Finding 648256 (2022-002)

Material Weakness
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2022-11-08
Audit: 64280
Organization: Shawnee State University (OH)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Shawnee State University failed to report student status changes accurately and on time for graduates and withdrawals.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with federal regulations requiring timely reporting to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) within specified deadlines.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement a control process to ensure all student status changes are reported accurately and on time, addressing past staffing issues.

Finding Text

2022 002 Assistance Listing Number, Federal Agency, and Program Name - ALN Nos. 84.063 and 84.268; Department of Education; Federal Pell Grant Program and Federal Direct Loan Program Federal Award Identification Number and Year - N/A Pass through Entity - N/A Finding Type - Material weakness and material noncompliance with laws and regulations Repeat Finding - No Criteria - Federal Pell Grant Program: 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 and shall comply with the procedures the secretary finds necessary to ensure that the reports are correct (34 CFR Section 690.83(b)(2)). Federal Direct Student Loans: Changes in student status are required to be reported to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) within 30 days of the change or included in a Student Status Confirmation Report (SSCR) sent to the NSLDS within 60 days of the status change (34 CFR Section 685.309(b)). Condition - Shawnee State University did not report student status changes timely and accurately for certain students who graduated or withdrew during the year. Questioned Costs - None Identification of How Questioned Costs Were Computed - N/A Context - Of the 25 students tested for student change status, 15 student status changes were not submitted within the required time frame, and 4 students were not properly reported as graduated or withdrawn. Cause and Effect - The University did not have a process in place in order to ensure timely and proper reporting for all student status changes. As a result, there were instances of reporting outside of the required time frame and instances where reporting was incorrect. Recommendation - We recommend that the University put a control process in place in order to ensure all student status changes are reported timely and accurately. Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions - Prior to an enrollment report being uploaded to the National Student Clearinghouse, the Recalculate Academic Record process in our student information system, currently J1, will be run to identify any student registration records that may be stuck in a current status due to a mixed "Repeat" status. Those records will be corrected as needed. The office underwent major staffing changes, which caused a delay in submitting reports in a timelier manner. The staffing issues have been resolved, and reports are uploaded on the scheduled submission date.

Categories

Student Financial Aid Material Weakness Reporting Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 71811 2022-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 71812 2022-002
    Material Weakness
  • 71813 2022-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 71814 2022-002
    Material Weakness
  • 71815 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 648253 2022-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 648254 2022-002
    Material Weakness
  • 648255 2022-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 648257 2022-003
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $11.03M
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $5.26M
11.307 Economic Adjustment Assistance $1.77M
84.287 Twenty-First Century Community Learning Centers $622,225
23.002 Appalachian Area Development $618,103
84.027 Special Education_grants to States $515,903
84.066 Trio_educational Opportunity Centers $453,811
84.047 Trio_upward Bound $302,528
94.006 Americorps $229,865
93.732 Mental and Behavioral Health Education and Training Grants $138,467
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $114,729
84.371 Striving Readers $107,464
84.425 Covid-19 - Education Stabilization Fund $87,975
84.031 Higher Education_institutional Aid $86,828
84.379 Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants (teach Grants) $75,534
17.268 H-1b Job Training Grants $65,509
93.575 Child Care and Development Block Grant $58,910
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $53,475
10.558 Child and Adult Care Food Program $32,383
43.012 Space Technology $4,168
84.323 Special Education - State Personnel Development $2,700
45.025 Promotion of the Arts_partnership Agreements $2,500
45.129 Promotion of the Humanities_federal/state Partnership $1,750
45.310 Grants to States $1,000