Frequently Asked Questions

There are several possibilities for your FAFSA being selected for verification. Keep in mind that other possibilities exist, but the following are the most common reasons:

• Your FAFSA has incomplete data
• Your FAFSA includes estimated information
• Random selection

The verification process ensures the FAFSA is complete and accurate and allows students who are eligible to receive the aid for which they are entitled.  Because there are certain deadlines, it is important that the verification process be completed in a timely manner.  Failure to complete verification of your application will prevent you from receiving a financial aid award. 

A Verification email will be sent to students along with a verification worksheet and other requested financial documents to be turned into the Financial Aid Office. Students may also log into their My Empower account and view their missing documents in the Financials tab. Complete and print the appropriate forms that pertain to you and if applicable to your parents.

Students who are unable to access this form online may contact the Financial Aid Office (FinancialAid@menominee.edu) or by telephone at 715-799-6226, ext. 3237.

Next, you will need to collect copies of documents requested by our office. These documents include signed Federal Tax Return Transcripts or Copy of Taxes, W-2 Forms, and other documentation as indicated. The type of documents required will vary from student to student. Please make every attempt to complete this process in a timely manner to ensure you receive the best possible financial aid package based on your eligibility.

After you submit all required documents, our Financial Aid Office will compare them with your FAFSA application.  If errors are found, corrections will be made by our office based on the documentation you provided. 

If the errors result in a change in the amount of financial aid that you were awarded, our office will notify you with a revised award showing the changes made.

For an individual who is required to file a 2022 IRS income tax  return and has been granted a filing extension by the IRS beyond the automatic six-month extension for tax year 2022 the student must submit the following:

• A signed statement listing the sources of any 2022 income and the amount of income from each source;
• A copy of the IRS' approval of an extension beyond the automatic six-month extension for tax year 2022;
• A copy of IRS Form W-2 for each source of 2022 employment income received or an equivalent document; and
• If self-employed, the signed statement must indicate the amount of estimated AGI and U.S. income tax paid for tax year 2022

Students or parents who file an amended return (IRS Form 1040X) and provide consent and approval to retrieve FTI via the FA-DDX will have their amended information transferred to the FAFSA form if (in most cases) the amended return was processed before the FAFSA was completed. Applicants or contributors unable to provide FTI via the FA-DDX may submit a signed copy of the 1040X form that was filed and one of the following documents to complete verification:

• Updated income and tax information from the IRS on an ISIR record with all tax information from the original tax return;
• A transcript obtained from the IRS that lists 2022 tax account information of the tax filer(s); or
• A signed copy of the 2022 IRS Form 1040 and the applicable schedules that were filed with the IRS.

Because the tax return transcript does not reflect changes to the original return by the filer or the IRS, it is, by itself, not sufficient.
When an amended return was filed, you must submit any changes to nondollar items and to single monetary items of $25 or more.

Please include all required signatures where requested.  Failure to sign where required will delay processing of your financial aid award.  If you are a dependent student, make sure your parent also signs where requested.

Once you have successfully submitted all required documentation and signatures, the data you provided will be verified for accuracy.  This process can take up to three weeks, possibly longer if reviewed during periods of high volume. 

Should any discrepancies exist, corrections will be made and your financial aid award will be based upon this corrected information.

Please read each question on the FAFSA carefully and answer accurately.  After completing the FAFSA and each subsequent correction to the FAFSA, you will receive a FAFSA Submission Summary from the Federal Processor.  Review this summary entirely as it will indicate if there are errors that need to be corrected. The FAFSA Submission Summary will notify you if your application has been selected for Verification.  If selected, please submit all documents as soon as possible to the Financial Aid Office. All discrepancies must be verified by our office per Federal guidelines.  This may slow down the processing of your application for financial aid.  The verification process can take up to several weeks for completion.  Below are some tips and information that can be helpful through the process of completing the FAFSA and the verification process.

