Finding Text
Special Tests and Provisions – Enrollment Reporting – Significant Deficiency in
Internal Controls over Compliance
Student Financial Assistance Cluster
U.S Department of Education
Federal Assistance Listing Number: 84.063, 84.268
Federal Program Name: Federal Pell Grant Program, Federal Direct Student Loans
Federal Award Number: P063P230416, P268K240416
Award Year: 2023-24
Criteria: Uniform Guidance requires institutions to have internal controls in place to ensure attendance
changes for students are reported to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) within at least 60
days of when the student attendance change occurs. It is the University's responsibility to update
students' enrollment information timely and accurately as outlined in 34 CFR section 685.309.
Condition/context: A sample of 40 students who were borrowers of Federal Direct student loans or
recipients of Pell grants and had withdrawn or graduated from the University during the 2023-2024 fiscal
year were selected. The enrollment information and withdrawal or graduation date per the University's
records was compared to the information reported to the NSLDS. We noted that of the 40 students
sampled, 19 students who had graduated and 3 students who had withdrawn from the University were not
properly reported to NSLDS within the 60 day requirement.
Our sample was not, and was not intended to be, statistically valid.
Questioned costs: None
Cause/effect: This occurred as a result of lack of well-documented controls over timely reporting to
NSLDS. This resulted in late reporting of the information to NSLDS. The enrollment information reported
to NSLDS is utilized by ED, the Direct Loan program, lenders, and other institutions to determine
in-school status.
Repeat finding: No
Recommendation: We recommend the University further educate and train those involved in the
reporting of enrollment status changes to the NSLDS. We also recommend the University review their
documented policies and procedures and ensure controls exist and are well documented in order to
ensure enrollment data is reported timely and accurately to NSLDS.
Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: Saint Martin’s University management
agrees with the finding. The Director of Financial Aid will continue education on enrollment reporting
requirements. The Director and the Registrar will continue to work together on enrollment reporting
requirements. The Director of Financial Aid will now report withdrawals due to return to title IV, as well as
conferrals, to the National Student Loan Data System directly once the University receives notice of either
withdrawal or completion of a degree. Weekly, withdrawals for return to title IV are monitored and
reported and now student financial aid will report directly to NSLDS to avoid any lag time in relying on
reporting to the Clearinghouse. At the end of each term, after the Registrar has conferred degrees,
student financial aid will also acquire the list of students who have graduated and report their graduation
status to NSLDS.