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:

• When completing your FAFSA you did not use the IRS-Data Retrieval process or you did but then subsequently changed the data
• 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 letter will be mailed 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 located on www.menominee.edu 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, 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 Student Aid Report (SAR).  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.

You may order a transcript free of charge or by calling 800-908-9946 and following the prompts in the recorded message, or by completing and mailing an IRS form requesting a transcript.

Individuals can use Form 4506-T to order a tax return transcript, free of charge.

We do not accept a copy of a Tax Account Transcript as it does not contain all the data that is required to complete the verification process.  We will need the Tax Return Transcript to complete the verification process.

If you have requested a filing extension, you must submit:

• a copy of the completed Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, IRS Form 4868
• W-2s from all wage earners
• Verification Worksheet

We will need a Tax "Return" Transcript to complete the verification process. If you filed an amended Federal tax return we will also need a Tax "Account" Transcript to complete the verification process.

You can contact your employer to request duplicate copies of your W-2 forms(s).  You may also use Form 4506-T to request copies of your W-2 forms that were submitted to the federal government. The W-2 forms are used to verify income earned for non-tax filers, and for individuals/families that had a change in marital status. 

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 Student Aid Report (SAR) from the Federal Processor.  Review the SAR entirely as it will indicate if there are errors that need to be corrected. The SAR 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.
• Many times 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.

When
Students are notified of their financial aid eligibility for the academic year via the 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 Spring and Summer 2023 is as follows:

Spring Semester 2023

The Financial Aid Office will begin disbursing financial aid into the students' MyEmpower accounts on February 10, 2023. The students' first refund opportunity will occur on February 17, 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.  

Summer Semester 2023

The Financial Aid Office will begin disbursing financial aid into the student's MyEmpower account on June 16, 2023. The students' first refund opportunity will occur on June 23, 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 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. The 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 Office. The fastest way to get your refunds is to have a direct deposit set up. The form can be found in our Student Portal 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 updated with Student Services. It is the responsibility of the students to check with the Student Billing Office to ensure their bill is paid.

All questions regarding bills, refunds, etc., should be referred to the Student Billing Office at 715-799-5600, ext. 3013.

Students receiving a refund check will be sent an email from the Student Billing Office. The e-mail will be sent on Friday between 1 and 3 p.m. The e-mail will state the student has a refund check in the Bursar’s office.

Refund checks can be claimed on Fridays between the hours of 1 and 4:30 p.m., Mondays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesdays 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. If not picked up by Tuesday at 3 p.m., the Billing Office will mail the check to the current address in EMPOWER.

A student must have their student I.D. in order to pick up and sign for their refund check.

NOTICE: Please make sure your current address is updated with Student Services.

It is the responsibility of the student to check with the Student Billing Office to insure that your bills are paid.

All questions regarding bills, refund, etc. should be referred to the Student Billing Office at 715-799-5600, ext. 3013.

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

Student responsibility requires compliance with all terms and conditions governing the Financial Aid award. It is the student's 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.

Suppose you are denied financial aid or feel that your application should be reconsidered due to special circumstances or events since you filed for your student aid. In that case, it is possible to appeal in writing. Please refer to CMN Unusual Circumstance Paper Work or set up an 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, a subpoena, or a court order. 

Any additional outside scholarships or financial assistance received may affect your award. This includes vocational rehabilitation support, scholarships from all sources, Veteran benefits, and all aid from external sources. You must notify the Financial Aid Office in writing if you receive such an award at any time during the year. 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 misrepresentations you make (written or verbal) in any phase of the financial aid process may eliminate you from future consideration for assistance from the College of Menominee Nation. It may subject you to a fine or imprisonment, or both.