Finding 528443 (2024-004)

Assistance Listing Number, Federal Agency, and Program Name - 84.268, U.S. Department of Education, Federal Direct Student Loans Finding Type - Significant deficiency Repeat Finding - Yes - 2023 006 Criteria - The Seminary has 60 days from the date the Seminary determines an enrollment status change to report to National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). The enrollment reporting must be updated for changes in the data elements for the campus record and program record and submitted electronically through the batch method, spreadsheet submittal, or the NSLDS website (34 CFR 685.309). Condition - Of the seven students selected for enrollment reporting testing, the Seminary did not properly update the student enrollment information for one student accurately or in a timely manner. Questioned Costs - None Identification of How Questioned Costs Were Computed - None Context - Out of a sample of seven students, our testing identified one student that was not properly reported as withdrawn from the Seminary. The student initially left the Seminary for a leave of absence but exceeded the maximum allowable 180 days within a 12 month period. The Seminary reported the student as full time within NSLDS. Cause and Effect - The Seminary did not have formal procedures and controls in place to document eligibility of students for a leave of absence resulting in the inappropriate enrollment status reported to NSLDS. Recommendation - The Seminary should consider implementing a process to review all students placed on an institutional leave of absence against the requirements under the Code of Federal Regulations to ensure that the information updated and reported to NSLDS is complete, accurate, and timely. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions - The Seminary will update our institutional policies and definitions of the various types of enrollment statuses allowed to be reported to NSLDS to conform to the federal regulations.