Finding 11966 (2023-001)

Material Weakness
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-02-07
Audit: 15949
Organization: Sinclair Community College (OH)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Sinclair Community College failed to report student status changes on time and accurately for graduates and withdrawals.
  • Impacted Requirements: Noncompliance with federal regulations requiring timely reporting to the National Student Loan Data System.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement a control process to ensure timely and accurate reporting of all student status changes.

Finding Text

Assistance Listing Number, Federal Agency, and Program Name ALN 84.063 and 84.268; Department of Education; Federal Pell Grant Program and Federal Direct Loan Program Federal Award Identification Number and Year P063P220348, P268K220348, and P268K210348 Pass through Entity N/A Finding Type Material weakness and material noncompliance with laws and regulations Repeat Finding No Criteria Federal Pell Grant Program: An institution shall submit, in accordance with deadline dates established by the secretary, through publication in the Federal Register, other reports and information the secretary requires and shall comply with the procedures the secretary finds necessary to ensure that the reports are correct (34 CFR Section 690.83(b)(2)). Federal Direct Student Loans: Changes in student status are required to be reported to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) within 30 days of the change or included in a Student Status Confirmation Report (SSCR) sent to the NSLDS within 60 days of the status change (34 CFR Section 685.309(b)). Condition Sinclair Community College did not report student status changes timely and accurately for certain students who graduated or withdrew during the year. Questioned Costs None Identification of How Questioned Costs Were Computed N/A Context Of the 25 students tested for student change status, 3 student status changes were not submitted within the required time frame, and 3 students were not properly reported as graduated or withdrawn. Cause and Effect The College did not have a process in place to ensure timely and proper reporting for all student status changes. As a result, there were instances of reporting outside of the required time frame and instances where reporting of graduated or withdrawn statuses did not occur. Recommendation We recommend that the College put a control process in place to ensure all student status changes are reported timely and accurately. Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan Sinclair Community College will perform a comprehensive review of enrollment reporting to National Student Loan Data System by way of the National Student Clearinghouse. This will include a review of enrollment reporting processing, personnel responsibilities, system modifications, and make all necessary revisions to workflows to prevent future occurrence of this finding. A review of activity prior to implementation of revised procedures will be conducted, and any exceptions will be documented and corrected.

Corrective Action Plan

Condition: Sinclair Community College did not report student status changes timely and accurately for certain students who withdrew and graduated during the year. Planned Corrective Action: Sinclair Community College will perform a comprehensive review of Enrollment Reporting to the National Student Loan Data System by way of the National Student Clearinghouse. This will include a review of enrollment reporting processing, personnel responsibilities, system modifications, and make all necessary revisions to workflows to prevent future occurrence of this finding. A review of activity prior to implementation of revised procedures will be conducted and any exceptions will be documented and corrected. Contact person responsible for corrective action: Dr. Tina L. Hummons, Registrar, Office of Registration & Student Records Anticipated Completion Date: 12/31/2023

Categories

Student Financial Aid Material Weakness Reporting Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 11967 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 588408 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 588409 2023-001
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $21.04M
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $14.84M
84.044 Trio_talent Search $854,131
84.047 Trio_upward Bound $772,465
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $732,015
59.086 U.s. Small Business Administration - Congressional Community Project Funding $704,647
84.335 Child Care Access Means Parents in School $482,288
93.558 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families $300,000
84.042 Trio_student Support Services $285,744
19.009 Academic Exchange Programs - Undergraduate Programs $213,290
12.300 Basic and Applied Scientific Research $192,167
12.560 Dod, Ndep, Dotc-Stem Education Outreach Implementation $173,968
84.048 Career and Technical Education -- Basic Grants to States $145,604
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $81,885
12.006 National Defense Education Program $77,295
47.076 Education and Human Resources $54,781
12.905 Cybersecurity Core Curriculum $30,481
48.076 Education and Human Resources $30,130
84.027 Special Education_grants to States $21,438
84.016 Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language Programs $18,103
64.027 Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance $17,023
20.109 Air Transportation Centers of Excellence $7,983
97.005 State and Local Homeland Security National Training Program $7,143
16.607 Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program $3,704