Finding Text
Finding #: 2022-001 Funding Year(s): 7/1/2021 ? 6/30/2022 Federal Direct Student Loan (FAL #84.268) Award Numbers: Various Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Type of Finding: Special Test ? Enrollment Reporting ? Compliance and Internal Control (Significant Deficiency) Criteria: Institutions are required to report enrollment information under the Pell grant and Direct and FFEL loan programs via the NSLDS (OMB No. 1845-0035). The administration of the Title IV programs depends heavily on the accuracy and timeliness of the enrollment information reported by institutions. Institutions must review, update, and verify student enrollment statuses, program information, and effective dates that appear on the Enrollment Reporting Roster file or on the Enrollment Maintenance page of the NSLDS Professional Access website. Institutions must complete and return within 15 days the Enrollment Reporting Roster File, within a minimum of every 60 days. If errors are identified by NSLDS in the submitted roster, an Error/Acknowledgement file is provided to the institution and the institution has 10 days to correct the errors and resubmit to NSLDS. Condition/Context: From a non-statistical sample of forty (40) students for which enrollment changes were reported to NSLDS, we identified one (1) instance where the student information was rejected, and for which a correction was not made within the required 10 days. Cause/Effect: Based on discussions with personnel, the above occurred due to significant turnover at the University within the Financial Aid department, including the individual with primary responsibility for NSLDS reporting. Without proper transfer of knowledge to the new Financial Aid personnel, previous processed and controls were not followed to ensure timely updated of rejected student information. Questioned Costs: None noted. Identification as a Repeat Finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend the University?s management update the internal control procedures in place surrounding enrollment reporting, including the correction of data rejected by NSLDS. Views of Responsible Official: Management agrees with the finding.