Finding Text
Information on the federal program: Federal awarding agency: United States Department of Education (ED) Federal Program: Student Financial Assistance Cluster: Federal Perkins Loan Program, Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.038 Federal Pell Grant Program, ALN 84.063 Federal Direct Student Loans, ALN 84.268 Award year: 2021-2022 Criteria or specific requirement (including statutory, regulatory or other citation): 2 CFR 200.303 requires that a non-federal entity must (a) establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in ?Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government? issued by the Comptroller General of the United States and the ?Internal Control Integrated Framework?, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Under the Pell grant and U.S. Department of Education loan programs, institutions must complete and return within 15 days the Enrollment Reporting roster file placed in their Student Aid Internet Gateway (SAIG) (OMB No. 1845-0002) mailboxes sent by the U.S. Department of Education via the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) (OMB No. 1845-0035). The institution determines how often it receives the Enrollment Reporting roster file with the default set at a minimum of every 60 days. Once received, the institution must update for changes in the data elements for the Campus Record and the Program Record, and submit the changes electronically through the batch method, spreadsheet submittal, or the NSLDS website (Pell, 34 CFR 690.83(b)(2); FFEL, 34 CFR 682.610; Direct Loan, 34 CFR 685.309). Institutions are responsible for timely reporting, whether they report directly or via a third-party servicer. NSLDS Enrollment Reporting Guide Chapter 1.4: At a minimum, schools are required to certify enrollment every 60 days, and respond within 15 days of the date that the NSLDS sends a roster file to the school or its third-party servicer. This requirement also applies to schools that report exclusively online. NSLDS Enrollment Reporting Guide Chapter 4.4.5: If the student enrolls in the summer term (or other non-required terms) at least half time, the student?s actual summer enrollment status is reported. If such a student subsequently withdraws from the summer term, the student?s most recent enrollment status of half time or greater should be reported throughout the remainder of the summer. If the student does not return in the fall as expected, the status must be changed to ?Withdrawn? with the date the student withdrew from the summer term as the Enrollment Status Effective Date. Condition: The University did not accurately or timely report student status changes to the NSLDS for 6 of 60 students selected for testing. Questioned costs: $0 Context: EY selected and tested 60 students from the combined population of 3,575 students that withdrew, never attended (no shows), graduated, or had changes in attendance levels during the year ended May 31, 2022. The 60 students, randomly selected, consisted of 23 student graduates, 23 student withdrawals/no shows, and 14 student changes in attendance levels. Of the 23 student graduates selected, one graduate was not reported to NSLDS as graduated. Of the 23 withdrawals/no shows, two withdrawals were reported after the 60-day reporting requirement. The withdrawals were reported to NSLDS 70 and 69 days after the respective withdrawal dates. Additionally, for three of the 23 withdrawals/no shows, the withdrawals were inaccurately reported to NSLDS because the withdrawals occurred in the Summer semester with the students previously enrolled in the Spring and registered in the Fall. Of the 14 student changes in attendance levels, all were reported accurately and timely by the University. Effect: Lack of timely and accurate enrollment reporting results in inaccurate enrollment status. A student?s enrollment status determines eligibility for in-school status, deferment, and grace periods. Enrollment reporting in a timely and accurate manner is critical for effective management of the programs. Cause: The University did not have effective internal controls and procedures in place to ensure status changes were reported to the NSLDS accurately and timely. Identification as a repeat finding, if applicable: Yes ? 2021-001; 2020-001; 2019-002. Recommendation: The University should review and revise its internal controls and procedures surrounding the accurate and timely reporting of student status changes to the NSLDS. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: Management agrees with the finding and has developed a plan to correct the finding.