Finding 530089 (2024-002)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-03-25
Audit: 348132
Organization: Wheaton College (MA)
Auditor: Rsm US LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The College inaccurately reported enrollment dates for students to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS).
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 34 CFR 668.408(a) regarding accurate reporting of initial enrollment dates for programs.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Conduct user acceptance testing on system upgrades to ensure accurate data reporting.

Finding Text

2024-002 U.S. Department of Education (Direct) Student Financial Assistance Cluster: Federal Direct Loan Program (84.268) and Federal Pell Grant Program (84.063) Federal Award Numbers: P268K241617 and P063P231617 Federal Award Year: 2023-2024 Finding: The College did not accurately report enrollment dates at the program level to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). Criteria: Per 34 CFR 668.408(a), an institution offering a group of substantially similar programs must report to the Department of Education the initial enrollment date of a student in the program. Condition: Two students were not reported as enrolled at the program level in NSLDS and enrollment dates were inaccurately reported for six students at the program level in NSLDS. Cause: A software defect caused incomplete and inaccurate data to be generated for reporting to NSLDS. There was no review of the system generated report at the program level. Effect: Noncompliance with federal regulations for enrollment reporting. Questioned costs: None Prevalence: Eight of the 25 students selected randomly and tested were not reported in accordance with NSLDS program enrollment reporting. The sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: The College should review and perform user acceptance testing of system upgrades to ensure the updates are operating correctly. Views of responsible officials: Management agrees with this finding.

Corrective Action Plan

2024-002 Enrollment Reporting Finding: The College did not accurately report enrollment dates at the program level to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). Corrective Action Taken or Planned: The identified reporting errors are due to software defects that occurred after system upgrades, resulting in data improperly exporting from our system to the Clearinghouse. In collaboration with our system’s vendor the offices of the Registrar and Student Financial Services are correcting these defects and updating internal procedures to include substantial testing of the reporting function following all system upgrades in the future. These offices are in the process of manually correcting any student reporting affected from fiscal year 2024. As noted in the finding, these errors did not cause any questioned costs. Anticipated Completion Date: June 2025 Person(s) Responsible for Corrective Actions: Carla Minchello – Director of Student Financial Aid, Office of Student Financial Services Sara Smith - Manager, Student & Academic Systems, Office of the Registrar

Categories

Student Financial Aid Reporting Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 530087 2024-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 530088 2024-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 530090 2024-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1106529 2024-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1106530 2024-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1106531 2024-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1106532 2024-002
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $8.60M
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $2.10M
84.038 Federal Perkins Loan Program $714,345
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $311,631
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $297,445
97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) $133,832
10.310 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (afri) $68,560
93.242 Mental Health Research Grants $41,366
16.525 Grants to Reduce Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking on Campus $19,679
43.001 Science $2,082