Enrollment compliance reporting is based on the date a school discovers that a student dropped below half-time, not necessarily the actual date that the student’s status dropped. Sometimes there is confusion as to when the compliance “clock” starts ticking when evaluating compliance reporting.
According to Volume 5, Chapter 1 of the FSA Handbook:
Date of the institution’s determination that the student withdrew
The date of the institution’s determination that the student withdrew varies depending on the type of withdrawal. For example, if a student begins the official withdrawal process or provides official notification to the school of his or her intent to withdraw, the date of the institution’s determination that the student withdrew would be the date the student began the official withdrawal process or the date of the student’s notification, whichever is later. If a student did not begin the official withdrawal process or provide notification of his or her intent to withdraw, the date of the institution’s determination that the student withdrew would be the date that the school becomes aware that the student ceased attendance.
Keep this guide handy for your next audit. Questions on the date of determination? Contact the Audit Resource Center at auditresource@studentclearinghouse.org.