Finding 547883 (2024-006)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-03-31

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The College failed to report enrollment status changes for 23% of students, which is a significant compliance deficiency.
  • Impacted Requirements: This violates 34 CFR 690.83(b)(2) and 34 CFR 685.309(b)(1-2) regarding timely reporting to the Secretary.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement stronger monitoring and controls for enrollment reporting to ensure accuracy and timeliness.

Finding Text

Criteria: 34 CFR 690.83 (b)(2) which states the institution shall submit "in accordance with deadline dates established by the Secretary, through publication in the Federal Register, other reports and information with Secretary requires and shall comply with the procedures the Secretary finds necessary to ensure that the reports are correct.” 34 CFR 685.309(b)(1-2) which states a school shall “upon receipt of a student status confirmation report from the Secretary, complete and return that report to the Secretary within 30 days of receipt; and unless it expects to submit its next student status confirmation report to the Secretary within the next 60 days, notify the Secretary within the next 60 days, notify the Secretary with 30 days if it discovers that a Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, or Direct PLUS Loan has been made to or on behalf of student…" Condition: The College did not report enrollment status changes for 9 out of 40 students (23%). We consider this condition to be a significant deficiency for the Special Tests and Provisions compliance requirement and is not a repeated finding. Statistical sampling was not used in making sample selections. Questioned Costs: N/A Cause and Effect: Since the College did not timely and accurately submit enrollment status information, there could be a delay to the start of the repayment period for students receiving direct loans. Recommendation: We recommend that the College closely monitor enrollment reporting and implement additional controls to assure timely and accurate reporting. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with this Single Audit Finding and response is included in the Corrective Action Plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Identification and Review • Conduct a comprehensive audit of enrollment records to identify instances of inaccurate or delayed reporting • Verify the accuracy of enrollment statuses (e.g., full-time, half-time, withdrawn, graduated) for all affected students • Determine the root cause of reporting delays or errors, whether due to system malfunctions, manual processing errors, or lack of oversight Corrective Actions • Submit corrected enrollment data to NSLDS for all affected students using our National Student Clearinghouse. • Ensure that all errors identified during the audit are addressed, and follow up to confirm the corrections are reflected in NSLDS. • Notify any impacted students of any changes in their enrollment status and provide necessary support if their loan repayment terms are affected. Process and Policy Improvements • Develop and implement clear policies to ensure accurate and timely submission of enrollment data within the required 30-day reporting window or in accordance with scheduled reporting intervals. • Automate the enrollment reporting process where possible to minimize manual data entry errors. • Establish cross-departmental communication protocols to ensure timely updates on student withdrawals, graduations, and status changes. • Create detailed documentation of reporting procedures for staff training and compliance purposes. Monitoring and Compliance • Implement regular reconciliation checks between our student information system (SIS) and NSLDS to ensure data accuracy • Conduct periodic internal audits to identify discrepancies before external audits occur • Designate staff to oversee enrollment reporting and ensure adherence to federal regulations. Staff Training • Provide comprehensive training for staff responsible for enrollment reporting on NSLDS requirements, deadlines, and best practices • Offer training sessions as regulations change or system updates occur. Reporting and Documentation • Maintain records of all corrected data submissions, audit results, and communications with NSLDS • Document procedural changes and staff training efforts Responsible Person for Correction Action Plan: Dianna Ruyle, Director of Records, Registration and Advising Implementation Date for Corrective Action Plan: Immediately and ongoing

Categories

Reporting Special Tests & Provisions Student Financial Aid Significant Deficiency Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $2.27M
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $1.15M
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $973,426
84.038 Federal Perkins Loan Program $75,937
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $51,433