Finding 1202950 (2025-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-03-30

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The College failed to report student attendance changes to the NSLDS within the required 60 days.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with NSLDS reporting criteria under the Special Test and Provisions for student financial aid.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement internal controls to ensure timely reporting of student status changes to avoid future delays.

Finding Text

Nonmaterial Noncompliance Findings Finding 2025-002 – Student Financial Aid Cluster, Assistance Listing # 84.063 and 84.268 Compliance Requirement: Special Test and Provisions – NSLDS Reporting Criteria: The College is required to send changes in attendance levels of students, including students who, graduated, withdrew, dropped out, or enrolled changes to the National Student Loan Data System (“NSLDS”) within 60 days of the change. Condition: The College did not send changes in attendance levels of students, including students who graduated, withdrew, dropped out, or enrolled changes to the NSLDS within 60 days of the change. Cause: The College had not reported status changes of students to the NSLDS as required under the Uniform Grant Guidance for the year ended June 30, 2025. The status information reported in the College’s system, was incorrectly tracked for the submission to the National Student Clearinghouse and NSLDS, which created late submissions. Context: Of our 7 students selected for testing, all of the students tested had status changes reported to the NSLDS after 60 days. Repeat Finding: This is a repeat finding of 2024-002. Effect: The College did not report status changes to the NSLDS timely. Recommendation: The College should put in place an internal control to timely capture student changes so they can be reported to the NSLDS in a timely manner. Management Response: The College concurs with this finding. Corrective Action Plan: See attached management’s corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding 2025-002 Student Financial Aid Cluster, Assistance Listing # 84.063, 84.268 Condition: The College did not send changes in attendance levels of students, including students who graduated, withdrew, dropped out, or enrolled changes to the NSLDS within 60 days of the change. Corrective Action Plan: Objective: To ensure the timely reporting of changes in attendance levels of students, including students who graduated, withdrew, dropped out, or enrolled, to the National Student Loan Data Center (NSLDS) within 60 days of the change. Corrective Actions: Management concurs with this finding. The College did not consistently report student status changes to NSLDS within the required 60-day timeframe due to inefficient tracking processes and system misalignment between internal records and reporting systems. Corrective actions implemented as follows: 1. Automated Tracking & Reporting Calendar 1. Established a compliance calendar with hard deadlines (<30 days internal target) 2. System Integration Improvements 1. Enhanced data alignment between: Ellucian Colleague, National Student Clearinghouse, and NSLDS 3. Accountability Structure 1. Assigned a designated compliance owner for NSLDS reporting 2. Introduced escalation protocols for missed deadlines 4. Monitoring & Reporting 1. Monthly compliance certification to senior leadership Timeline: Process corrections implemented in Summer 2025; Full compliance expected in Fall 2025 onward Person(s) Responsible for Corrective Action Plan: Anahi Huerta, Director of Financial Aid, Phone: 312-922-1884

Categories

Student Financial Aid Reporting Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Special Tests & Provisions

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1202945 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1202946 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1202947 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1202948 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1202949 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1202951 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1202952 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $3.29M
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $1.18M
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $56,352
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $25,985
64.027 Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance $4,696