Finding 36975 (2022-001)

- Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-03-30
Audit: 25157
Organization: Queens University of Charlotte (NC)
Auditor: Bdo USA LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The University failed to report student enrollment status changes accurately and on time to the NSLDS, affecting compliance with federal requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Timely updates for graduation, withdrawal, or attendance changes must be made within 60 days, with accurate reporting at both Campus and Program levels.
  • Recommended Follow-up: Implement a review process for enrollment reporting and collaborate with Student Financial Services to ensure all records are submitted correctly and timely.

Finding Text

FINDING 2022-001 Federal Program Information: Federal Pell Grant Program (CFDA #84.063) and Federal Direct Student Loans (CFDA #84.268) Criteria or Specific Requirement (Including Statutory, Regulatory or Other Citation): N. Special Tests and Provisions - Enrollment Reporting: The University is required to update students? statuses on the National Student Loans Data System (NSLDS) website if they graduate, withdraw or have an increase/decrease in attendance level during the year within 60 days of the date the University becomes aware of the change in enrollment status. 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. Institutions are responsible for accurately reporting the significant data elements under the Campus-Level Record and Program-Level Record that ED considers high risk. Additionally, institutions are responsible for timely reporting, whether they report directly or via a third-party servicer. As with any school/servicer arrangement for the administration of the Title IV programs, if the school uses a third party to meet the NSLDS enrollment reporting requirements it is the school that must ensure that enrollment information is submitted timely, accurately, and completely. Condition: The University did not submit an accurate status change notification or timely notification to the NSLDS website for certain students who graduated, withdrew, or had an increase/decrease in attendance level during the year. Cause: Administrative oversight with respect to enrollment reporting requirements. Effect or Potential Effect: The University is not in compliance with enrollment reporting requirements. Failure to promptly report accurate and timely changes in enrollment status may adversely impact the repayment status for student loan borrowers. Questioned Costs: None. Context: For 3 of 27 Campus-Level Records sampled, the University did not report the student?s change in status in a timely notification to the NSLDS website. For 3 of 27 Program-Level Records sampled, the University did not report the student?s change in status in a timely notification to the NSLDS website. For 5 of 27 Program-Level Records sampled, the University did not accurately report all significant data elements in a timely notification to the NSLDS website. Identification as a Repeat Finding: This is a repeat finding from prior year. This was reported as Finding 2021-003 in the prior year schedule of findings and questioned costs. Recommendation: We recommend that the University properly follow its policies and procedures over enrollment reporting to ensure that all status changes are submitted to the NSLDS website within the required timeframe. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Two students were not included in the conferral file that was transmitted to the National Student Clearinghouse. For 3 of 27 Campus-Level Records sampled, the University did not report the student?s change in status in a timely notification to the NSLDS website. For 3 of 27 Program-Level Records sampled, the University did not report the student?s change in status in a timely notification to the NSLDS website. For 5 of 27 Program-Level Records sampled, the University did not accurately report all significant data elements in a timely notification to the NSLDS website. While NSC records were reviewed, these items were not caught. Moving forward, two staff members will review each record to ensure that the graduated status is reported correctly. We will work with Student Financial Services to determine if there is a NSLDS report that can be pulled and reviewed after each conferral cycle. Program level data was reported to the NSC. We will work with the NSC to determine why all records aren?t being reported to the NSLDS.

Corrective Action Plan

Two students were not included in the conferral file that was transmitted to the National Student Clearinghouse. For 3 of 27 Campus-Level Records sampled, the University did not report the student?s change in status in a timely notification to the NSLDS website. For 3 of 27 Program-Level Records sampled, the University did not report the student?s change in status in a timely notification to the NSLDS website. For 5 of 27 Program-Level Records sampled, the University did not accurately report all significant data elements in a timely notification to the NSLDS website. While NSC records were reviewed, these items were not caught. Moving forward, two staff members will review each record to ensure that the graduated status is reported correctly. We will work with Student Financial Services to determine if there is a NSLDS report that can be pulled and reviewed after each conferral cycle. Program level data was reported to the NSC. We will work with the NSC to determine why all records aren?t being reported to the NSLDS.

Categories

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

Other Findings in this Audit

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $14.87M
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $2.13M
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $1.66M
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $149,389
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $117,196
12.900 Language Grant Program $67,756