Information & Tips

• When submitting verification documents to our office, be sure all documents requiring a signature are signed, all worksheets are fully completed (include numerical value or if zero, write zero, do not leave answers blank), and student’s name and ID # are on every document.  Submit copies, and keep originals for your own personal records.
• There are many occasions where the documentation we receive is not complete.  Once reviewed, it may be determined that additional information is required to complete verification.  If this is requested of you, please provide it as soon as possible as we process all paperwork in date of receipt order which would delay your aid.

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Students are notified of their financial aid eligibility for the academic year via a Financial Aid award letter. All grants are accepted (unless declined) and requested from the appropriate funding agencies.

Students can decline some or all of their grants by accessing MyEmpower, or submitting a written statement to the Financial Aid Office identifying the grants they do not want.

Disbursements of grants and scholarships occur once the Office of Financial Aid confirms the student's enrollment for the semester in the correct credit hours. The Disbursement schedule for Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 is as follows:

Fall Semester 2023

The Financial Aid Office will begin disbursing financial aid into the students' MyEmpower accounts on September 15, 2023. The students' first refund opportunity will occur on September 22, 2023. If no issues exist (i.e., FAFSA Verification or Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) needs to be completed), the disbursement will include Pell and State grants. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) awards and Private Funded Scholarships (PFS) are included in this timeframe. Any subsequent funding will be disbursed weekly throughout the semester for qualifying students and as administratively feasible.

Spring Semester 2024

The Financial Aid Office will begin disbursing financial aid into the student's MyEmpower account on February 9, 2024. The students' first refund opportunity will occur on February 16, 2024. If no issues exist (i.e., FAFSA verification or Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) needs to be completed), the disbursement will include Pell and State grants. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) awards and Private Funded Scholarships are also included in this timeframe. Any subsequent funding will be disbursed weekly throughout the semester for qualifying students and as administratively feasible.

Attendance Requirement

CMN is required to regularly keep track of students per the Attendance Policy (please see Student Rights and Responsibilities). The College verifies attendance before financial aid is disbursed. Before the disbursement date, the College's Financial Aid Office may withhold funds from any student who has yet to attend class. 

Late applicants will receive disbursements as they are awarded and enrollment is confirmed. The Financial Aid Manager is responsible for authorizing disbursements within the Empower system. A list is sent to the Records and Billing Coordinator, where the process to disburse funds is initiated in Empower.

Refund Check

Students receiving a refund will be sent an email from the Student Billing Coordinator. The fastest way to get your refunds is to have a direct deposit set up. The Direct Deposit form can be found on our Student Form Library.

If no direct deposit is set up, a check will be sent in the mail.

NOTICE: Please make sure your current address is up to date in MyEmpower. It's the responsibility of the students to check with the Student Billing Office to ensure their bills are paid.

All questions regarding bills, refunds, etc., should be referred to the Student Billing Office at 715-799-5600, ext. 3298.

If you withdraw from classes, you may be required to repay a portion or all of the funding received.

For more information on refund/repayment requirements, please see the Financial Aid Office.

Rights

It is the students’ responsibility to notify the Financial Aid Office of any changes to the information that was provided on the FAFSA application. In addition, any changes to: name, permanent address, and enrollment status. Student responsibility requires compliance with all terms and conditions governing the Financial Aid award.

If you are denied aid or feel that your application should be reconsidered because of special circumstances or events since you filed for your aid, it is possible to appeal in writing. Please refer to CMN Unusual Circumstance Paper Work or set up appointment with the Financial Aid Office to discuss your options.

The College complies with federal and state privacy laws and regulations. The data in your file may be released to financial aid donors, lenders, and university offices needing the information for awarding and advising purposes. No one else may review your file without written consent or a subpoena or court order.

Any additional outside scholarships or financial assistance received may affect your award. You must notify the Financial Aid Office in writing if at any time during the year you receive such an award. This includes vocational rehabilitation support, scholarships from all sources, veteran’s benefits and all aid from outside sources. Failure to notify the Financial Aid Office about outside or direct pay awards may result in Cost of Attendance Issues.

Any intentionally false statements or misrepresentation you make (written or verbal) in any phase of the financial aid process may eliminate you from future consideration for assistance from College of Menominee Nation, and may subject you to a fine or imprisonment or both.