Finding Text
Student Financial Assistance Cluster U.S. Department of Education Federal Direct Student Loans 84.268 Federal Pell Grant Program 84.063 Award Year 2022 Criteria or Specific Requirement - Special Tests and Provisions: Enrollment Reporting Pell, 34 CFR 690.83(b)(2); Direct Loan, 34 CFR 685.309. Federal regulations require the institution to notify the Department of Education of changes in student enrollment information at the Campus Level and Program Level in a timely and accurate manner. These changes include reductions or increases in attendance levels, withdrawals, graduations, drop outs, or enrolled but never attended during the audit period. Institutions are responsible for timely reporting, whether they report directly or via a third-party service. Additionally, institutions are required to accurately report the student?s Campus-Level and Program-Level enrollment data. Condition - The College did not ensure accurate and timely notification to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) of student status changes and program-level enrollment data. Questioned Costs - None. Context - Out of a population of 400 student enrollment status changes requiring notification, a sample of 40 students was selected for testing. Out of these 40 students selected for testing, there were four instances in which the student's status change was reported after the 60 day requirement. Additionally, there were four students selected where the campus and program-level record information was not in agreement between the NSLDS and the campus level information. The sample was not, and was not intended to be, a statistically valid sample. Effect - The NSLDS was not notified of the student enrollment status or program-level records on a timely and accurate basis. Cause - Lack of communication and oversight when reporting student status changes and program-level records to the NSLDS system. Identification as a Repeat Finding - Yes, see prior year findings 2021-005, 2020-005 and 2019-004. Recommendation - The College should review and update its processes and controls to ensure student status changes for program-level records are reported to the NSLDS in a timely and accurate manner. Additionally, we recommend that a formal reconciliation process is completed to validate the procedure is completed on a regular basis. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions - Registrar Office automatically reports changes in student enrollment information to National Student Clearinghouse, which then goes into NSLDS on a monthly basis. The four students that failed this test for Audit Finding 2022-004 were due to student completion issues and Donnelly College overriding the add/drop policy to retroactively drop students. Registrar clearly provides the information and application process requirements to students who are graduating, and will not process their graduation until requirements are met. Once Registrar is made aware of a retroactive drop that overrides the add/drop policy, it is reported on the next month?s automatic report sent through National Student Clearinghouse to NSLDS.