTY LOAN PROGRAM (NFLP) $290,384
93.364 NURSING STUDENT LOANS $243,310
84.031 HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONAL AID $217,765
47.075 SOCIAL, BEHAVIORAL, AND ECONOMIC SCIENCES $109,402
47.074 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES $72,388
47.076 STEM EDUCATION (FORMERLY EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES) $31,933
84.379 TEACHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE FOR COLLEGE AND HIGHER EDUCATION GRANTS (TEACH GRANTS) $943