Finding Text
COMPLIANCE FINDING 2022-002- Special Test and Provisions Based on a sample of 6 students Condition: It appears that the University did not send exit counseling communication to two students within 30 days of determining that the student borrower was graduating in the fall 2021 term. Criteria A school must ensure that exit counseling is conducted with each Direct Subsidized Loan or Direct Unsubsidized Loan borrower and graduate or professional student Direct PLUS Loan borrower shortly before the student borrower ceases at least half-time study at the school. 34 C.F.R. ? 685.304 (b)(1). If a student borrower withdraws from school without the school?s prior knowledge or fails to complete the exit counseling as required, exit counseling must, within 30 days after the school learns that the student borrower has withdrawn from school or failed to complete the exit counseling as required, be provided either through interactive electronic means, by mailing written counseling materials to the student borrower at the student borrower?s last known address, or by sending written counseling materials to an email address provided by the student borrower that is not an email address associated with the school sending the counseling materials. 34 C.F.R. ? 685.304 (b)(3). Cause: Due to the ransomware attack to the University?s system management was not able to access the system and student records in order to email exit counseling notifications to students within the required time frame, approximate to their graduation dates. Effect: An institution?s failure to provide loan counseling to students in accordance with the Federal regulations may result in increased student loan defaults and cause increased expense for the Department. Recommendation: We recommend that the University put in place a plan of action to ensure exit counseling notifications are sent to students in a timely manner. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions ? See Corrective Action Plan