Finding 1219584 (2021-003)

Program Student Financial Assistance (SFA) Cluster – Various ALNs Compliance Requirement Special Tests and Provisions – Enrollment Reporting Criteria Institutions are required to report enrollment information under the Pell grant and the Direct and FFEL loan programs via the NSLDS. The administration of the Title IV programs depends heavily on the accuracy and timeliness of the enrollment information reported by institutions. Institutions must review, update, and verify student enrollment statuses, program information, and effective dates that appear on the Enrollment Reporting Roster file or on the Enrollment Maintenance page of the NSLDS Professional Access. There are two categories of enrollment information “Campus Level” and “Program Level”, both of which need to be reported accurately and have separate record types. Institutions are responsible for accurately reporting all Campus-Level Record and Program-Level Record data elements. Institutions are responsible for timely reporting. Institutions must complete and return within 15 days the Enrollment Reporting roster file placed in their Student Aid Internet Gateway (SAIG) mailboxes sent by ED via NSLDS. The institution must update for changes in the data elements for the Campus Record and the Program Record and submit the changes electronically through the batch method, spreadsheet submittal, or the NSLDS website. When a Direct Loan was made to or on behalf of a student who was enrolled or accepted for enrollment at the institution, and the student ceased to be enrolled on at least half-time basis or failed to enroll on at least half-time basis for the period for which the loan was intended,; or a student who is enrolled at the institution and who received a loan under Title IV has changed his or her permanent address, the institution must report the change in its next updated Enrollment Reporting Roster file (due within 60 days of the change). Condition Out of a sample of 33 students, 4 had a status change that was not reported to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). Section III – Federal Award Findings and Questioned Costs (continued) Finding Number: 2021-003 (continued) Cause Processes and controls over the reporting of the student status change to the Department of Education are not properly designed or not functioning as intended to ensure that the University complies with this requirement. Effect The University did not comply with the enrollment reporting requirements, which may result in inaccurate or incomplete enrollment data in NSLDS and limit the Department of Education’s ability to monitor student eligibility and loan status. Questioned Costs Not applicable. Context We performed a test of detail where our statistically valid sample consisted of 33 items from a population of 221 students that had a reduction or increase in attendance levels, graduated, withdrew, dropped out, or enrolled but never attended during the audit period. Based on the evidence examined, we noted 4 samples in which no reporting of enrollment data was provided to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). Identification as a repeat finding, if applicable 2020-015 Recommendation We recommend that the University establishes procedures to ensure that enrollment status changes are updated and accurately reported in a timely manner in the NSLDS database. Management’s Response The University of Virgin Islands concurs with this finding. Management response is included in a separate document.