Finding Text
SECTION III - FEDERAL AWARD FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS | Finding 2026-001 – Enrollment Reporting | U.S. Department of Education | Award Year 2025-2026 | Student Financial Assistance Cluster (ALN: 84.268) | Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions – Enrollment Reporting | Type of Finding: Noncompliance; reported as noncompliance material to a compliance requirement (2 CFR 200.516(a)(2)) | Criteria - Universities that participate in the Direct Loan program must report student enrollment information to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) accurately and on time. Universities must report any changes to student status in their next updated Enrollment Reporting Roster file, which is due within 60 days of the change (34 CFR 685.309). Universities must also review, update, and certify student enrollment information on the Enrollment Reporting Roster at least every 60 days. | Condition - We tested a sample of 40 students who received Title IV aid and had an enrollment status change during fiscal year 2026. For one student, the University gave the student written notice of a withdrawal decision in May 2026. The University did not certify the withdrawal to NSLDS until September 2026, which was 111 days after the decision. In the meantime, the University kept reporting the student as full-time in its enrollment roster certifications to NSLDS in July and August 2026. | Cause - The withdrawal was a required withdrawal for academic performance initiated by the University, rather than a student-initiated withdrawal processed directly through the Registrar's Office. Because the decision was made by the University, it fell outside the University's standard in-term withdrawal process. The student received written notice of the outcome in May 2026. However, due to an administrative delay, a copy of the decision letter did not reach the Registrar's Office until the end of the summer, with a request to code the withdrawal for the fall 2026 term. | Effect - The student's status in NSLDS was not reported within the required 60-day window. The withdrawal was certified 51 days past the deadline, and the student's record showed full-time during that time. | Questioned Costs - None. | Recommendation - We recommend that the University strengthen communication between the offices that make student status decisions and the Registrar's Office, so that status changes are recorded in Banner and reported to NSLDS on time. | Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Action - See Corrective Action Plan. | Repeat Finding - No.