Finding Text
Federal Program: Student Financial Assistance Cluster Assistance Listing Number: 84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans Program Award Year: September 1, 2021 ? June 30, 2022 Criteria: Per 34 CFR Section 685.309, institutions with direct loan programs must complete and return to the National Student Loan Data System for Students (NSLDS) within 30 days the enrollment reporting roster file provided by NSLDS, unless the school expects to complete the next roster within 60 days, then they must return it within 60 days. The institution must update changes in student status, report the date the enrollment status was effective, enter the new anticipated completion date, and then submit changes electronically to the NSLDS, for the purpose of providing complete and accurate data to lenders regarding enrollment status so they may properly determine when repayment of the loans should begin Condition and Context:During our testwork over 40 students that withdrew or graduated during the period, we identified three students in which the University did not accurately and report timely the enrollment status of each student to NSLDS. Cause and Effect:The University?s control failed in detecting that untimely information was reported to NSLDS. Questioned Costs:None noted.Whether the sampling was a statistically valid sample: The sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. Repeat Finding: No. Recommendation: We recommend that the University enhance its internal controls to ensure all information submitted to NSLDS is reviewed for accuracy on a timely basis. View of Responsible Officials:University of Massachusetts Global concurs with this finding. The University utilizes the services of the National Student Clearinghouse to report student status data to the NSLDS. There were two students who were reported as withdrawn when they had graduated. This situation occurred when reports were sent to the Clearinghouse after the students had completed all degree requirements and were no longer attending classes, but before the degrees had been conferred. Beginning with the 2022-2023 fiscal year, reports to the Clearinghouse will be synchronized with degree conferrals so that the graduating students will be given the appropriate status. The third student was on a leave of absence that was reported after the mandated deadline. Records of leaves of absence are kept in a separate database outside our student information system. The records of the other students who had taken leaves of absence during the audit period have been reviewed and an additional procedure has been implemented to ensure that all leaves of absence are reported appropriately. Statuses of the affected students discovered in the audit and our subsequent review of all non-sampled files have been updated with the Clearinghouse and NSLDS.