Finding 27966 (2022-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2022-12-13

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Graduated students were incorrectly reported as withdrawn, affecting enrollment status accuracy.
  • Impacted Requirements: Institutions must report enrollment status changes within 30 days or submit full rosters every 60 days.
  • Recommended Follow-up: Fix the system error for dual degree students to ensure timely and accurate reporting.

Finding Text

Finding Number 2022-001 Information on the Federal Program: Federal Agency: United States Department of Education Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster CFDA: 84.038 Federal Perkins Loan Program Federal Award Identification Number: N/A Federal Award Year: Year Ended June 30, 2022 Specific Requirement: Institutions are required to submit changes in enrollment status 1) within 30 days of a change in status or 2) on full roster?s of enrollment status every 60 days. Condition Found: During our audit, we noted an instance where graduated students were inappropriate reported as withdrawn. Upon further review, there were 6 other students at the Seminary that had graduated but were reported as withdrawn. Context: The noted delay in reporting enrollment status impacted certain students with dual degrees. Questioned Costs: None Cause and Effect: Based on our statistically-based sample, the students that were being reported inaccurately were a result of a system error for students with dual degrees. Recommendation We recommend that management correct the system error for students with dual degrees to ensure that the Seminary reports the changes in enrollment status within the required timeframe. Repeat Finding: No Views of a Responsible Official and Corrective Action Plan See Corrective Action Plan

Corrective Action Plan

Finding 2022-001 Condition Found During our audit, we noted an instance where 2 dual degree graduated students were inappropriately reported as withdrawn. Upon further review by the Seminary staff, an additional 6 students were identified with the same issue. Corrective Action Plan The Degree Verify report that is generated by our Student Information System (CAMS) and submitted to the National Student Loan Clearinghouse (Clearinghouse) would produce a separate line item for each degree when a dual degree student would graduate with both degrees in the same semester. This would not be accepted by the Clearinghouse and neither degree would be updated. When the student was reported as not enrolled in subsequent semesters, the Clearinghouse would update the student?s degree status to withdrawn. We have since converted to a new Student Information System (SONIS) and we have also updated the instructions concerning the Degree Verify report. We will now identify each dual degree student and submit only one degree through the report submitted to the Clearinghouse. For each second degree for a student, we will manually update the record within the Clearinghouse. Responsible Party: Gregg Hansen, Chief Financial Officer, 978.646.4016 Anticipated Completion Date: November 18, 2022

Categories

Student Financial Aid Reporting Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 27967 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 27968 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 604408 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 604409 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 604410 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $2.12M
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $606,563
84.038 Federal Perkins Loan Program $371,323
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $113,668