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Missing Financial Aid Documents


You’ve likely landed here because we need additional information from you to complete the financial aid process. 

Item(s) needed can be found on the “Missing Information Letter” sent to you or by logging in to your Topnet account as follows:

  • Once logged in to Topnet, click on Financial Aid link  
  • Click on Eligibility link
  • Select appropriate aid year and hit Submit (unsatisfied “Missing Financial Aid Documents” will be displayed)

Locate the three- to four-letter code on your specific items and click the corresponding tab to locate your specific items for detailed instructions:

 

The National Student Loan Data System flagged your account as in default on a student loan. If you are no longer in default, present proof to the Department of Student Financial Assistance from the loan agency that the default has been resolved. Documentation can be emailed to fa.loans@wku.edu or faxed to 270-745-6586. Please include your WKU ID number on all correspondence.

If you are still in default, you can contact your lender and make arrangements to rehabilitate your loan. Contact information for your lender can be found by logging into the National Student Loan Data System.

You either reported on the FAFSA that you had a conviction for possessing or selling illegal drugs or you left that question blank. Complete the Student Aid Eligibility Worksheet for Question 23 that was sent to you with your Student Aid Report (SAR). If you did not receive the Worksheet, you can find it here.  Follow the instructions for making any necessary corrections to your FAFSA or email Department of Student Financial Assistance at fa.help@wku.edu for assistance.
Due to having what is considered an unusual enrollment history, your enrollment history must be reviewed by the Department of Student Financial Assistance before eligibility can be determined. If enrolled in classes, you will be contacted if any additional information is needed. 

WKU has been notified that you are either currently in the process of applying for or have received a Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) discharge of a federal student loan or that one or more of your federal student loans have been discharged based on a determination by the Department of Veterans Affairs that you are unemployable due to a service-connected disability. If you are in the process of applying for a TPD discharge, receiving additional federal student aid may affect your eligibility for a TPD discharge. If you have already received a TPD discharge, you must meet additional eligibility requirements to receive further federal student aid. Depending on when you received a TPD discharge, receiving additional federal student aid may affect your ability to keep your discharge. 
Whichever situation applies to you, you will soon receive another email from the Department of Student Financial Assistance containing instructions on what you must do in order to receive another federal student loan or to report that you do not wish to borrow a federal student loan for the current academic year.  Contact information is included in the email in case you have additional questions. 

Your status as an eligible noncitizen must be confirmed. The general requirement for eligible noncitizens is that they be in the U.S. for other than a temporary purpose with the intention of becoming a citizen or lawful permanent resident.

1. If you meet this requirement, check your “Student Aid Report” (SAR) at www.fafsa.gov to be sure you reported the correct Alien Registration Number (ARN). If you find an error, log in to your FAFSA, click ‘Make Corrections,’ enter the correct ARN, and press ‘Submit,’ so your FAFSA will be updated by the federal processor and forwarded to the school.

2. If your ARN is typed correctly on the SAR, please present proof of your citizenship status to the Department of Student Financial Assistance in one of the following ways:

  • Bring your original citizenship documentation (from the list below) to Student Financial Assistance (3rd floor of Potter Hall)
  • *Fax to (270) 745-6586 your citizenship documentation plus the Citizenship Affidavit and a second valid photo I.D.
  • *Email to fa.help@wku.edu your citizenship documentation plus the Citizenship Affidavit and a second valid photo I.D.

*Students submitting photocopies, faxes, or emails must ALSO submit a hand-signed  Citizenship Affidavit  AND a valid, secondary  photo identification, such as the student's WKU I.D. card or driver's license.

Acceptable documentation for eligible noncitizens usually includes one of the following:

  • A copy of the front and back of the Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551 since 1997).
  • A copy of the front and back of a Resident Alien Card (Form I-551 prior to 1997).
  • A copy of a paper I-94 form (DHS Arrival and Departure Record), stamped by Customs and Border Patrol.
  • A copy of an electronic I-94 printout and/or a Customs Border Protection stamp showing class of admission and date admitted or paroled in the student’s passport.
  • A copy of the U.S. Travel Document (mint green cover) that contains the Reentry Permit (Form I-327) and the Refugee Travel Document (Form I-571).
  • A copy of an I-797 Approval Notice, including the alien number and current status of application for permanent residency.

