Finding 514631 (2024-002)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2024-12-17
Audit: 333007
Organization: Dodge City Community College (KS)
Auditor: Loyd Group LLC

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Some students' withdrawal or graduation statuses were not reported accurately or on time to NSLDS, affecting their financial aid status.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with the NSLDS Enrollment Reporting Guide, which mandates timely and accurate reporting of student statuses.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Ensure enrollment reporting staff review roster files diligently and consider adjusting the deadline for the Graduates only report to improve accuracy.

Finding Text

Condition: We examined a sample of Title IV aid recipients to verify that information reported on the Enrollment Reporting roster file sent to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) matched the student's academic files and found instances where students received Title IV aid during a semester but the status of withdrawn or graduate were not reported correctly or timely on the NSLDS Enrollment Reporting roster files sent during that semester. Criteria: Per the NSLDS Enrollment Reporting Guide, a school should report all students that NSLDS includes in its request to the school on a roster file. This includes timely and accurate reporting of the status of the student of withdrawn or graduate. Cause: The status of the students were not timely and accurately reported to NSLDS. Effect: Students could potentially not be placed in grace or repayment status when they should be. Perspective: Condition is still present in part. All withdrawn students tested were reported accurately and timely. There were still some graduates that were not reported until first of term submission rather than when the Graduates only report was submitted. There has been high turnover in the SFA department, including a time where there was not a Director in place. The new Director came on at the end of the June 30, 2024 year and is working to correct the reporting. Recommendation: We recommend that personnel in charge of enrollment reporting be diligent in reviewing the roster file to ensure that all appropriate students are shown and attendance changes are reported in a timely and accurate manner. We also recommend contacting the Clearinghouse to ensure the correct reports are being used by the Clearinghouse and possibly changing the deadline for submission of the Graduates only report as it currently has a very quick turnaround and not all grades are known or submitted by the current deadline. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Dodge City Community College staff involved in enrollment reporting to the NSLDS have reviewed the NSLDS Reporting Manual to better understand and accurately report the student's enrollment status. There has been high turnover in the SFA department, including a time where there was not a Director in place. The new Director came on in the in June 2024. The College is still working on fully implementing new procedures and catching up submissions.

Corrective Action Plan

Condition: We examined a sample of Title IV aid recipients to verify that information reported on the Enrollment Reporting roster file sent to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) matched the student's academic files and found instances where students received Title IV aid during a semester but the status of withdrawn or graduate were not reported correctly or timely on the NSLDS Enrollment Reporting roster files sent during that semester. Criteria: Per the NSLDS Enrollment Reporting Guide, a school should report all students that NSLDS includes in its request to the school on a roster file. This includes timely and accurate reporting of the status of the student of withdrawn or graduate. Cause: The status of the students were not timely and accurately reported to NSLDS. Effect: Students could potentially not be placed in grace or repayment status when they should be. Perspective: Condition is still present in part. All withdrawn students tested were reported accurately and timely. There were still some graduates that were not reported until first of term submission rather than when the Graduates only report was submitted. There has been high turnover in the SFA department, including a time where there was not a Director in place. The new Director came on at the end of the June 30, 2024 year and is working to correct the reporting. Recommendation: We recommend that personnel in charge of enrollment reporting be diligent in reviewing the roster file to ensure that all appropriate students are shown and attendance changes are reported in a timely and accurate manner. We also recommend contacting the Clearinghouse to ensure the correct reports are being used by the Clearinghouse and possibly changing the deadline for submission of the Graduates only report as it currently has a very quick turnaround and not all grades are known or submitted by the current deadline. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Dodge City Community College staff involved in enrollment reporting to the NSLDS have reviewed the NSLDS Reporting Manual to better understand and accurately report the student's enrollment status. There has been high turnover in the SFA department, including a time where there was not a Director in place. The new Director came on in the in June 2024. The College is still working on fully implementing new procedures and catching up submissions.

Categories

Student Financial Aid Reporting Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 514632 2024-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 514633 2024-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 514634 2024-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 514635 2024-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 514636 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 514637 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 514638 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1091073 2024-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1091074 2024-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1091075 2024-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1091076 2024-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1091077 2024-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1091078 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1091079 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1091080 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $2.56M
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $1.27M
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $606,151
17.289 Workforce Community Project $500,000
84.031 Higher Education_institutional Aid $411,816
84.042 Trio_student Support Services $233,835
84.044 Trio_talent Search $222,412
84.002 Adult Education - Basic Grants to States $127,120
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $124,985
84.048 Career and Technical Education -- Basic Grants to States $116,083
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $61,880
94.002 Retired and Senior Volunteer Program $51,854
12.598 Centers for Academic Excellence $33,420
47.076 Education and Human Resources $31,343
47.050 Geosciences $14,889
93.859 Biomedical Research and Research Training $14,716