Financial Aid: Additional Requirements

In addition to the award letter, you may also receive mailings or emails from the Office of Financial Aid requesting additional information from you. This may include documents necessary to confirm your identity, applications for loans, or other information that must be submitted in order to complete your Financial Aid award. Below is a listing of items that students may be required to submit. Please submit only what is requested of you - not all students are required to submit all of the items below. If you have questions about what is required, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.

In an effort to go green and preserve resources, we would encourage you to email or fax documents whenever possible. While most documents require a signature, we do not need the "wet" signature and can accept a copy by email at finaid@up.edu or fax at 503-943-7508.

The descriptions associated with each item are specific to the 2013-14 academic year. If you are unsure of what is being requested, contact the Office of Financial Aid for clarification.

General/Miscellaneous

Selective Service Registration Selective Service Registration is a requirement for males to receive federal financial aid. The FAFSA performs a database match check with the Selective Service to ensure all males between the ages of 18 and 26 have registered for the Selective Service. If you have not yet registered for the Selective Service and you are a male between the ages of 18 and 26, you must register before you can be awarded financial aid. Be sure to print off a confirmation page of your registration to send to the Office of Financial Aid. If you are a female and not required to register for the Selective Service, you may have forgotten to answer the gender question on the FAFSA. In this case, you need to log back into the FAFSA and complete the gender question. If you are a male but are not required to register for the Selective Service, you must submit a letter from the Selective Service that documents your exception to the Office of Financial Aid. 

2013-14 Special Circumstances Application

You have submitted a 2013-14 Special Circumstances Application and it is incomplete or is missing one or more signatures. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid for further instructions or clarification.

Statement of Educational Purpose Please sign a Statement of Educational Purpose in person certifying that the federal student financial assistance received will only be used for educational expenses incurred to attend the University of Portland. If you are unable to appear in person, contact the Office of Financial Aid for further instructions.

Thank You Letter for Annual/Endowed Scholarship The University of Portland awards Annual and Endowed scholarships to select students who meet special criteria. These scholarships are funded by donors to the University. In return for their generosity, the University of Portland feels it is important that students receiving such scholarships write a Thank You letter to their donor. The Office of Financial Aid may withhold disbursement of Annual and Endowed Scholarships until a Thank You letter is written. Please contact the Office of Financial aid if you are being requested to write a Thank You letter but have not received information regarding this process.

Dependency

These requirements are related to the dependency questions on the FAFSA (Q. 45-57). If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, the Office of Financial Aid may request confirmation of this answer with one or more of the documents below.

Birth Certificate The Office of Financial Aid may request a copy of your birth certificate to confirm identity or citizenship. We might also request a copy of your child or dependent’s birth certificate to confirm that you have children that you are currently supporting as members of your household. If you are unsure what to submit, contact the Office of Financial Aid.

Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty – DD214 On the FAFSA, you indicated that you were a Veteran of the US Armed Forces. Please provide a copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty to the Office of Financial Aid. If you are not a Veteran of the US Armed Forces, please revise your FAFSA to reflect this correction and resubmit it.

Court Issued Emancipated Minor Documentation On the FAFSA, you indicated that you were an emancipated minor as determined by a court in your state of legal residence. Please provide court issued documentation of this status. If you are not an emancipated minor, please revise your FAFSA to reflect this correction and resubmit it.

Documentation of Legal Guardianship On the FAFSA, you indicated that you were in a legal guardianship. Please provide court issued documentation of this status. If you are not in a legal guardianship, please revise your FAFSA to reflect this correction and resubmit it.

Documentation of Unaccompanied Youth or Homelessness On the FAFSA, you indicated that you were an unaccompanied youth or homeless. Please provide documentation of this status. If you are not an unaccompanied youth or homeless, please revise your FAFSA to reflect this correction and resubmit it.

Marriage Certificate On the FAFSA, you indicated that you are married. Please submit a copy of your marriage certificate as confirmation of your marital status. If you are not married, please revise your FAFSA to reflect this correction and resubmit it.

