Finding 1182469 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-03-24
Audit: 393884
Organization: Eastern Oregon University (OR)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The University failed to report student enrollment statuses accurately and on time to NSLDS, violating federal regulations.
  • Impacted Requirements: Noncompliance with 34 CFR 682.610 and 2 CFR 200.303 regarding timely reporting of enrollment changes.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement a control system to ensure enrollment data is accurate and reported promptly, and maintain evidence of compliance.

Finding Text

Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program Title: Student Financial Assistance Cluster Assistance Listing Number: 84.268, 84.063, 84.007, 84.033, 84.379 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: P268K252058-2025, P063P242058-2025, P007A253479-2025, P033A253479-2025, P379T262058-2025 Award Period: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 Type of Finding: • Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance • Compliance, Other Matter Criteria or specific requirement: The Code of Federal Regulations, 34 CFR 682.610, states that institutions must report accurately the enrollment status of all students regardless of 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 days. In addition, per the Uniform Guidance 2 CRF 200.303, nonfederal entities receiving federal awards are required to establish and maintain internal controls designed to ensure reasonable compliance with federal laws, regulations, and program compliance requirements. Condition: There were instances in which the University did not report the effective date and enrollment status correctly or timely. In addition, the University did not have a control in place to ensure timely and accurate reporting to NSLDS. Questioned costs: None Reported. Context: During our testing, we noted that the enrollment effective date of 6 of the 60 students tested was not reported correctly to NSLDS. We also noted that the change in enrollment status of 3 of the 60 students tested was not reported timely to NSLDS. We also noted the program enrollment effective date of 2 of the 60 students tested did not match the enrollment effective date. Additionally, we did not note evidence of a key control occurring for enrollment reporting. Cause: The University did not have proper controls or procedures in place to verify students' status in NSLDS matched the institution’s records in a timely manner. Effect: Failure to properly report enrollment status changes on NSLDS could affect the timing of the grace period for repayment of Title IV loans. Additionally, the University was not in compliance with the requirements to properly report student enrollment data correctly or timely to NSLDS. Repeat Finding: Yes, 2024-002. Recommendation: We recommend that the University implement a key control to ensure that enrollment data, changes in status, and effective dates within NSLDS match the records of the institution and are reported timely, and to store evidence of the key control having occurred. View of Responsible Official: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.

Corrective Action Plan

Student Financial Assistance Cluster – Assistance Listing No. 84.268, 84.063, 84.007, 84.033, 84.379 Recommendation: We recommend that the University implement a key control to ensure that enrollment data, changes in status, and effective dates within NSLDS match the records of the institution and are reported timely, and to store evidence of the key control having occurred. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: The University reports enrollment more frequently than the required 60 days to capture status changes in a timely manner. Reporting occurs each term at the end of the second week, the Tuesday after Census, Monday of week 7, and the end of the term. The Registrar and Financial Aid Office created a process to communicate accurate last dates of academic engagement (LDAs) for unofficial withdrawals so that withdrawal dates match LDAs used in Return of Title IV (R2T4) calculations and unofficial withdrawals are reported to NSLDS through the regular NSC process. The Offices have also instituted a shared tracking and review process to regularly spot-check enrollment reports to ensure that data reported in Banner matches NSC reports and is correctly uploaded to NSLDS. Documentation of unofficial withdrawals, LDAs, error reports, and tracking of sampling outcomes with any needed corrections are maintained in the school’s files and shared between offices. The Registrar’s Office will review Banner and NSC submissions to ensure accurate and matching LDAs and status dates; the Financial Aid Office is responsible for confirming NSC submittals have successfully uploaded to NSLDS and reflect correct data that matches R2T4 and unofficial withdrawal info. Manual reporting to NSLDS will only be used for emergency updates to meet timeliness requirements, with multiple follow-up verification for NSC or roster file overwrites. Policy and Procedures Manuals will be updated accordingly, and staff in both offices will be trained annually and with onboarding. Name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action: Emily Sharratt, Registrar; Jason Hibbert, Director of Financial Aid Planned completion date for corrective action plan: March 31, 2026

Categories

Student Financial Aid Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Reporting Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1182465 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182466 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182467 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182468 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182470 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182471 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182472 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182473 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182474 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182475 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182476 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182477 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182478 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182479 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182480 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182481 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182482 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1182483 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $12.24M
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $5.55M
93.600 HEAD START $2.53M
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $910,871
84.116 FUND FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION $474,604
84.031 HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONAL AID $364,773
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $242,639
17.600 MINE HEALTH AND SAFETY GRANTS $166,581
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $124,185
10.558 CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM $113,142
84.424 STUDENT SUPPORT AND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAM $88,104
59.037 SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS $33,200
84.379 TEACHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE FOR COLLEGE AND HIGHER EDUCATION GRANTS (TEACH GRANTS) $21,531
47.074 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES $8,667
84.425 EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND $3,000