Finding 942963 (2023-001)

- Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-02-07
Audit: 289357
Organization: Mount Saint Mary's University (CA)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The University failed to report accurate student enrollment statuses to NSLDS, with two out of 25 students having incorrect or untimely information.
  • Impacted Requirements: Title IV regulations mandate timely updates and accurate reporting of enrollment information to the Secretary.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The University should review and improve its reporting processes to ensure compliance with Title IV regulations.

Finding Text

Criteria: Title IV regulations (34 CFR 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: Two of the 25 students who were tested had incorrect statuses or status dates reported or were not reported within 60 days to NSLDS. One student was not reported as withdrawn to NSLDS and had a reported leave of absence status effective date on both the campus and program level reporting that did not agree to the University's records. One student’s status was not reported within 60 days. The sample was not a statistically valid sample. Cause: The University's processes did not ensure accurate reporting to NSLDS. Effect: The accuracy of Title IV student loan records depends heavily on the accuracy of the enrollment information reported by institutions. 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. Questioned costs: Not applicable Context: Not applicable. Recommendation: It is recommended that the University review policies and procedures in place to resolve reporting issues in a timely manner to facilitate compliance with Title IV regulations. Management's Response: The University agrees with the recommendation and will review system and business processes contributing to these errors and implement corrective measures.

Categories

Student Financial Aid Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $30.06M
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $5.52M
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $516,180
84.031M Higher Education - Institutional Aid $454,997
93.364 Nursing Student Loans $435,823
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $389,401
84.042 Trio Student Support Services $295,961
11.028 Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program $295,150
47.076 Stem Education $278,589
84.325K Special Education - Personnel Developments to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities $125,232
10.561 Nutrition Assistance Program $24,429
10.558 Child and Adult Care Food Program $22,867
93.575 Covid-19 - Child Care and Developmental Block Grant $20,804
45.162 Promotion of Humanities Teaching and Learning Resources and Curriculum Development $14,502
47.050 Geosciences $3,826
93.847 Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research $2,249