Finding 1216159 (2025-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-05-29
Audit: 402637
Organization: Point Park University (PA)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The University failed to accurately report student enrollment statuses for Title IV loans, with discrepancies noted in 2 out of 25 cases.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with Title IV regulations requires timely updates to enrollment information and notification of changes within specified timeframes.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The University should improve its processes and controls for reporting enrollment changes to ensure accuracy and compliance by fiscal 2026.

Finding Text

Federal Program: Student Financial Assistance Cluster - Federal Direct Student Loans Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Pass-Through Entity: Not applicable Assistance Listing Number: 84.268 Federal Award Year: August 31, 2025 Criterion: Title IV regulations (34 CFR 685.309(b)) require that upon receipt of an enrollment report from the Secretary of the Department of Education (Secretary), institutions must update all information included in the report and return the report to the Secretary: (i) in the manner and format prescribed by the Secretary; and (ii) within the timeframe prescribed by the Secretary. Unless the institution expects to submit its next updated enrollment report to the Secretary within the next 60 days, an institution must notify the Secretary within 30 days after the date the institution discovers that: (i) a loan under Title IV of the Act was made to or on behalf of a student who was enrolled or accepted for enrollment at the institution, and the student has ceased to be enrolled on at least a halftime basis or failed to enroll on at least a half-time basis for the period for which the loan was intended or (ii) a student who is enrolled at the institution and who received a loan under Title IV of the Act has changed his or her permanent address. Condition and Context: Exceptions were noted for 2 out of the 25 students tested. The exceptions are noted as follows:  For 1 student, the withdrawal date reported to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) did not agree to University support.  For 1 student, an incorrect status was reported to NSLDS. The sample was not statistically valid. Cause: There was miscommunication between University departments that lead to the noted exceptions. Effect: The accuracy of the Title IV student loan records depends heavily on the accuracy of the enrollment information reported by schools. If an institution does not review, update, and verify student enrollment statuses, effective dates of the enrollment status, and the anticipated completion dates, then the Title IV student loan records will be inaccurate. Recommendation: The University should reevaluate the existing process and related control to ensure timely and accurate reporting of status changes. Management Response: Management agrees with the finding. The Director of Financial Aid will ensure the implementation of procedures and controls in fiscal 2026 to ensure timely and accurate reporting.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding 2025-002 - Enrollment Reporting - Significant Deficiency (Repeat of prior year finding 2024-001) Criterion: Title IV regulations (34 CFR 685.309(b)) require that upon receipt of an enrollment report from the Secretary of the Department of Education (Secretary), institutions must update all information included in the report and return the report to the Secretary: (i) in the manner and format prescribed by the Secretary; and (ii) within the timeframe prescribed by the Secretary. Unless the institution expects to submit its next updated enrollment report to the Secretary within the next 60 days, an institution must notify the Secretary within 30 days after the date the institution discovers that: (i) a loan under Title IV of the Act was made to or on behalf of a student who was enrolled or accepted for enrollment at the institution, and the student has ceased to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis or failed to enroll on at least a half-time basis for the period for which the loan was intended or (ii) a student who is enrolled at the institution and who received a loan under Title IV of the Act has changed his or her permanent address. Condition and Context: Exceptions were noted for 2 out of the 25 students tested. The exceptions are noted as follows:  For 1 student, the withdrawal date reported to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) did not agree to University support.  For 1 student, an incorrect status was reported to NSLDS. Corrective Action Plan: The following procedures are in process of being implemented to ensure accurate reporting in the future. Occasionally there are students who are delayed in having their degree conferred. This has resulted in miscommunication between University departments causing a delay in reporting. Going forward, the associate registrar will notify the University registrar upon completion of all late conferrals. The associate registrar will provide the University registrar with the name and identification for each of these students. During the monthly enrollment submission (approximately the 15th of every month) the University Registrar will ensure that each identified student is properly reflected in the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) and National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) Anticipated Completion Date: June 30, 2026 Name of Responsible Person: Scott Spencer, University Registrar Office (412) 392-3876 sspencer@pointpark.edu

Categories

Student Financial Aid Subrecipient Monitoring Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1216158 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOANS $31.66M
84.063 FEDERAL PELL GRANT PROGRAM $6.62M
84.033 FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM $393,631
84.007 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS $342,375
64.116 VETERAN READINESS AND EMPLOYMENT $139,342
84.126 REHABILITATION SERVICES VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION GRANTS TO STATES $61,557
16.029 OFFICE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN SPECIAL PROJECTS $41,918
84.379 TEACHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE FOR COLLEGE AND HIGHER EDUCATION GRANTS (TEACH GRANTS) $13,500
17.245 TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE $5,500