Finding 1204661 (2025-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-03-30
Audit: 396431
Organization: Alverno College (WI)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Two students' enrollment status was reported incorrectly to NSLDS, indicating a failure in internal controls.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with reporting standards for student data under the Campus-Level and Program-Level records is at risk.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The College should enhance internal controls over enrollment reporting to ensure accurate data submission to NSLDS.

Finding Text

2025-001 Agency: U.S. Department of Education Assistance Listing Numbers: 84.033, 84.007, 84.063, 84.268, 84.038 and 84.379 Grant Numbers: P007A104480, P268K112430, P033A104480, P038A104480, P063P102430, P379T112430 Program: Student Financial Assistance Programs Cluster Federal Award Identification Number: Various Federal Award Year: June 30, 2025 Criteria:The College is responsible for designing, implementing and maintaining internal control over compliance for special tests and provisions and for accurately reporting significant data elements under the Campus-Level and Program-Level records within the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) that the Department of Education (ED) considers high risk. Condition: Management's review of the enrollment reporting did not detect that 2 student's change status was reported to NSLDS with incorrect information . Questioned Costs: The amount of any questioned costs could not be determined. Context:We selected an initial sample of 25 students that included graduate, change in status and withdrawn students. One of the withdrawn students had an incorrect day of attendance. We expanded our sample of withdrawn students. Of 104 students that withdrew, we tested a total of 11. There were two students that had this error. One student's information was incorrect by 2 days, and the other student's information was incorrect by 11 days. The students had an incorrect date of attendance, however the remaining information was timely reported to NSLDS. Cause: The College's internal control over compliance for enrollment and special tests were not operating effectively which led to noncompliance. Effect: The last date of attendance on 2 of 11 students that withdrew was not reported accurately. Recommendation: We recommend the College review internal controls over enrollment reporting to ensure student change status changes get reported to NSLDS accurately. Management's response: Management agrees and has implemented necessary procedures and management oversight to meet the requirements.

Corrective Action Plan

Condition: Management's review of the enrollment reporting did not detect that 2 student's change status was reported to NSLDS with incorrect information. Corrective Action Planned: The offices of Academic Advising and the Registrar will follow the procedure and process on student withdrawals and student dismissals and inform the Senior Data Specialist and the Office of Financial Aid to ensure the date of withdrawal or date of dismissal is accurately and consistently recorded according to Alverno policy and to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). Name(s) of Contact Person(s) Responsible for Corrective Action: Kate Tisch, Director -Academic Advising, Jillian Smith, Registrar, Denise Sanders, Senior Data Specialist and Naomi Coe, Director of Financial Aid. Anticipated Completion Date: This corrective action has been established and review of student changes of status are reviewed and reported on timely basis and accurately immediately.

Categories

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

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1204656 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1204657 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1204658 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1204659 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1204660 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $16.12M
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $2.47M
84.184 SCHOOL SAFELY NATIONAL ACTIVITIES $526,168
84.325 SPECIAL EDUCATION - PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT TO IMPROVE SERVICES AND RESULTS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES $303,913
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $302,207
47.076 STEM EDUCATION (FORMERLY EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES) $233,839
43.008 OFFICE OF STEM ENGAGEMENT (OSTEM) $199,833
84.031 HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONAL AID $198,399
84.038 FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN PROGRAM_FEDERAL CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS $130,626
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $127,541
10.223 HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTIONS EDUCATION GRANTS $86,068
84.335 CHILD CARE ACCESS MEANS PARENTS IN SCHOOL $83,189
84.379 TEACHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE FOR COLLEGE AND HIGHER EDUCATION GRANTS (TEACH GRANTS) $1,886