Finding 47222 (2022-003)

Material Weakness
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-03-30
Audit: 53657
Organization: Benedict College (SC)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The College failed to report enrollment status changes for 35 out of 40 students accurately and on time.
  • Impacted Requirements: The College must report changes to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) within 60 days, as mandated by federal regulations.
  • Recommended Follow-up: Implement a new reporting process, enhance training for staff, and adjust submission schedules to ensure timely and accurate reporting to NSLDS.

Finding Text

CFDA Number, Federal Agency, and Program Name - U.S. Department of Education, Student Financial Assistance Cluster (Pell - 84.063 and Federal Direct Loans - 84.268) Federal Award Identification Number and Year - 2022 - 84.063 and 84.268 Pass-through Entity - N/A Finding Type - Material weakness and material noncompliance with laws and regulations Repeat Finding - No Criteria - The College has 60 days from the date it determines an enrollment status change to report to NSLDS. The enrollment reporting must be updated for changes in the data elements for the campus record and the program record and submitted electronically through the batch method, spreadsheet submittal, or the NSLDS website (Pell, 34 CFR 690.83(b)(2); Direct Loan, 34 CFR 685.309). Condition - Of the 40 students selected for enrollment reporting testing, the University did not properly update student enrollment information for 35 students in an accurate or timely manner. Questioned Costs - None Context - Out of a sample of 40 students, we noted 35 students whose graduations were not timely reported. Cause and Effect - A control was lacking to ensure information submitted to National Student Clearinghouse was completed accurately and timely. As a result, 35 student status changes were reported late Recommendation - The College should implement a process to ensure that all student status changes are reported to NSLDS in an accurate and timely fashion. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions - The errors are attributed to programming embedded in the school's learning management system and delays by NSC in relaying information to NSLDS. To correct the findings, Benedict is implementing the following action plan: 1) The reporting process was temporarily moved to another campus office during a staff transition in the Registrar's Office. With a new registrar and assistant registrar in place, the process will be reassigned to the Registrar. 2) The College is scheduling a process maintenance session with the representatives from Jenzabar EX to ensure proper coding in the school's learning management system. Individualized training will also be scheduled for the Registrrar's staff to ensure a full understanding of the mechanics of the reporting system. 3) As NSC only reports status changes when the subsequent file is received (for example, May status changes are only reported to NSLDS when the June report is received), Benedict's NSC submission schedule will be amended to every 30 days throughout the entire calendar year, thereby ensuring that the triggering event allows NSLDS receipt within 60 days.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding Number: 2022-003 Condition: Of the 40 students selected for enrollment reporting testing, the College did not properly update student enrollment informaion for some students in a timely manner. Planned Corrective Action: The errors are attributed to incorrect programming embedded in the school's learning management system and delays by NSC in relaying information to NSLDS. To correct the findings, Benedict is implementing the following action plan: 1) The reporting process was temporarily moved to another campus office during a staff transition in the Registrar's Office. With a new registrar and assistant registrar in place, the process will be reassigned to the Registrar. 2) The college is scheduling a process maintenance session with representatives from Jenzabar EX to ensure proper coding in the school's learning management system. Individualized training will also be scheduled for the Registrar's staff to ensure a full understanding of the mechanics of the reporting system. 3) As NSC only reports status changes when the subsequent file is received (for example, May status changes are only reported to NSLDS when the June report is received), Benedict's NSC submission schedule will be amended to every 30 days throughout the entire calendar year, thereby ensuring that the triggering event allows NSLDS receipt within 60 days. Contact person responsible for corrective action: Dr. Kimberly Haynes-Stephens, AVP for Academic Support and Assessment; Roberta Davis, Registrar; Monique Rickenbaker, Director of Financial Aid; Chief Financial Officer. Anticipated Completion Date: April 30, 2023.

Categories

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

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 47223 2022-003
    Material Weakness
  • 47224 2022-002
    Material Weakness
  • 623664 2022-003
    Material Weakness
  • 623665 2022-003
    Material Weakness
  • 623666 2022-002
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $11.15M
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $7.11M
84.031 Higher Education_institutional Aid $4.47M
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $500,426
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $488,608
84.047 Trio_upward Bound $315,723
84.425 Covid-19 - Education Stabilization Fund $256,055
59.043 Covid-19 - Women's Business Ownership Assistance $230,641
81.104 Environmental Remediation and Waste Processing and Disposal $179,146
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $110,703
59.043 Women's Business Ownership Assistance $90,058
12.431 Basic Scientific Research $86,758
20.701 University Transportation Centers Program $61,758
84.120 Minority Science and Engineering Improvement $60,778
81.123 National Nuclear Security Administration (nnsa) Minority Serving Institutions (msi) Program $37,035
93.297 Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Program $29,312
47.076 Education and Human Resources $4,060
93.859 Biomedical Research and Research Training $3,206
43.002 Aeronautics $1,875
20.205 Highway Planning and Construction $1,128
15.904 Historic Preservation Fund Grants-in-Aid $-8,253
17.274 Youthbuild $-10,240