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Application Process: What's Next

• Student Aid Report
• No Student Aid Report
• FAFSA Corrections
• Additional Documentation
• Student Eligibility Criteria
• Verification
• FAQs

= term defined in Glossary

Receiving Your Student Aid Report

After the Federal processor has received and processed your FAFSA with signatures, you will be sent a Student Aid Report (SAR) via your e-mail address of if you did not provide an email address, via the regular mail. If you have a Personal Identification Number (PIN), you may access your Student Aid Report online.

Please review your Student Aid Report to verify the information is correct. If there is any discrepant information, make changes online at www.fafsa.ed.gov using your Personal Identification Number (PIN) (and your parent's PIN if making changes to parent information). You can also make changes on your paper Student Aid Report and mail those corrections to the Federal processor (have parent sign and date if making corrections to parent information). If you have any questions about this process contact WMU at 269-387-6000.

If you have already received an award letter from WMU and you make any corrections, you may receive a revised award letter.

 

No Student Aid Report

If you don't' receive a Student Aid Report within two weeks after submitting your FAFSA with signatures, and you have a PIN, you may access and print your report online at Student Aid Report on the Web. You may also call the U.S. Department of Education Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243 to check on the status of your application or to request a duplicate Student Aid Report.

 

FAFSA Corrections

The easiest and fastest way for you and your parents to make corrections to your FAFSA information is through the Department of Education's FAFSA on the Web site, even if you did not apply using the website. You (and if parent information is being changed) will need to use your PIN. You may also make corrections on your paper Student Aid Report and return it to the address provided. It is important that you sign and date any corrections and if parent's information is being changed, a parent will need to sign and date as well. If you do not have a copy of your paper SAR, you can request a duplicate copy by calling the Federal Student Information Center at 1-800-433-3243. Your duplicate SAR will be sent to the address you reported on your application.

If you, your parents, WMU, another school, or the Department of Education submits FAFSA corrections after you have been awarded financial aid, this may cause a change in your expected family contribution and your awards may be adjusted or canceled. In addition to submitting corrections based upon verification, WMU may also submit corrections if we determine the following:

1. You indicated you have a prior degree in error
2. You indicated you will be a graduate student in error
3. You indicated you are married and the date you became married is after your original FAFSA date
4. You do not meet the definition of an independent student

WMU may also request additional documentation from you or your parents to verify the information indicated by you on the FAFSA.

 

Additional Documentation

Upon receipt of the FAFSA information electronically from the Federal Processor, we will determine if additional application documents are needed to either document your student eligibility; verify your income, household or dependency status; or collect documentation for the quality assurance study.

Your responsibilities are to:

• Turn in all documents requested as soon as possible
• Be sure all documents are signed, and complete
• Place the student's name and social security number on all submitted documents
• Keep photocopies of all information submitted and record date documents were submitted.

Upon receipt of the FAFSA and all requested additional application documents, WMU will determine your eligibility for financial aid programs. Any discrepancies will be corrected on your FAFSA and you will receive a revised Student Aid Report. If you have been awarded aid, you will receive a revised award letter if the information affects your award eligibility. Documents not submitted after three requests may cause the cancellation of awards and pending disbursements. Thus it is very important to submit the required documents as soon as possible.

 

Student Eligibility Criteria

Upon receipt of your FAFSA by the Federal processor, some of the information on your FAFSA will be checked with federal agencies to determine if your application meets the basic student eligibility criteria. You may need to submit additional application documents for verification of student eligibility status if the results require additional follow-up by WMU. See Additional Documentation for more details on the process.

The following student eligibility criteria is checked:

• Social security numbers and citizenship status with Social Security Administration
• Selective service registration with Selective Service System
• Eligible non-citizenship status with US Department of Homeland Security
• Veteran status with US Department of Veteran's Affairs
• Federal student loan status of default, disability discharge, overpayment, bankruptcy, or aggregate loan limits with the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS)

 

Verification

Western participates in the U.S. Department of Education's Quality Assurance Program (QA). The QA Program's mission is to ensure that the delivery of student aid funds is conducted accurately, expediently and with integrity. One of the program's requirements requires Western to select applications for "verification" to determine if the FAFSA information is accurate and whether any discrepancies would require an adjustment in the amount or type of financial aid programs awarded. Verification is a comprehensive review of the students and parents household, income and asset information listed on the FAFSA. If your file is selected for verification, you will be required to submit copies of students (and parents, if dependent or spouse, if married) tax returns and complete the Verification Worksheet detailing household and other information. Additional documentation may be requested based on conflicting or discrepant information.

Other students will be selected for a review based on conflicting or discrepant information identified through special reports, correspondence, appeal requests or other review methods.

WMU will mail you tracking letters and the required documents if additional documents are needed. We request the necessary documentation be submitted to the financial aid office within 30 days of receipt of the letter or 30 days prior to your last day of enrollment for the current academic year (whichever comes first). Payment of any offered financial aid will not occur until the review process is completed. Any funds received based on incorrect information may be required to be repaid.

Your responsibilities are to:

• Turn in all documents requested as soon as possible
• Be sure all documents are signed, and complete
• Place the student's name and social security number on all submitted documents
• Keep photocopies of all information submitted and record date documents were submitted.

Upon receipt of the FAFSA and all requested application documents, WMU will determine your eligibility for financial aid programs. Any discrepancies will be corrected on your FAFSA and you will receive a revised Student Aid Report. If you have been awarded aid, you will receive a revised award letter if the information affects your award eligibility. Documents not submitted after three requests may cause the cancellation of awards and pending disbursements. Thus it is very important to submit the required documents as soon as possible.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. I filed for financial aid but did not list WMU on my FAFSA application. How does WMU receive my FAFSA information?

A. You will need to file a correction indicating WMU's school code of 002330. The best way to make corrections is online at FAFSA on the Web. Other options are either to make the corrections on your paper Student Aid Report (SAR) or call 1-800-433-3243). You will need your DRN number (that is located on the bottom left hand corner of your SAR) and/or your PIN.

Q. If there other financial aid available other than federal, state or even need based?

A. Yes. There are scholarships and alternative loans from private sources that look at other eligibility criteria for award determination.