The Verification Requirements for the 2021-2022 award year have been greatly reduced by the Department of Education in an effort to remove barriers for students and families during this national emergency. Any remaining documents a student must submit are listed in the student’s myOTC, Financial Aid, Required Documents.
FAFSA Verification Information and Procedures
Note: The U.S. Department of Education gives first consideration for processing to files completed for verification by the early action dates in order to allow earliest possible distribution of student aid funds. After the early action dates, the department processes files based upon receipt date and completion of financial aid file.
When a student files the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the U.S. Department of Education will send results of the FAFSA called the Student Aid Report (SAR) to the student via postal mail or by email. On the SAR will be a comment which indicates if the student has been selected for the verification process. The U.S. Department of Education does not select all students for verification. The Financial Aid Office will also receive notification from the U.S. Department of Education and will correspond with the student as well. It is imperative that the mailing address for the student remain current with the college for this reason.
The verification process requires the college to collect additional documents from the student and his/her family in order to verify information provided on the FAFSA. You can locate the necessary items and forms along with instructions in the student’s myOTC, Financial Aid, Required Documents.
It is the student’s responsibility to make sure the Financial Aid Office receives the items requested in a timely manner.