Finding 60107 (2022-001)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2022-11-29
Audit: 54606
Organization: Piedmont University (GA)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The University is not updating enrollment records accurately or on time, leading to non-compliance with federal regulations.
  • Impacted Requirements: Failure to correct and resubmit error reports within the required 10 days as outlined in 34 CFR 685.309 (b).
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Review and improve policies and procedures for managing enrollment roster updates to ensure compliance and timely reporting.

Finding Text

Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program Title: Student Financial Aid Cluster Assistance Listing Number: Various Award Period: July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance (Other Matters) Criteria or specific requirement: The Code of Federal Regulations, 34 CFR 685.309 (b) outlines that upon receipt of the Enrollment report from the Secretary a school must update all information included in the report to the secretary within the manner and format prescribed and within the time frame prescribed by the secretary (15 days) and error records are resubmitted within 10 days. Condition: The University is updating NSLDS records for students manually but does not ensure that roster files updates are complete and timely. During our testing, we noted 7 out of the 12 rosters returned yielded error reports that were not corrected and resubmitted within the required 10 days. Questioned costs: None. Context: 7 out of 12 enrollment rosters returned yielded error reports that were not corrected and resubmitted within the required 10 days. Cause: Lack of appropriate policy and procedure in place regarding enrollment roster certifying for the year under audit. Effect: Non-compliance with federal regulations which could lead to untimely reporting of enrollment information to NSLDS. Repeat Finding: Yes, 2021-003 Recommendation: We recommend that the University review their policies and procedures to ensure accurate reporting and responding to enrollment rosters disbursed to the university. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Management has addressed their corrective action plan in a separately issued letter.

Corrective Action Plan

2022-001 Enrollment Roster Reporting Recommendation: We recommend that the University review their policies and procedures to ensure accurate reporting and responding to enrollment rosters disbursed to the University. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Reason for finding: Turnover with key personnel within the Registrar office Action taken in response to finding: After significant turnover of the Registrar and staff, Piedmont University has a new experienced Registrar starting on November 14, 2022. The University is also in the process of filling the other vacancies within the department. Once the Registrar is in place, she will work in collaboration with the offices of student accounts and financial aid, in crafting written procedures that determine consistent and appropriate changes in registration status and a procedure for determining the appropriate effective dates for changes in status. Further steps will be taken to confirm that registration status fields and effective dates entered in the SIS by the registrar's office align with the financial aid office's NSLDS report fields for affected students. Name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action: Whitney Merinar Planned completion date for corrective action plan: June 30, 2023

Categories

Reporting Student Financial Aid Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 60108 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 60109 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 60110 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 60111 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 60112 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 60113 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 60114 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 60115 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 60116 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 636549 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 636550 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 636551 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 636552 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 636553 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 636554 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 636555 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 636556 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 636557 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 636558 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $17.36M
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $2.67M
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $2.23M
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $242,843
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $133,994
84.379 Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants (teach Grants) $24,516