Finding 1181972 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-03-23
Audit: 393324

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Enrollment statuses for 21 out of 25 students were reported inaccurately or late, affecting Title IV loan records.
  • Impacted Requirements: Schools must update and report enrollment information to the Secretary within specified timeframes as per 34 CFR 685.309(b).
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement policies for timely verification of enrollment changes and establish a secondary review process to ensure accuracy in reporting to NSLDS.

Finding Text

Federal Program - Federal Direct Student Loan Program, Federal Pell Grant Program, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant Program Federal Agency - U.S. Department of Education Pass-Through Entity - Not Applicable Assistance Listing Number – 84.268, 84.063, 84.007 Award Number - P268K252891, P063P242891, P007A243566 Federal Award Year - June 30, 2025 Criteria: 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/Context: For twenty-one of the twenty-five students tested, the students' enrollment status were reported incorrectly and/or not in a timely or accurate manner. For nine students that graduated, the students' status were incorrectly reported as withdrawn. For nine students the students' change in status were not reported within 60 days. For fourteen students tested the students' NSLDS effective change in status date did not agree to the institutional record. The sample was not a statistically valid sample. Cause: The College identified that there was turnover in the Institutional Effectiveness Office which caused the delay and inaccuracy in the reporting to the NSLDS. There was also not sufficient training on the matter or individuals available to verify the original reporting. Effect: The accuracy of Title IV student loan records depends heavily on the accuracy of the enrollment information reported by the schools. If an institution does not review, update, and verify student enrollment statuses, effective dates of the enrollment status, and other information, then the Title IV student loan records will be inaccurate, which impacts student loan repayments. Questioned Costs: None. Recommendation: It is recommended that policies and procedures be put in place to verify that the correct effective dates and status changes are reported to NSLDS within required time frames, as well as create a process internally to track all students' whose status changed and verify against the roster submitted to NSLDS. This could include a review of withdrawal or graduation dates compared to the effective dates reported to NSLDS to make sure they are accurate. View of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action: The College is dedicated to ensuring the accuracy of reporting to the NSLDS. The following is how the College plans to verify the integrity of NSLDS reporting: The staff responsible for correcting records will receive targeted instruction emphasizing accuracy, verification and accountability. A secondary verification process is planned to be put in place to ensure that a secondary review is performed to confirm reported information and address any discrepancies.

Corrective Action Plan

The College is dedicated to ensuring the accuracy of reporting to the NSLDS. The following is how the College plans to verify the integrity of NSLDS reporting: The staff responsible for correcting records will receive targeted instruction emphasizing accuracy, verification and accountability. A secondary verification process is planned to be put in place to ensure that a secondary review is performed to confirm reported information and address any discrepancies. Name(s) of Contact Person(s) Responsible for Corrective Action: Victoria Stozek, Director of Financial Aid, vstozek@dccc.edu Anticipated Completion Date: 6/30/26

Categories

Student Financial Aid

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1181970 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1181971 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $830,307
84.031 HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONAL AID $409,913
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $363,037
45.162 PROMOTION OF THE HUMANITIES TEACHING AND LEARNING RESOURCES AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT $141,319
17.258 WIOA ADULT PROGRAM $39,268
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $22,808
17.278 WIOA DISLOCATED WORKER FORMULA GRANTS $15,080
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $12,406
93.599 CHAFEE EDUCATION AND TRAINING VOUCHERS PROGRAM (ETV) $0
93.558 TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES $0
93.859 BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND RESEARCH TRAINING $0
10.561 STATE ADMINISTRATIVE MATCHING GRANTS FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM $0
47.076 STEM EDUCATION (FORMERLY EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES) $-38,657
84.048 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION -- BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $-56,739