Ward of Court, Foster Care, or Parental Death Documentation On the FAFSA, you indicated that you were a ward of the court, in foster care, or that both of your parents were deceased since you reached the age of 13. Please provide documentation of this status to the Office of Financial aid. Acceptable documentation is a court issued document that confirms your status as a ward of the court/foster care or copies of death certificates for both parents. If you are not an orphan, ward of the court, or in foster care, please revise your FAFSA to reflect this correction and resubmit it.

Identification

These requirements are related to identity. Every submitted FAFSA goes through a series of database matches with the Federal government. If you are being asked to submit one of the documents below, then one of the database matches was unable to confirm your identity.

Proof of Citizenship Documentation The Social Security Administration did not confirm that you are a U.S. citizen. You must provide the Office of Financial Aid with documentation of your citizenship status before you can receive federal student aid. If you are a U.S. citizen, you should provide a birth certificate, passport, or other documents that definitively prove citizenship. If you are an eligible noncitizen, you should correct your FAFSA to indicate that the student is an eligible noncitizen and include your Alien Registration Number (ARN).

Social Security Card The FAFSA database check was unable to confirm that the name you provided on the FAFSA matches the social security number you provided on the FAFSA. Please confirm that you reported your social security number correctly on the FAFSA and that you also reported your legal name on the FAFSA exactly as it appears on your social security card. If you reported your social security number and legal name properly on the FAFSA, please submit a copy of your social security card to the Office of Financial Aid and contact the Social Security Administration.

Valid Government Issued Photo Identification Please present in person a valid, government issued photo identification.  If you are unable to appear in person to present your ID, contact the Office of Financial Aid for further instructions.

 

Loans

These requirements are related to loans. In general, every student who applies for financial aid is awarded loans in some form. However, not all loans are awarded to all students. Review your award letter carefully and submit only what has been requested of you. Additional information can be found in the Undergraduate Loans section of the website.

The descriptions associated with each item are specific to the 2013-14 academic year.

 Stafford Loans

2013-14 Direct Loan Confirmation Form - Section A (Stafford) You need to complete Section A of the 13-14 Direct Loan Confirmation Form. This section of the form is to confirm the amount of Stafford loan you are planning to use for the 2013-14 academic year.

Complete Loan Entrance Counseling You need to complete Loan Entrance Counseling for one or more of your Federal Stafford loans All new borrowers are required to complete Loan Entrance Counseling before their loans can be disbursed.

Stafford Loan Entrance Counseling can be completed at the Direct Student Loans website. If you have been awarded both subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans, you only need to complete one entrance counseling for both loans. 

Loan Change Form Use this form to request changes to your student and/or parent loans, such as a loan increase, decrease, or cancellation.

Stafford Loan Master Promissory Note

As a first time borrower of a Federal Direct Stafford Loan, you are required to complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN).  The MPN is a legal document in which you agree to repay your loan(s) and any accrued interested and fees to the Department of Education. 

This can be completed at Direct Student Loans website. You will be required to electronically sign your MPN using your Department of Education issued personal identification number (PIN).  If you do not have a PIN or have forgotten your PIN you can retrieve you FAFSA PIN at this website.

Once you have submitted the MPN, and it has been accepted, you will not have to fill out a new MPN for future loans you receive for up to 10 years.

Graduate/Parent PLUS

2013-14 Direct Loan Confirmation Form - Section B (PLUS) You need to complete Section B of the 13-14 Direct Loan Confirmation Form. This section of the form is to confirm the amount of PLUS loan (parent or graduate) you are planning to use for the 2013-14 academic year.

Graduate Entrance Counseling If you are a first time graduate student or are borrowing Graduate PLUS loan for the first time, you are required to complete Graduate Entrance Counseling. This can be completed at the Direct Student Loans website. Please note that if you were awarded subsidized Stafford, unsubsidized Stafford, or Graduate PLUS loan, one Graduate Entrance Counseling will satisfy this requirement for all three loans.

