Finding 59531 (2022-001)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-03-28
Audit: 54887
Organization: La Roche University (PA)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The University failed to notify the NSLDS on time about status changes for 3 students, repeating a previous finding.
  • Impacted Requirements: Title IV regulations require timely updates to enrollment information and notifications for students who change status.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Review and improve procedures for reporting student status changes to ensure compliance with NSLDS requirements.

Finding Text

Finding 2022-001: Significant Deficiency Federal Program: Student Financial Assistance Cluster, Federal Direct Student Loans Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Assistance Listing Number: 84.268 Federal Award Year: June 30, 2022 Repeat of Prior Year Finding 2021-002 Criteria: Title IV regulations (34 CFR Section 685.309(b)) require that upon receipt of an enrollment report from the Secretary, institutions must update all information included in the report and return the report to the Secretary: (i) in the manner and format prescribed by the Secretary; and (ii) within the timeframe prescribed by the Secretary. Unless it expects to submit its next updated enrollment report to the Secretary within the next 60 days, an institution must notify the Secretary within 30 days after the date the institution discovers that: (i) a loan under Title IV of the Act was made to or on behalf of a student who was enrolled or accepted for enrollment at the institution, and the student has ceased to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis or failed to enroll on at least a half-time basis for the period for which the loan was intended; or (ii) a student who is enrolled at the institution and who received a loan under Title IV of the Act has changed his or her permanent address. Condition/Context: The University did not notify the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) in a timely manner for 3 students with status changes in our sample of 25 students. The sample was not a statistically valid sample. Questioned Costs: There are no questioned costs associated with this finding. Cause: The University's procedures for reporting all students were not designed appropriately in order to allow for timely reporting to the NSLDS. Effect: The accuracy of Title IV student loan records depends heavily on the accuracy of the enrollment information reported by schools. If an institution does not review, update and verify student enrollment statuses, effective dates of the enrollment status and the anticipated completion dates, then the Title IV student loan records will be inaccurate. Recommendation: We recommend that the University review its procedures for student status changes and NSLDS notifications to ensure there are follow-up and review procedures being performed for all students with status changes at the University. Management Response: Management concurs with the finding and the University will periodically perform independent reviews of the information provided to the NSLDS to ensure the status change information has been updated in the NSLDS during the required time period.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding 2022-001 Issue: The University did not notify the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) in a timely manner for 1 student with status changes of Graduated. The student in question graduated in December 2021. Per the assistant registrar, the degree verify files for both undergraduate and graduate students for December 2021 graduates were uploaded to the National Student Clearinghouse on 1/7/2022. It appears that the undergraduate file was processed by the graduate student file was not. We receive processing confirmations from the Clearinghouse, but when files are submitted in multiples, only one confirmation is received for all files, not separate confirmation. Corrective Action: The assistant registrar has been in communication with the National Student Clearinghouse regarding the missed file. The upload has been resolved. Going forward, the assistant registrar will submit each file separately to receive separate confirmations, and personally verify posting. Responsibility: Degree Verify reporting is uploaded by the Assistant Registrar. Contact: Katie Elverson, Registrar Issue: The University did not notify the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) in a timely manner for 2 students that changed enrollment status mid-semester. The students in question enrolled in fall 2021 classes full-time and was reported as full-time in the initial enrollment report They withdrew from all classes on 9/15/2023 and 10/21/2021, respectively. In the enrollment reports following their withdrawal, the students were reported as less-than half-time, rather than withdrawn. Students were reported as withdrawn following the end of the term. These reports with statuses are pulled by the student information system, so this seems to have been an issue with the SIS; they are spot checked, but all rows cannot be manually checked and verified before submission. Corrective Action: Upon notification of this issue, I began to investigate the original data report that was pulled out of CX (our SIS) to determine where the error was coming from Upon viewing the Fall 2021 data for the students, I saw that after their withdrawal they were reported as enrolled in zero credits, however they were also being classified in the report from CX as 'less than half time.' I immediately contacted Jenzabar (our SIS vendor) to inquire as to why the system would be calculating a zero-credit enrollment as 'less than half time.' They quickly responded and showed me how to adjust tables within CX that determine how student statuses are completed. Information in the tables was incomplete regarding students who withdraw midsemester. Bringing this to our attention enabled us to implement a corrective solution. Unfortunately, this solution will not be seen on enrollment reports until March 2023. Responsibility: Enrollment reporting is uploaded by the Registrar. Contact: Katie Elverson, Registrar

Categories

Student Financial Aid Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Reporting Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 59532 2022-002
    -
  • 59533 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 59534 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 59535 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 59536 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 59537 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 635973 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 635974 2022-002
    -
  • 635975 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 635976 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 635977 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 635978 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 635979 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $15.28M
84.425 Covid-19 Education Stabilization Fund $2.47M
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $1.52M
84.038 Federal Perkins Loan Program $362,197
84.007 Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants $122,900
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $89,031