Finding 35998 (2022-002)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-05-29
Audit: 33821
Organization: Cambridge College (MA)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There were inaccuracies in reporting student enrollment data to the NSLDS, specifically with program-level effective dates and campus-level timeliness.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with federal reporting standards under the Federal Pell Grant and Direct Student Loan programs was not met, as institutions must ensure accurate and timely enrollment information.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The College should enhance procedures for accurate enrollment reporting and ensure proper review and approval processes are in place to prevent future errors.

Finding Text

Finding 2022-002 Special Tests and Provisions ? Enrollment Reporting Compliance and Internal Control (Significant Deficiency) Federal Programs U.S. Department of Education Federal Pell Grant Program (Assistance Listing Number 84.063) Federal Direct Student Loans (Assistance Listing Number 84.268) Award year ended August 31, 2022 Criteria: Under the Federal Pell Grant Program and U.S. Department of Education (?ED?) loan programs, institutions are required to report student enrollment information via the National Student Loan Data System (?NSLDS?) (OMB No. 1845-0035). 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 website. The data on the institution?s Enrollment Reporting Roster, or Enrollment Maintenance page, is what NSLDS maintains as the most recently certified enrollment information. 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. The NSLDS Enrollment Reporting Guide provides the requirements and guidance for reporting enrollment details using the NSLDS Enrollment Reporting Process. Required program-level data includes, but is not limited to: ? Program enrollment status; ? Program enrollment effective date; ? Program begin date; ? Published program length and measurement; and, ? Classification of Instructional Program (?CIP?) code. Context and Condition: We selected 40 transactions for testing and noted that the campus-based information was appropriately reported, as was most of the program-level data. However, for 15 out of our 40 selections we noted that the program-level effective date of the change or the status reported was not correctly reported. In addition, for 1 out of our 40 selections the campus level reporting was not timely. Cause: The corrective action plan from the prior year finding was not fully implemented due to staff turnover. Effect: Reporting data for was not properly reported to the NSLDS for certain enrollment changes. Questioned Costs: None identified. Identified as a Repeat Finding: Yes, finding 2021-001. Due to the timing of the prior year report, this finding was expected to be a repeat finding in the current year. Recommendation: The College should implement procedures to ensure that students? program-level enrollment reporting data is reported to the NSLDS accurately and in accordance with the NSLDS Enrollment Guide. The College should also implement procedures to ensure this information is reviewed and approved by the appropriate individual. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding and is in the process of implementing changes to controls and processes to ensure similar errors will not occur in the future. Refer to Corrective Action Plan for further information.

Categories

Student Financial Aid Special Tests & Provisions Reporting Significant Deficiency Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 35997 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 35999 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 36000 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 612439 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 612440 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 612441 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 612442 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $14.25M
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $1.36M
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $1.06M
84.031 Higher Education_institutional Aid $372,360
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $80,675
84.032 Federal Work-Study Program $16,466