PLUS Loan Application In order to apply for a PLUS loan (Parent or Graduate) you must complete a credit check using the online PLUS Loan Application. To complete your PLUS Loan Application please go to the Direct Student Loans website. Under "Manage My Direct Loan" click "Sign In" then "Start PLUS Application Process." Select the loan you will be borrowing - Parent PLUS or Grad PLUS - and continue the process.

You will be notified by Direct Loans within 24 to 48 hours if you have been approved. Once approved, please continue on to sign your MPN.

PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note

As a first time borrower of a Federal Direct PLUS Loan, you are required to complete a PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN).  The MPN is a legal document in which you agree to repay your loan(s) and any accrued interested and fees to the Department of Education. 

This can be completed at Direct Student Loans website. You will be required to electronically sign your MPN using your Department of Education issued personal identification number (PIN).  If you do not have a PIN or have forgotten your PIN you can retrieve you FAFSA PIN at this website.

Once you have submitted the MPN, and it has been accepted, you will not have to fill out a new MPN for future loans you receive for up to 10 years unless your PLUS application was endorsed.

Endorsed PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note

As a borrower of a Federal Direct PLUS Loan with an endorser, you are required to complete a PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN).  The MPN is a legal document in which you agree to repay your loan(s) and any accrued interested and fees to the Department of Education. 

This can be completed at Direct Student Loans website. You will be required to electronically sign your MPN using your Department of Education issued personal identification number (PIN).  If you do not have a PIN or have forgotten your PIN you can retrieve you FAFSA PIN at this website.

A new MPN will be required for all future approved PLUS loan applications.

Nursing Loan

2013-14 Federal Nursing Loan Confirmation Form You must complete the 13-14 Nursing Student Loan Confirmation Form in order to utilize this loan for this academic year. Please read the instruction on the form thoroughly as there are several steps in the overall Nursing loan process. Additional information can be found  in the Undergraduate Loans section of our website.

Nursing Loan Master Promissory Note Please complete your Master Promissory Note for your Nursing loan with ECSI (Educational Computer Systems, Inc.). Additional information and instructions can be found in the Undergraduate Loans section of the website.

Perkins Loan

2013-14 Federal Perkins Loan Confirmation You must complete the 13-14 Perkins Loan Confirmation Formin order to utilize this loan for this academic year. Please read the instruction on the form thoroughly as there are several steps in the overall Perkins loan process. Additional information can be found in the Undergraduate Loans section of our website.

Perkins Loan Master Promissory Note Please complete your Master Promissory Note for your Perkins loan with ECSI (Educational Computer Systems, Inc.). Additional information and instructions can be found in the Undergraduate Loans section of the website.

TEACH Grant

Federal TEACH Grant Counseling Each academic year you receive a TEACH Grant, you must complete the appropriate TEACH Grant Counseling. Entrance counseling is required for the first academic year you receive the grant; subsequent counseling is required for all subsequent academic years.

Institutional Application for Federal TEACH Grant Each academic year you receive a TEACH Grant, you must complete and sign the Application for the Federal TEACH Grant. You must first complete the TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve and TEACH Grant Counseling. Once these two requirements are complete, contact the Office of Financial Aid and request an  Application for Federal TEACH Grant. If you have received a TEACH Grant at the University of Portland in a previous academic year, request a Subsequent Application for Federal TEACH Grant.

Verification

Additional information about the process of verification can be found in the Verification section of the website. Please submit only what is requested by the Office of Financial Aid.

Parent(s) 2012 Earned Income As part of the verification process, we require that you submit copies of all 2012 W-2 wage statements from your parent(s). If one or both of your parents are self-employed, there may not be any W-2s, but please submit the appropriate business schedules C or K1 from their 2012 1040 Federal tax return if applicable. If you did not keep a copy of your W-2s, K1s or Schedules C or F, you will need to contact the Internal Revenue Service to request a copy. Please be advised that it may take a minimum of 3 weeks for the IRS to mail these documents to you and you need to sign the copy you return to us. Your tax preparer may also be able to provide copies of these documents.

