Finding 540573 (2024-002)

Student Financial Assistance Cluster 84.038 Federal Perkins Loan Program and 84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans Program Department of Education July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024 Per 34 CFR 685.309, institutions with direct loan programs must review, update, and certify student enrollment statuses, program information, and effective dates that appear on the Enrollment Reporting Roster file, and report accurate Campus-Level and Program-Level Enrollment Data separately at least every 60 days or within 60 days of the student's status change. This is 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. During our Enrollment Reporting testwork over 40 students that received loans under Title IV and ceased to be enrolled on at least a halftime basis, went on leave of absence, graduated, or withdrew, we noted the following: 2 student enrollment status change effective dates reported to NSLDS at the Program Level did not agree with Whittier’s internal records or to the Campus Level report. 16 student enrollment status changes were not reported to NSLDS within the required 60-day timeframe.Systemic. The College’s control failed in detecting that untimely information was reported to NSLDS. None noted. The sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. Yes, a similar finding was noted in the prior year. We recommend that the College enhance its internal controls to ensure all information submitted to NSLDS is reviewed for accuracy on a timely basis. The College concurs with this finding as stated. We will modify internal controls to ensure accurate and timely reporting of student status changes to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS).