Finding 551393 (2024-005)

TRIO Cluster • Talent Search (ALN 84.044A) • Student Support Services (ALN 84.042A) • Upward Bound (ALN 84.047A) • Hampton Road McNair Program (ALN 84.217A) Federal Award #’s: P044A210601, P042A210893, P047A221291, and P217A220293 Federal Award Years: July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024 Federal Agencies: U.S. Department of Education PassThrough Entity: None Compliance Requirement: Reporting – Performance Reporting Criteria: Grantees of the Student Support Services Program (OMB No. 1840-0525) must submit an annual performance report (APR) to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) each year of the project period. Section II, Record Structure for Participant List, of the APR includes several key line items that contain critical information. These key line items are: 15. Eligibility 17. First Enrollment Date (at grantee institution) 18. Date of First Project Service 19. College Grade Level (entry into project) 22. Participant Status (during academic year) 23. Enrollment Status (at end of the academic year) 24. Academic Standing 27. College Grade Level (at the end of the academic year), and 31. Undergraduate Degree/Certificate Completed at Grantee Institution. Condition and Context: The University utilizes the Blumen Online for TRIO application in order to summarize and report its performance reporting data for entry into its Annual Performance Report (APR) and submission to the Department of Education. A total sample of 40 students were selected across the four TRIO programs to test the accuracy of the APR. For 19 of 40 students who benefitted from the TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program, the following were noted: • For two out of the 19 students selected for testwork, the University inaccurately reported that the students were only first generation, when both students were low income and first generation. Additionally, for one of these students, the University also inaccurately reported the student's enrollment status, college grade level at the end of the 2023-2024 academic year and the undergraduate degree/certificate completion field, and inaccurately reported the student's date of first project service and first enrollment date for the other student. • For nine out of the 19 students selected for testwork, the University inaccurately reported the students’ date of first project service. Additionally, for two of these students, the University also inaccurately reported the students’ first enrollment date at the grantee institution. • For two out of the 19 students selected for testwork, the University inaccurately reported the student’s undergraduate degree/certificate completion field • For one out of the 19 students selected for testwork, the University inaccurately reported the student as less than half time, while the student should have been reported as full-time. Cause and Possible Asserted Effect: The University’s controls to review key line items of SSS data input into Blumen did not operate consistently to ensure that complete and accurate data was reported to the Department of Education on the APR. Identification of questioned Costs: There are no questioned costs related to this finding. Sampling: The sample was not intended to be and was not a statistically valid sample. Recommendation: We recommend that the University strengthen its review control over the data input of key line items of SSS data into Blumen and subsequently the APR. Identification of Repeat Finding This finding is not a repeat finding. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with this finding. The SSS director and staff will review the key line item data at the point of entry to ensure the completeness and accuracy of information input into the Blumen system. Training will also be provided for the new administrative assistant. Prior to submitting the APR, a download of all data categories will be reviewed for accuracy and completeness.