Finding 501172 (2024-006)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2024-10-01
Audit: 323427
Organization: Virginia Union University (VA)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Timely enrollment reporting to NSLDS is not being met, with eight out of eleven students having inaccurate status updates.
  • Impacted Requirements: Institutions must report enrollment changes within 60 days to ensure accurate management of Pell grant and direct loan programs.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Collaborate with IT and NSC to identify root causes of reporting issues and implement corrective actions, monitored by the Registrar for ongoing accuracy.

Finding Text

Criteria: Under the Pell grant and direct loan programs, institutions are responsible for timely enrollment reporting to NSLDS whether they report directly or via a third-party servicer such as the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC). Enrollment Reporting in a timely and accurate manner is critical for effective management of the programs. Enrollment information must be reported within 60 days whenever the enrollment status changes for students, unless a roster will be submitted within 60 days. Condition: We tested NSLDS Enrollment Detail Records for eleven students with changes in enrollment. Out of these eleven students tested, we noted that the NSLDS status was not changed in a timely manner for eight of them. Cause: The enrollment data transmitted to NSC was not accurate until changes in the status were reported. Effect: Enrollment statuses in NSLDS for the affected individuals were not correct and may have resulted in improper loan deferments and interest subsidiaries on outstanding loans. Questioned costs: $-0- Identification of repeat findings: Yes, see FA-2023-002. Recommendation: The University should work with its Information Technology Department and NSC to determine the root cause of the enrollment reporting issues and develop a corrective action as soon as possible to avoid future reporting inaccuracies. The corrective action should be closely monitored by the Registrar on a regular basis to ensure the process is functioning as intended and resulting in accurate enrollment reporting. Views of responsible officials: The University agrees with the finding. See Client’s Corrective Action Plan – Single Audit Findings.

Corrective Action Plan

Criteria: Under the Pell grant and ED loan programs, Institutions are responsible for timely enrollment reporting to NSLDS whether they report directly or via a third-party servicer such as the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC). Enrollment Reporting in a timely and accurate manner is critical for effective management of the programs. Enrollment information must be reported within 60 days whenever the enrollment status changes for students, unless a roster will be submitted within 60 days. These changes include reductions or increases in attendance levels, withdrawals, graduations, or approved leaves-of-absences. The University concurs with the audit finding and will adhere to the corrective action plan. Corrective Action Plan: Viginia Union University has signficiantly imprved its compliance with federal regulations for enrollment reporting to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). During FY24, a comprehensive review of all files from FY21 to FY23 was conduted to ensure accurate and timely reporting of students' enrollment statuses to the NSLDS. In addition to reviewing previous years, any delinquent reporting for FY24 was also updated to reflect the current status. By April 2024, reporting to NSLDS was synched to a cycle to ensure compliance with the 60-day window. In October 2023, Virginia Union revised its Enrollment Reporting Policy to outline the reporting schedule for submissions to the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC). This updated policy sets forth the timeline and guidelines for enrollment reporting. In addition, Virginia Union University implemented a process to code students who are identified as Unofficial Withdrawal in teh Jenzabar system. This process will ensure these students are included in the monthly reporting to the National Student Clearinghouse even if they do not complete the formal withdrawal process. Responsible person(s): Doreen Dixon, Registrar, ddixon@vuu.edu, 804-257-5845. Robert Merino, Executive Director of Financial Aid, jrmerino@vuu.edu, 804-254-3973. Planned Date of Completion of Corrective Action: August 31, 2024.

Categories

Student Financial Aid Reporting Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 501168 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 501169 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 501170 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 501171 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 501173 2024-006
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 501174 2024-006
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 501175 2024-006
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 501176 2024-007
    -
  • 501177 2024-007
    -
  • 501178 2024-007
    -
  • 501179 2024-007
    -
  • 1077610 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1077611 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1077612 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1077613 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1077614 2024-006
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1077615 2024-006
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1077616 2024-006
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1077617 2024-006
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1077618 2024-007
    -
  • 1077619 2024-007
    -
  • 1077620 2024-007
    -
  • 1077621 2024-007
    -

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $15.28M
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $5.12M
11.028 Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program $1.45M
84.116 Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education $545,961
84.031 Higher Education_institutional Aid $458,706
47.076 Education and Human Resources $367,430
84.047 Trio_upward Bound $293,423
84.042 Trio_student Support Services $279,221
84.217 Trio_mcnair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement $274,078
84.044 Trio_talent Search $267,160
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $204,518
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $202,379
84.021 Overseas Programs - Group Projects Abroad $119,602
45.162 Promotion of the Humanities_teaching and Learning Resources and Curriculum Development $68,168
45.309 Museum Grants for African American History and Culture $58,556