Finding 15895 (2022-001)

2022-001 Special Tests and Provisions: Enrollment Reporting Criteria: The College is required to update changes in student enrollment status, report the date the enrollment status was effective, enter anticipated completion date, and submit changes electronically with the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) website in accordance with 34 CFR 682.610 and 34 CFR 685.309. Enrollment information must be reported within 30 days whenever attendance changes for students, unless a roster will be submitted within 60 days. Institutions are responsible for timely reporting, whether they report directly or via a third party servicer. Condition: The College has procedures in place to correctly report changes in student enrollment status within the required timeframe, but those procedures did not detect that proper enrollment status information was not provided. Context: A sample of 40 students revealed that enrollment status was not reported properly for one student. A non-statistical sampling methodology was used to select the sample. Effect: The Department of Education may be making decisions on incorrect or outdated information. Cause: The College did not have specific procedures in place to properly report or review reports provided by a third-party servicer to the NSLDS. Questioned Costs: None. Recommendation: We recommend the College implement procedures in order to strictly comply with the requirements of 34 CFR 682.610 and 685.309 as it relates to reporting required to the NSLDS. We further recommend that the College follow the guidance provided in the NSLDS Enrollment Reporting Guide and stay abreast of new guidance as published by the Department of Education. College Response: We concur. The Office of the Registrar at Saint Louis Community College investigated he exception and updated our existing reporting procedures beginning with the Fall 2022 semester. The College believes the new procedures will timely identify and report the required enrollment status changes for the National Student Loan Database System (NSLDS).