Finding 384712 (2023-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-03-26

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The College failed to report enrollment changes for 9 students to NSLDS on time, violating the 60-day requirement.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with federal reporting standards for Pell grants and Direct loans is at risk, as this is a repeat finding.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Review and enhance error reporting processes, policies, and training to ensure timely and accurate reporting to NSLDS.

Finding Text

Finding Reference: 2023-001 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Federal Program: Student Financial Aid Cluster Compliance Requirement: Reporting Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance and Noncompliance Criteria: Institutions are required to report enrollment information under the Pell grant and the Direct loan programs via the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). Statement of Condition: Two student’s enrollment changes were not properly reported to NSLDS and this was not initially addressed by the College. Seven students enrollment changes were not timely reported. These students were enrolled during the Spring 2023 semester and the changes were not reported to NSLDS until September 2023, beyond the 60 day reporting requirement. Statement of Cause: Unknown Possible Asserted Effect: The College may not in compliance with reporting required to NSLDS in all circumstances. Questioned Costs: None noted. Context: A sample of 25 students were selected for enrollment testing and 9 students were identified with reporting errors. Repeat Finding: This is a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that the College ensure all error reports are reviewed and followed up on timely to ensure students information is being properly reported to NSLDS. Additionally, we recommend the college review its policies and procedures and training processes to ensure reporting is happening in a timely manner. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: The College acknowledges the discrepancies in reporting. These discrepancies were the result of employee turnover and lack of sufficient training. The specific discrepancies will be corrected, and the College will outline a Corrective Action Plan to address the issues going forward.

Corrective Action Plan

Friday, March 15, 2024 Harrisburg Area Community College respectfully submits the following corrective action plan for the year ended June 30, 2023. The findings from the June 30, 2023 audit report dated March 15, 2024 schedule of findings and questioned cost are discussed below. The findings are numbered consistently with the numbers assigned in the schedule. Agency: (Federal Agency per Finding) U.S. Department of Education Audit Period: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023 Name and Address of independent public accounting firm: Smith Elliott Kearns & Company, LLC, Certified Public Accountants & Consultants 804 Wayne Avenue Chambersburg, Pennsylvania Finding Type: (per Finding) Student Financial Aid Cluster: Material Weakness in internal Controls over Compliance and NonCompliance Internal Control Type: (please choose the type per the finding) o Material Weakness(es) o Significant Deficiencies Audit Finding No.: 2023-001 Federal Program: (per Finding) Student Financial Aid Cluster: Compliance Requirement: (per Finding) Reporting Audit Finding Title/Statement of Condition: (copy from audit findings documentation) Institutions are required to report enrollment information under the Pell grant and the Direct loan programs via the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). Two student’s enrollment changes were not properly reported to NSLDS and this was not initially addressed by the College. Seven student’s enrollment changes were not timely reported. These students were enrolled during the Spring 2023 semester and the changes were not reported to NSLDS until September 2023, beyond the 60-day reporting requirement. Auditor Recommendation: (copy from audit findings documentation) We recommend that the College ensure all error reports are reviewed and followed up on timely to ensure students information is being properly reported to NSLDS. Additionally, we recommend the college review its policies and procedures and training processes to ensure reporting is happening in a timely manner. Specific steps to be taken to correct the situation [including a timetable for performance of the CAP] or reason why corrective action is not necessary (including disagreement with the finding). 1) The College will correct the enrollment discrepancies that were reported/uncovered in the audit process. 2) The College will review its existing reporting process for enrollment to the National Clearinghouse. 3) The College will regularly cross reference National Clearinghouse reporting to ensure accurate transfer into NSLDS. 4) The College will address any issues with NSLDS reporting carryover/transfer with NSLDS staff support. Anticipated Completion Date: Corrections to the students’ enrollment errors will be addressed by March 31, 2024. Name(s) and Title(s) of contact person(s) responsible for correction action: Tim Barshinger, Assistant Vice-president of Student Enrollment Services

Categories

Student Financial Aid Reporting Material Weakness Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 384713 2023-002
    Material Weakness
  • 384714 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 384715 2023-002
    Material Weakness
  • 384716 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 384717 2023-002
    Material Weakness
  • 384718 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 384719 2023-002
    Material Weakness
  • 961154 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 961155 2023-002
    Material Weakness
  • 961156 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 961157 2023-002
    Material Weakness
  • 961158 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 961159 2023-002
    Material Weakness
  • 961160 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 961161 2023-002
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $28.62M
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $17.55M
84.048 Career and Technical Education -- Basic Grants to States $1.14M
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $972,360
10.561 State Administrative Matching Grants for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program $481,011
93.558 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families $331,492
97.025 National Urban Search and Rescue (us&r) Response System $272,337
93.434 Every Student Succeeds Act/preschool Development Grants $262,193
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $215,746
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $108,134
84.002 Adult Education - Basic Grants to States $64,243
47.076 Education and Human Resources $40,557
17.245 Trade Adjustment Assistance $29,383
94.006 Americorps $17,969