3. If you are not an eligible noncitizen, return to www.fafsa.ed.gov, click ‘Make Corrections,’ enter the correct citizenship status for Question 14, and press ‘Submit,’ so your FAFSA will be updated by the federal processor and forwarded to the school. 

For assistance, please email fa.help@wku.edu.

Your claim of being a U.S. Citizen must be confirmed.

1. If you are a U.S. Citizen, present proof of your citizenship to the Department of Student Financial Assistance in one of the following ways:

  • Bring your original citizenship documentation (from the list below) to Student Financial Assistance (3rd floor of Potter Hall)
  • *Fax to (270) 745-6586 your citizenship documentation plus the Citizenship Affidavit and a second valid photo I.D.
  • *Email to fa.help@wku.edu your citizenship documentation plus the Citizenship Affidavit and a second valid photo I.D.

*Students submitting photocopies, faxes, or emails must ALSO submit a hand-signed  Citizenship Affidavit  AND a valid, secondary  photo identification, such as the student's WKU I.D. card or driver's license.

Acceptable citizenship documentation usually includes one of the following:

  • A copy of the student’s birth certificate showing that the student was born in the United States, which includes Puerto Rico (on or after Jan­uary 13, 1941), Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands (on or after January 17, 1917), American Samoa, Swains Island, or the Northern Mariana Is­lands, unless the person was born to foreign diplomats residing in the U.S. If a student has a birth certificate from a U.S. jurisdiction showing that the student was born abroad (i.e., not in the U.S. or its territories), that birth certificate is not acceptable documentation.
  • A U.S. passport, current or expired (except for “limited” passports, which are typically issued for short periods such as a year and which don’t receive as much scrutiny as a regular passport when applying). In the case of nationals who are not citizens, the passport will be stamped “Noncitizen National.” Five-year-duration U.S. passports (commonly issued to younger students) are considered acceptable documentation and are not considered “limited.” Passport cards are also acceptable; however, one-year-duration U.S. passports are NOT acceptable documentation.
  • The State Department issues a wallet-sized passport card that can only be used for land and sea travel between the United States and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. It is adjudicated to the same standards as the passport book and is therefore a fully valid attestation of the U.S. citizenship and identity of the bearer.
  • A copy of Form FS-240 (Consular Report of Birth Abroad), FS-545 (Certificate of birth issued by a foreign service post), or DS-1350 (Certification of Report of Birth). These are State Department documents and are considered acceptable.
  • A Certificate of Citizenship (N-560 or N-561) issued by USCIS to individuals who derive U.S. citizenship through a parent.
  • A Certificate of Naturalization (N-550 or N-570) issued by USCIS (or, prior to 1991, a federal or state court), or through administrative naturalization after December 1990 to those who are individually naturalized.

IMPORTANT: If your current name is different than the name on the birth certificate, also include your new name. In addition, please visit your local SSA office to update your status as a U.S. citizen.

2. If you are not  a U.S. citizen, return to www.fafsa.ed.gov, log in using your FSA ID, and click ‘Make Corrections.’ Correct your answer to Question 14 as it pertains to your status and, if necessary, provide your Alien Registration Number in Question 15. Press ‘Submit,’ so your FAFSA will be updated by the federal processor and forwarded to the school.

The National Student Loan Data System flagged your account due to a potential issue with a Stafford loan or Pell grant. Please return to www.fafsa.ed.gov, log on using your FSA ID, and click on the link ‘View or Print Your SAR.’ Scroll to the Comments Section of the Student Aid Report and review all entries there. 
If this alert is due to an overpayment, follow the comment’s instructions to resolve the issue. If the comment indicates there is a name discrepancy, contact the Department of Student Financial Assistance at (270) 745-2755 to determine what is needed to resolve the issue.

WKU received an alert from the Department of Education. Typically, this is due to a student filing bankruptcy after defaulting on a Stafford loan, making the student ineligible for financial aid. If this situation does not apply to you, please contact the Department of Student Financial Assistance at (270) 745-2755 so we may discuss your situation.

The Selective Service System (SSS) could not confirm that you are registered with them. All males between the ages of 18 and 25, with a few exceptions, must register with SSS, preferably within 30 days of their eighteenth birthday.

