Finding 1190939 (2025-006)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-03-27
Audit: 395206
Organization: Rider University (NJ)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The University failed to accurately report student enrollment data to the NSLDS, with some students' information missing or incorrect.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with U.S. Department of Education regulations requiring accurate reporting of enrollment status changes, including effective dates and program details.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The University should review and improve its procedures for reporting enrollment status changes to ensure compliance with regulations.

Finding Text

2025-006 – National Student Loan Data System Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Federal Program Name: Federal Pell Grant Program, Federal Direct Student Loans Assistance Listing Number: 84.063, 84.268 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: P268K241818; P268K251818; P063P231818; P063P241818; P063Q221818, P063Q231818, P063Q241818 - 2025 Award Period: 7/1/2024 – 6/30/2025 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: Per U.S. Department of Education (ED) regulations, all schools participating (or approved to participate) in the Federal Student Aid programs must have an arrangement to report student enrollment data to the NSLDS through a roster file. The school is required to report enrollment status at both the school and program level. The school is required to report changes in the student’s enrollment status, the effective date of the status and an anticipated completion date. An academic program is defined as the combination of the school’s Office of Postsecondary Education Identification (OPEID) number and the program’s Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) code, credential level, and published program length. ED requires the University to report changes in enrollment status and indicate the date that the changes occurred (34 CFR 685.309). Condition: Certain students' enrollment information was not reported accurately to NSLDS or no information was reported at all. Questioned costs: None. Context: Testing of 40 students identified that enrollment information for certain students was not reported accurately or was not reported at all. Specifically: • One student’s program-level effective date did not agree between University records and NSLDS. • One student was never reported to NSLDS. Cause: The University’s procedures for identifying and reporting enrollment status changes to NSLDS were not functioning effectively. Effect: Inaccurate reporting to the NSLDS can impact when students enter repayment periods or affect their interest rates. Repeat finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend the University evaluate its policies and procedures around reporting student status changes to the NSLDS to ensure that all relevant information is being captured and reported in accordance with applicable regulations. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.

Corrective Action Plan

2025-006 Federal Pell Grant Program, Federal Direct Student Loans – Assistance Listing No. 84.063, 84.268 Recommendation: We recommend the University evaluate its policies and procedures around reporting student status changes to the NSLDS to ensure that all relevant information is being captured and reported in accordance with applicable regulations. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: Rider University concurs with the finding. The Registrar's Office will partner with Financial Aid to regularly correct students who have a mismatched SSN or other NSLDS / NSC information. In cases where students are unable or unwilling to provide Rider with correct SSNs, we will not be able to report their enrollment. This particular student is no longer enrolled at Rider, so no action will be taken in his particular case. Name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action: Daniel Pavlick and Jacqueline Watford Planned completion date for corrective action plan: Effective Immediately

Categories

Student Financial Aid Reporting Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1190929 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1190930 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1190931 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1190932 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1190933 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1190934 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1190935 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1190936 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1190937 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1190938 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $25.56M
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $7.97M
84.038 FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN PROGRAM_FEDERAL CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS $771,877
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $611,245
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $304,316
84.042 TRIO STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES $292,251
84.217 TRIO MCNAIR POST-BACCALAUREATE ACHIEVEMENT $262,284
47.074 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES $107,554
47.070 COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING $64,513
47.050 GEOSCIENCES $28,173
47.076 STEM EDUCATION (FORMERLY EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES) $20,782
84.379 TEACHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE FOR COLLEGE AND HIGHER EDUCATION GRANTS (TEACH GRANTS) $5,658
81.049 OFFICE OF SCIENCE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM $1,884
94.005 LEARN AND SERVE AMERICA_HIGHER EDUCATION $1,718