Approximately one-third of all financial aid applications are randomly selected by the federal government for a process called “verification.” Verification is a review procedure to determine the accuracy of information submitted on the FAFSA. Being selected for verification does not necessarily mean that you’ve made any mistakes or that we don’t trust the information that you’ve provided. The goal is to ensure that financial aid offices have accurate information to make the best financial aid awarding decisions.

Since our goal is for each student to receive the best financial aid award possible, the Office of Financial Aid sometimes will select an application for verification that was not selected by the federal government. Most often this occurs when we need more information to help us better understand the student’s financial circumstances.

If your application is selected for verification, you will be required to submit additional information to the Office of Financial Aid. We’ll notify you of the necessary items, but at a minimum we will require the following:

• 2009-2010 Verification Worksheet

  
  
• Signed copy of Parents’ / Stepparents’ 2008 Federal Income Tax Form, with all W-2’s, schedules and attachments
  
  
• Signed copy of Student’s / Spouse’s 2008 Federal Income Tax Form, with all W-2’s, schedules and attachments
  
  

• 2009-2010 Statement of Texas Residency

  
  

Other information may be required to clarify questions that arise. All requested information should be sent to Trinity’s Office of Financial Aid. Failure to respond promptly will result in delays and, potentially, cancellation of your financial aid award.