Finding 43250 (2022-002)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-03-29
Audit: 49806
Organization: Concordia University, St. Paul (MN)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The University failed to accurately report student enrollment data to NSLDS, with 25 out of 60 records showing discrepancies.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 34 CFR 685.309(b) and 34 CFR 682.610, which mandate timely and accurate reporting of enrollment status changes.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The University should enhance its reporting procedures to ensure timely updates to NSLDS and prevent future discrepancies.

Finding Text

Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Federal Program Name: Student Financial Assistance Cluster Assistance Listing Number: 84.007 ? Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants 84.033 ? Federal Work Study Program 84.038 ? Federal Perkins Loans 84.063 ? Federal Pell Grant Program 84.268 ? Federal Direct Student Loans 84.379 ? Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants Award Period: July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022 Type of Finding: ? Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance ? Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: The Code of Federal Regulations, 34 CFR 685.309(b), states schools must have some arrangement to report student enrollment data to NSLDS through an enrollment roster file. The school 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 institutions must report accurately the enrollment status of all students regardless if they receive aid from the institution or not. Changes to said status are required to be reported within 30 days of becoming aware of the status change, or with the next scheduled transmission of statuses if the scheduled transmission is within 60 day. 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. Condition: During our testing, it was noted 25 of 60 students enrollment information on NSLDS did not match their program information. The institution also must update all records every 60 days, and CLA noted 6 out of 60 students had instances greater than 60 days where their records were not updated. Questioned costs: None Context: The enrollment roster file contained dates that were incorrect for the Enrollment and Program Level effective dates. In the cases of this error the enrollment information should have been the date per institution's records for the Campus and Program Level. There were also instances where the information on the Enrollment and Program level were inconsistent with the University's records. Finally, Updates to NSLDS were not completed in a timely manner. Cause: The University has had significant turnover and updates were missed. Effect: The NSLDS system is not updated with the student information which can cause a student to not properly enter the repayment period. Repeat Finding: Yes, Finding 2021-002. Auditor?s Recommendation: We recommend the University review its reporting procedures to ensure the students? statuses are accurately and timely reported to NSLDS as required by regulations. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.

Corrective Action Plan

Student Financial Assistance Cluster ? Assistance Listing No. Various Recommendation: We recommend the University review its reporting procedures to ensure the students? statuses are accurately and timely reported to NSLDS as required by regulations. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: Registrar's Office reports enrollment data every 30 days to the National Student Clearinghouse. Registrar's Office individually updates student records to maintain compliance with the 60-day update in NSLDS. The Registrar's Office has been communicating with the National Student Clearinghouse since September of 2022 regarding timelines of NSC to NSLDS updates. NSC has confirmed that updated information has been reported in time. Registrar's Office has sought specific information regarding audit findings as reported information to NSC is within the timeline. Registrar Team has been reviewing Program and Campus Level information since September of 2022 as regulations had been newly modified. Name of the contact person responsible for corrective action: Lynn Lundquist, Registrar Planned completion date for corrective action plan: April 2023

Categories

Student Financial Aid Reporting Significant Deficiency Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 43249 2022-001
    Material Weakness
  • 43251 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 43252 2022-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 43253 2022-001
    Material Weakness
  • 43254 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 43255 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 43256 2022-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 43257 2022-001
    Material Weakness
  • 43258 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 43259 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 43260 2022-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 43261 2022-001
    Material Weakness
  • 43262 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 43263 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 43264 2022-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 43265 2022-001
    Material Weakness
  • 43266 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 43267 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 43268 2022-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 43269 2022-001
    Material Weakness
  • 43270 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 43271 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 43272 2022-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 43273 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 43274 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 619691 2022-001
    Material Weakness
  • 619692 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 619693 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 619694 2022-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 619695 2022-001
    Material Weakness
  • 619696 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 619697 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 619698 2022-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 619699 2022-001
    Material Weakness
  • 619700 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 619701 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 619702 2022-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 619703 2022-001
    Material Weakness
  • 619704 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 619705 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 619706 2022-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 619707 2022-001
    Material Weakness
  • 619708 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 619709 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 619710 2022-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 619711 2022-001
    Material Weakness
  • 619712 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 619713 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 619714 2022-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 619715 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 619716 2022-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $33.05M
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $5.54M
84.038 Federal Perkins Loan Program $1.24M
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $278,339
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $133,000
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $103,990
84.379 Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants (teach Grants) $60,966