Finding 1200776 (2025-003)

2025-003 Department of Education Student Financial Aid Cluster Federal Financial Assistance Listing 84.268 – Federal Direct Student Loans 2024-2025 Award Year Special Tests and Provision – NSLDS Reporting Significant Deficiency in Internal Controls over Compliance Criteria: 34 CFR section 685.309 sets forth the criteria for administrative and fiscal control and fund accounting requirements for schools participating in the Direct Loan Program in regard to enrollment reporting requirements. Condition: We identified through our testing over enrollment reporting one instance of a student’s program begin date incorrectly reported to NSLDS. Cause: An error in entry of the date was made in the system which is used to report to NSLDS, so the date was incorrectly reported. Effect: The error in reporting resulted in incorrect program start date for the student. Questioned Costs: None. Context/Sampling: A nonstatistical sample of 60 students with a change in status out of approximately 820 students with a change in status were selected for testing of enrollment reporting requirements. Repeat Finding from Prior Year(s): Yes. Recommendation: We recommend the financial aid and registrar’s offices review controls over information being entered into the software for dates and other academic information that is required to be reported to ensure that status changes and other academic information are certified within 60 days of the effective date. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding.