Finding 943212 (2023-001)

-
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-02-09
Audit: 289817
Organization: Nebraska Wesleyan University (NE)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The University reported incorrect enrollment statuses and effective dates to NSLDS for several students.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with Title IV regulations regarding timely and accurate reporting of enrollment information.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Adjust the reporting system to accurately reflect ¾-time enrollment and collaborate with NSC to resolve program-level reporting errors.

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 halftime 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/Context: Exceptions were noted for 7 out of the 25 students tested. The exceptions noted are as follows: • For four students, incorrect status was reported to National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) at the campus level. These four students, in addition to one more student, had incorrect status reported to NSLDS at the program level. • For seven students, incorrect effective dates were reported at the program level. The sample was not a statistically valid sample. Cause: The University uses the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) to transmit enrollment information to NSLDS. The University transmitted correct enrollment information for the students identified above to NSC, yet the program level enrollment information was not correct in NSLDS. In addition, it was noted that the University’s system was such that all students reported ¾ time were reported in NSLDS as half time. Effect: Incorrect information was reported to NSLDS. Questioned Costs: Not applicable. Recommendation: We recommend the University adjust their system to correctly report ¾ time enrollment and work with NSC to understand the errors in program level reporting to NSLDS. Management's Response: There is no disagreement with the audit findings. We discovered the program was only reporting students as less-than-half-time (“L”), half-time (“H”), and full-time (“F”). We have already adjusted the enrollment reporting program to properly report students who are enrolled at a ¾-time (“Q”) level. We will also work with the National Student Clearinghouse to ensure the enrollment effective dates are correctly reported for both the campus and program levels.

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 $9.64M
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $2.32M
84.038 Federal Perkins Loan Program $446,459
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $186,008
97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) $145,861
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $136,686
16.525 Grants to Reduce Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking on Campus $68,523
84.379 Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants (teach Grants) $54,694
47.076 Stem Education $26,708
99.RD Confirming the Eupopa Torus $6,863
99.RD Detective Water on Metalic M-Type Asteroids in the Far-Uv $5,700
47.083 Integrative Activities $2,993