Finding 369661 (2023-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-02-19
Audit: 291047
Organization: Carroll Community College (MD)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The college reported incorrect enrollment status and effective dates for students to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS).
  • Impacted Requirements: This finding violates federal regulations requiring accurate reporting of student enrollment data as per 34 CFR 685.309(b) and 34 CFR 682.610.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The college should review and improve its procedures for reporting changes to NSLDS to ensure accurate and timely data submission.

Finding Text

Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Federal Program Title: Student Financial Aid Cluster Assistance Listing Number: 84.063, 84.268 Federal Award Identification Number: P033A228259, P268K234721 Award Period: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria or Specific Requirement: Internal Control - Per 2 CFR section 200.303(a), a non-Federal entity must: Establish and maintain effective internal control over the federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non- Federal entity is managing the federal award in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in “Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government” issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the “Internal Control Integrated Framework”, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Compliance – The Code of Federal Regulations, 34 CFR 685.309(b), states that Colleges must have some arrangement to report student enrollment data to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) through an enrollment roster file. The college is required to report changes in the student’s enrollment status, the effective date of the status, and an anticipated completion date. Also, the Code of Federal Regulations, 34 CFR 682.610, states that college must report accurately the enrollment status of all students regardless if they receive aid from the institution or not. Condition: Incorrect enrollment status and effective date was reported to NSLDS. Context: The enrollment status was incorrectly reported for 1 out of 12 students. The effective date was incorrectly reported for 1 out of 12 students. Questioned Costs: None Cause: The college uses the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) to transmit transmitted over to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). During the course of the year it was determined that information did not properly interface. Effect: NSLDS did not contain the most up-to-date enrollment status and effective dates. Repeat Finding: No. Recommendation: The College should evaluate their procedures and policies related to reporting status changes to NSLDS and enhance as deemed necessary to ensure that accurate information is reported to NSLDS. Views of Responsible Officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.

Corrective Action Plan

U.S. Department of Education 2023-001: NSLDS Enrollment Reporting Student Financial Aid Cluster – Assistance Listing No. 84.063, 84.268 Condition: During testing of enrollment status reporting, we noted that a student’s correct enrollment status and effective date was not reported to NSLDS. Recommendation: The College should evaluate their procedures and policies related to reporting status changes to NSLDS and enhance as deemed necessary to ensure that accurate information is reported to NSLDS. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: The College agrees with the recommendation to evaluate the procedures and policies related to reporting status changes to the Department of Education’s National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). For many years, Carroll has contracted with the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) for their comprehensive enrollment and graduate reporting services. They become an authorized agent, providing status updates to the NSLDS on our behalf. Carroll has begun a review, using the NSC and their resources and tools, to better understand why the student’s graduate status was not transmitted from the NSC to the NSLDS. Carroll staff will review the resources to ensure our procedures and processes meet the NSC expectations. Additionally, at the end of each term, the College will randomly select three students with status changes to verify that the reporting process to the NSLDS is accurate and timely. Name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action: Mr. Gregg Bricca, Director of Institutional Effectiveness. Planned completion date for corrective action plan: 6/30/24

Categories

Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Student Financial Aid Reporting Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 369662 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 946103 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 946104 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $1.75M
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $948,976
84.002 Adult Education - Basic Grants to States $191,053
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $179,044
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $133,796
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $68,310
59.037 Small Business Development Centers $49,007
93.575 Child Care and Development Block Grant $39,813
59.086 Making Education A Priority Grant $1,865