Student/ Spouse 2012 Earned Income As part of the verification process, we require that you submit copies of all your 2012 W-2 wage statements. If you are self-employed, there may not be any W-2s, but please submit the appropriate business schedules C or K1 from your 2012 1040 Federal tax return if applicable. If you did not keep a copy of your W-2s, K1s or Schedules C or F, you will need to contact the Internal Revenue Service to request a copy. Please be advised that it may take a minimum of 3 weeks for the IRS to mail these documents to you and you need to sign the copy you return to us. Your tax preparer may also be able to provide copies of these documents.

Copy of Parent(s) 2012 IRS Tax Transcript As part of the verification process, we require that you submit an IRS tax transcript for your parents. Contact our office if your parent(s) have filed an extension as there is a specific process for this situation.  You can request an IRS tax return transcript by calling 1-800-908-9946, www.irs.gov/transcript or mail order using IRS Form 4506T.  Please do not have transcripts sent directly from the IRS to the Office of Financial Aid as they will not have your student ID number included and we will not be able to match them to your file.

Signed Copy of Parent(s) 2012 Federal Tax Return As part of the verification process, we require that you submit a signed copy of your parent(s) 2012 Federal Income Tax Return, including all schedules. Contact our office if your parent(s) have filed an extension as there is a specific process for this situation.

Update FAFSA Parent Tax Info Using IRS Data Retrieval Tool To import final IRS tax data on the FAFSA, navigate to the “Financial Information” section of your FAFSA and indicate the tax return is “Already Completed”. Then follow the instructions to use the “IRS Data Retrieval Tool.”  Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool Video Tutorial or theIRS Data Retrieval Tool Help Sheet as a guide. Please note that you will not be able to use the IRS data retrieval tool until the IRS has received and processed your tax return.  On rare occasions, an applicant may be ineligible to use the IRS data retrieval tool if they have filed a Puerto Rico tax return or filed married but separately, for example.  If you are ineligible to use the IRS data retrieval tool, please contact the Office of Financial Aid for an alternative process.

Copy of Student/ Spouse 2012 IRS Tax Transcript As part of the verification process, we require that you submit your IRS tax transcript. Contact our office if you have filed an extension as there is a specific process for this situation.  You can request an IRS tax return transcript by calling 1-800-908-9946, www.irs.gov/transcript or mail order using IRS Form 4506T.  Please do not have transcripts sent directly from the IRS to the Office of Financial Aid as they will not have your student ID number included and we will not be able to match them to your file.

Update FAFSA Student Tax Info Using IRS Data Retrieval Tool To import final IRS tax data on the FAFSA, navigate to the “Financial Information” section of your FAFSA and indicate the tax return is “Already Completed”. Then follow the instructions to use the “IRS Data Retrieval Tool.” Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool Video Tutorial or theIRS Data Retrieval Tool Help Sheet as a guide. Please note that you will not be able to use the IRS data retrieval tool until the IRS has received and processed your tax return. On rare occasions, an applicant may be ineligible to use the IRS data retrieval tool if they have filed a Puerto Rico tax return or filed married but separately, for example. If you are ineligible to use the IRS data retrieval tool, please contact the Office of Financial Aid for an alternative process.

Low Income Worksheet Based on the information you provided on your FAFSA, the income reported is not sufficient to support a household of your size. Please complete the 13-14 Low Income Statement and submit it to the Office of Financial Aid.

AGI Estimator Worksheet This form is required because you filed a tax extension and have not yet submitted a final copy of your most recent tax return. Use the AGI Estimator Worksheet to estimate your adjusted gross income and federal tax liability for verification purposes. To obtain the worksheet please contact the Office of Financial Aid. 

Tax Extension Please submit a copy of your IRS Tax extension form 4868 to the Office of Financial Aid.

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