Verification

Verification is a process that all colleges receiving federal aid are required to complete. The purpose of verification is not to find fraudulent FAFSA applicants, but to find and correct common mistakes made during the filing of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

The federal government randomly selects FAFSA applicants for verification. Though a random process, students may also be flagged for verification if conflicting information is reported on the FAFSA. All students who are selected for verification are required to provide the necessary information requested. If the verification process is not completed, a student will not be considered for any need-based financial aid. Thus, it is important to return the information and requested documentation as soon as possible.

Students simply need to submit the required documents as determined by the financial aid office, who will then compare these documents with the FAFSA the student completed. Students will be notified if changes in verification affect their financial assistance award. Please do not complete the Verification Form unless you have been instructed to do so by the financial aid office.


Verification Steps:

1. Student submits the FAFSA.

2. The federal government randomly selects the student for the verification process. Though a random process, students may also be flagged for verification if conflicting information is reported on the FAFSA.

3. Student receives the Student Aid Report (SAR), which is the end result from the student completing the FAFSA. The College receives the student results.

4. The ACTCM Financial Aid Office mails a letter to the student notifying the student that he/she has been selected for verification. The letter also addresses the required information and forms that are needed to complete the verification process.

5. Student completes the required forms and documentation and forwards this information to ACTCM Financial Aid Office. The information submitted is reviewed and compared to the student's FAFSA data and maintained in strict confidence by the ACTCM Financial Aid Office.

6. ACTCM will review the information and, if needed, sends FAFSA corrections electronically to the federal student aid-processing center.

7. If corrections are required, the correction process takes 7 to 10 days. Once a student's corrections are received, the ACTCM Financial Aid Office uses the finalized Student Aid Report to determine a student's financial need.

8. If no corrections are required, ACTCM Financial Aid Office completes the verification process and determines financial aid eligibility.

9. A Financial Aid Offer packet is mailed to the student detailing financial aid eligibility.

10. Student receives financial aid offer and completes any forms online and or manually.

 

 

“ACTCM teaches you to take things in small, digestible bits – whether it is classwork, food, or life in general. I have learned to slow down, to become more meticulous in my methodologies, and more astute in my discernment. I come home every day feeling inspired because the things I am learning are immediately useful and applicable to my everyday life. I can now interpret my own health in a way that makes sense, rather than having my body’s functioning processes remain a mystery.”

Diane Hartenstein, ACTCM Student
BA – Religious Studies, Naropa University
Previous Occupation: Event Coordinator
Hometown: Dallas, TX