Finding 389879 (2023-003)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-03-29
Audit: 300763
Organization: Tusculum University (TN)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The University inaccurately reported student enrollment statuses to the NSLDS, leading to a significant deficiency in compliance.
  • Impacted Requirements: This finding violates 34 CFR 685.309(b) and 34 CFR 690.83(b)(2), which mandate accurate updates to student enrollment information.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The University should enhance communication between departments and implement regular checks on enrollment status reports to ensure accuracy moving forward.

Finding Text

2023-003 Significant Deficiency: National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) Report (U.S. Department of Education, William D. Ford Direct Loan Program, ALN #84.268 and Federal Pell Grant Program, ALN #84.063) (Repeat finding of 2022-001) Criteria: In accordance with 34 CFR 685.309(b) and 34 CFR section 690.83(b)(2), for Direct Loans and Pell grants, respectively, once the Enrollment Reporting roster file is received from the NSLDS, the institution must update the Enrollment Reporting roster file for changes in student status, report the date the enrollment status was effective, enter the new anticipated completion date, and submit the changes to NSLDS. Statement of Condition: During the audit, it was noted that the University incorrectly reported student enrollment status for changes in enrollment. Questioned Costs: Such information is not applicable for this finding since it is nonmonetary in nature. Perspective Information: The audit included a detailed testing of 40 student files, of which this significant deficiency applies to 12, indicating an error rate of 30.00%. Cause and Effect: Due to lapses in communication between departments, in certain instances, the University failed to provide NSLDS with accurate updates to student enrollment statuses, resulting in misrepresentation within the NSLDS system. Recommendation: The University should ensure that the correct enrollment status is reported to NSLDS. View of Responsible Officials: The University concurs with this finding. Student enrollment status is pulled monthly into a report and submitted to clearinghouse out of Colleague. The failure of the system to pull the correct enrollment status for changes in enrollment is noted and the Director of Financial Aid and the Registrar of the university will work in conjecture to determine why the report that pulls out of the system is not pulling accurate student enrollment status for changes in enrollment. Once fixed, we will continue to monitor by pulling a list of random sampling of students out of each monthly report to ensure that enrollment status is being reported correctly.

Corrective Action Plan

2023-003 Significant Deficiency: National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) Report (U.S. Department of Education, William D. Ford Direct Loan Program, ALN #84.268 and Federal Pell Grant Program, ALN #84.063) (Repeat finding of 2022-001) Name of Contact Person Casey Reagan, Registrar, is responsible for ensuring student enrollment status for changes in enrollment are correct. Melissa White, Director of Financial Aid, is responsible for uploading the enrollment status reports to clearinghouse. Corrective Action Planned During the audit, it was noted that Tusculum reported student enrollment status at changes in enrollment incorrectly. The Registrar and the Director of Financial Aid will work in conjecture to determine why the report that is pulled to upload to clearinghouse is not pulling accurate student enrollment status changes in enrollment. Once the error is identified and fixed, financial aid will pull the report and check to ensure everything is pulling correctly. Then, each month as the report is pulled, a random sampling of students will be pulled out of the report to be checked against the enrollment records to ensure that the report continues to pull correctly. Anticipated Completion Date The Registrar and Director of Financial Aid still needs to identify where the error is occurring. It is the goal to have this issue resolved before the end of the spring 2024 semester.

Categories

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

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 389878 2023-002
    Material Weakness
  • 389880 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 966320 2023-002
    Material Weakness
  • 966321 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 966322 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
10.766 Community Facilities Loans and Grants $47.55M
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $7.57M
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $2.57M
84.047 Trio_upward Bound $1.15M
84.044 Trio_talent Search $614,399
84.042 Trio_student Support Services $589,780
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $112,250
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $82,044
84.379 Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants (teach Grants) $18,860
84.038 Federal Perkins Loan Program $184