Quality of Program

Project Assessments From Previous WNC Financial Assistance Program Review

Assessment Projects identified on the most recent WNC Financial Assistance Program Review have not been completed. Due the large turnover of financial assistance staff since the 2009 review and 4 different Financial Assistance Directors from 2009-2014, the identified assessments were never conducted. Since 2014, staff turnover has been reduced, compliance issues have been addressed and the office is in a position to begin looking to improve additional processes.

Compliance

Yearly Single Audit Summary - Student Financial Assistance

Summary: WNC Financial Assistance has made great strides related to compliance and audit findings since the 2013-2014 Award Year. The college has been included in the system wide financial aid audit completed by Grant Thornton since 2013-2014 award year. Federal regulations required an annual audit of financial aid programs, however since NSHE has one single Tax ID Number the system is audited as a whole. Prior to the 2013-2014 audit completed by Grant Thornton, WNC Financial Assistance had not been audited since the 2007-2008 award year. Due to NSHE's one Tax ID number, the firm contracted for auditing can determine which institutions it plans to audit. The Financial Assistance Office supports the concepts of annual regular auditing to ensure compliance.

Evidence of Effectiveness: Audits serve as useful tools for yearly assessments to ensure the college is following federal regulations in regard to awarding and disbursing federal financial aid dollars. In 2013-2014 the college had 6 financial aid findings and reduced that number to 1 finding for award year 2016-2017. The FAO staff take great care and pride to ensure that decisions and processes are meeting necessary compliance standards. The continued improvement and a reduced number of audit findings demonstrates effectiveness of financial aid staff members. Greater detail about each audit year and the findings can be found on the supporting documentation pages: Audit Findings.

US Department of Education Program Review

Summary: The US Department of Education notified the college in May 2018 that the Department of Education would be conducting an onsite Program Review. The review assessed WNC's administration of programs authorized under the Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 during the award years 2016-2017 and 2017-2018. The Department of Education considers the administration of Title IV, HEA programs an institution wide-effort and reviewed policy and procedures in the following offices: Financial Assistance, Admissions & Records, Academic and Student Affairs, and the Business Office. The Program Review also focused on the administration of the Clery Act (Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act) and the college's compliance with the requirements of the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act and Part 86 of the Department's General Administrative Regulations.

Process:

Visit Preparation

The Financial Assistance Office took the lead in preparing the requested documents. Preparations for the Program Review visit became first priority and all other initiatives and programs were put on hold. The documents requested included information from across campus related to policy, procedures, and other documentation. Samples of the provided documentation can be reviewed on the following supporting page: Audit Findings.

During the Visit

The Program Review team was on campus June 18-June 22. 2018. WNC administrators, faculty and staff worked hard to provide all required documents, the requested physical space and other necessary accommodations. The team met extensively with individuals and groups from all parts of campus. The reviewers provided the college feedback throughout the process and presented their results in an exit meeting on Thursday, June 21, 2018. During the exit meeting it was identified that the college would have 7, potentially 8 findings. The final results would be communicated in a Program Review Report to be received within 75 days of the end of the site visit. The Program Review team commended the college on the automated processes, strong collaboration and indicated that the financial aid files were well organized. The Program Review team indicated, that while there were findings, overall under 10 findings is considered a "clean school" and that there was no questions related to the schools Administrative Capability.

Program Review Report

The college received the Program Review Report on September 5, 2018. The report identified the findings and the college's required actions. The following items were listed as findings and were listed in order of severity:

1. Campus Security Requirements Not Met - Failure to Publish and Distribute ASR, Omission/Inadequacy of Required Statistical Disclosures and Omission/Inadequacy of Required Policy Statements
2. Failure to Develop an Adequate Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program (DAAPP), Failure to Distribute the DAAPP, and Failure to Conduct a Biennial Review
3. Inadequate System to Verify Student Began Attendance
4. Overaward of Title IV Funds - Financial Need Exceeded
5. Verification Violation
6. Failure to Follow Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy
7. Inaccurate Enrollment Data Reporting to NSLDS
8. Failure to Provide Adequate Consumer Information

College Response

The college must submit a response to the US Department of Education by October 31, 2018. Through a collaborative effort, coordinated by the Vice President for Special Projects, the college is preparing the final response at the time of developing this internal WNC Program Review.

Final Program Review Report

After submission of the college's response to the Program Review Report, the college will be waiting for the Final Program Review Report from the US Department of Education.

Evidence of Effectiveness:

The US Department of Education Program Review process has indicated a number of areas of effectiveness, including:

• The Financial Assistance Office was verbally commended by the Program Review team for overall clean files, strong use of automated processes, and being prepared for the site visit.
• The College Community was commended for a strong working relationships

The review also demonstrated room for continued improvement related to the administration of Title IV Aid programs at WNC, including:

• Continue to address and remind the campus that the administration of Title IV programs is a campus wide effort (Findings 1, 2, 3, 7, & 8)
• Improve training, policy and procedures to eliminate and prevent Overawrds (Finding 4)
• Enhance training, policy and procedures for financial aid verification (Finding 5)
• Enhance and improve training related to SAP Appeal Committee decisions (Finding 6)