Finding 976735 (2023-002)

2023-002 – Non-Compliance with Timely Student Enrollment Change Submissions to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) Grantor: U.S. Department of Education Cluster: Student Financial Assistance Cluster – AUM Campus Award Names: Federal Pell Grant Program and Federal Direct Loan Program Award Numbers: Not applicable Assistance Listing Number: 84.063 and 84.268 Award Year: 2022 – 2023 Criteria In accordance with 34 CFR 690.83(b)(2) and 685.309, institutions are required to report enrollment information under the Federal Pell Grant and Federal Direct Loan programs through the NSLDS. The enrollment information, inclusive of Campus Level and Program Level data, must be reviewed, updated, and validated by the institution in a timely manner. Furthermore, specific to the Federal Direct Loan program, for a student who received a Direct Loan and was enrolled or accepted for enrollment at the institution, and the student had 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, the institution must report the change within 60 days from which the change was identified. Condition During our testing of enrollment reporting, we noted the following: • For 1 of the 25 samples selected, the length of time between the effective date of the status change to withdrawal, at both the campus and program level, and the date the change was certified by the NSLDS was greater than 30 days, and further, was not included within the subsequent roster file reported within 60 days from the date of the change. Cause The University's AUM Campus did not have a process in place to verify all changes reported to the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) were submitted timely to the NSLDS within the prescribed period in accordance with 34 CFR. Effect The University's AUM Campus reported the change to the NSC within the standard timeframe; however, the change was not submitted to the NSLDS from NSC within the required 30–60-day window. Questioned Costs None noted. Recommendation We recommend that the University update its procedures related to verifying the completeness and timeliness of the NSC/NSLDS reporting. Management’s Views and Corrective Action Plan Management’s Views and Corrective Action Plan are included at the end of this report after the summary schedule of prior audit findings and status.