Complete the 2013-2014 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

• FAFSA can be completed on-line at fafsa.ed.gov
• The 2013-2014 paper FAFSA is available by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243. A PDF version of the FAFSA which is an official FAFSA is available for download at FederalStudentAid.ed.gov
• Remember to list UW-Platteville (Title IV school code 003921). You will be giving the Department of Education permission to send your information to our Financial Aid Office.
• File as soon as you can after January 1st.
• UW-Platteville has a priority filing date of March 15th. Applications received at the processing center after that date will be processed in the order received and awards based on availability of funds.

Review the Student Aid Report (SAR)

• If you provided an e-mail address on the FAFSA, a link to your SAR will be sent to you via e-mail and you will be able to access it on-line. Otherwise, a paper SAR will be sent to you.
• Review the SAR for accuracy. Keep the SAR for your records.
• If corrections are required, this can be done either by correcting the paper SAR or making corrections online. Signatures are required for corrections.
• If you have any questions about making corrections, contact the Financial Aid Office.

Notification

• Students will receive an email from the Financial Aid Office when the FAFSA information is received. Students will be instructed to check their "To Do List" online through their UW Platteville PASS account to check if additional items are needed
• After all information required to determine your aid package is received and reviewed, you will receive an email when the financial aid awards are determined. The awards can be viewed, accepted or declined online through the PASS system. New freshman awards will be determined beginning mid March; continuing and transfer students after the spring semester grades are posted. 

Changes to reported FAFSA Information

Federal regulations require that any changes made to your FAFSA information be reviewed by the financial aid office.  If you have filed your FAFSA using estimated information, you must update the FAFSA once you file your tax return.  Keep in mind that awards based on estimated information may change once the actual information is reported and it is reviewed.

Verification

Each time you file a FAFSA form, you may be randomly selected for a process called verification.  If selected for verification, the financial aid office must request certain documents from you in order to verify the information that you supplied in the FAFSA is correct.  Items needed for verification will appear on your PASS account “to do” list.  If your financial aid award is completed prior to your file being verified, the awards may change once verification is complete if any of the FAFSA information had to be corrected.  Please see the policies and procedures section of the website for a complete verification policy.

Report Your Outside Scholarships and Other Resources

If you received financial resources and/or a scholarship for the 2013-2014 academic year from an organization other than University of Wisconsin-Platteville, you need to share the good news with the Financial Aid Office as soon as possible. Complete the Outside Scholarship and Other Resources Notification Form available on our website at uwplatt.edu/finaid/apply/.
Federal and state regulations require the financial aid office to consider outside sources of financial assistance when preparing a financial aid package. Late addition of an outside resource could cause your award package to exceed the maximum allowed based on educational costs. If this situation occurs, a reduction to your financial aid package is necessary. By communicating this information to us before your financial aid is disbursed, it will reduce the chances of your awards changing for the Fall and/or Spring semesters.

Disbursement of Aid

• If all of your outstanding “to do list” items are complete, financial aid awards (except Federal Work Study) are applied directly to student's accounts at the beginning of each semester.
• If the financial aid is greater than what you owe, you will be able to pick up a refund check from the Cashier's Office after classes start.
• Students working on Federal Work Study will receive a pay check every two weeks for the hours they worked.