Finding Text
Criteria: Per 34 CFR 685.305, the school must use the withdrawal date determined under 34 CFR 668.22(b) or (c), as applicable, for the purpose of reporting the date that the student has withdrawn from the school. In addition, per review of 34 CFR 690.83, an institution shall submit, in accordance with deadline dates established by the Secretary, through publication in the Federal Register, other reports and information the Secretary requires in connection with the funds advanced to it and shall comply with the procedures the Secretary finds necessary to ensure that the reports are correct.
Per 4.4.6 of the NSLDS Enrollment Reporting Guide, “If the school has published, in its catalog, on its website, or in any promotional materials, the length of the program in weeks, months, or years, the program length reported must be the same as the program length that the school has published.”
Per 5.1 of the NSLDS Enrollment Reporting Guide, institutions must “certify enrollment data at least every 60 days.”
Condition/context: Of the 10 students selected for enrollment reporting testing:
• One student’s withdrawn status was not reported to NSLDS.
• Two students’ withdrawn and graduated statuses were not reported timely to NSLDS.
• Two students’ program lengths were improperly reported as 3.214 years rather than two years.
Cause: The Student Financial Aid Office and Records and Registration do not have controls in place to ensure the proper and timely reporting of student status changes.
Effect: Improper reporting of student status changes could impact a student’s interest subsidy, repayment status, and/or Maximum Eligibility Period.
Questioned costs: None.
Identification as a repeat finding: No.
Recommendation: The Student Financial Aid Office and Records and Registration should implement controls to ensure the proper, accurate, and timely reporting of student status changes and all related pertinent information.
Views of responsible officials: Management concurs with the finding. See Exhibit I for the corrective action plan.