Please submit to fa.help@wku.edu:

  • a copy of your Registration Confirmation Letter, available at sss.gov,

OR

  • a copy of your Registration Acknowledgement Card, if you registered by mail.

Please include your WKU ID number in the email. As an option, registrations can be faxed to 270-745-6586.

To see if you are exempt from registering with SSS, click here.

If you are between the ages of 18 and 25 and have not registered with SSS (and are not exempt from registering), you must do so to qualify for federal financial aid. Either register online at www.sss.gov, complete a registration card at your local post office, or correct your FAFSA. 

If you choose to correct your FAFSA, go to www.fafsa.ed.gov, log on using your FSA ID, and click ‘Make Corrections.’ Click the ‘Register me’ block at Question 22 and press ‘Submit’ so your FAFSA will be updated. 

If you are over age 25, but did not register with SSS between the ages of 18 and 25 (and were not exempt from registering), and are a U. S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen living in the U.S. before turning 25, you must request a Status Information Letter (SIL) from SSS. Submit a copy of the SIL to the Department of Student Financial Assistance for review. We will contact you if any additional information is needed. 

If you are an eligible noncitizen and were 26 or older when you first entered the U.S., you must provide the Department of Student Financial Assistance with the following documentation: proof of birth date on a passport, birth certificate, or U.S. driver’s license or state ID, and proof of immigration date into the U.S. from an entry date stamp on the I-94 form or in the passport, or a letter from the USCIS indicating the entry date. For questions, email fa.help@wku.edu.

The name listed on your FAFSA cannot be confirmed by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Submit a copy of your social security card to the Department of Student Financial Assistance by faxing to (270) 745-6586 or sending an email attachment to fa.verify@wku.edu

If your SSN or name are incorrect on the FAFSA, please return to www.fafsa.ed.gov, log in using your FSA ID, and ‘Make a Correction.’ However, if your SSN and name are correct on the FAFSA, you should contact the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 or www.socialsecurity.gov to make sure they correct their records.

On Question 50 of the FAFSA, you answered that you are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces. However, the VA did not confirm this. You should only answer ‘Yes’ on the FAFSA if you meet one of the following descriptions and were released under a condition other than dishonorable:

  • have engaged in active duty, including basic training, in the U.S. Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard), or
  • are a National Guard or Reserves enlistee who was called to active duty for other than state or training purposes, or
  • were a cadet or midshipman at one of the service academies, or
  • are not a veteran now but will be one by June 30th of the current academic year

You cannot claim veteran status if you (1) have never engaged in active duty (including basic training) in the U.S. Armed Forces, (2) are currently an ROTC student or a cadet or midshipman at a service academy, (3) are a National Guard or Reserves enlistee activated only for state or training purposes, (4) were engaged in active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces but released under dishonorable conditions, or (5) you are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces and will continue to serve through June 30th of the current academic year.

If you answered Question 50 incorrectly, please return to www.fafsa.ed.gov, log in using your FSA ID, click on ‘Make Corrections,’ and update Question 50 to ‘NO.’ You may be required to enter parental information on the FAFSA and to provide a parent signature. So be sure your parent has an FSA ID unless you already qualify as an Independent student (married, pursuing a Master’s or Doctorate degree, orphan, in foster care between age 13-18, etc.). After making the necessary corrections, press ‘Submit’ so your FAFSA will be updated. Please allow up to 7 business days for processing to be completed.

If you feel you answered Question 50 correctly, please provide the Department of Student Financial Assistance with a copy of your DD 214. Fax to (270) 745-6586 or send an email attachment to fa.verify@wku.edu. Your DD 214 must confirm that you were released from active duty with a character of service other than dishonorable. If you are a member of the National Guard or Reserves, the type of separation cannot indicate “for training purposes.” If you meet these requirements, the Department of Student Financial Assistance will perform an override, so the “veteran status” flag on your FAFSA can be cleared. Please allow up to 7 business days for processing to be completed.

You indicated that you have a special circumstance that may allow you to exclude parental information.  You should speak with a Financial Aid Counselor to determine if you meet the conditions for consideration as an independent student. If so, you will be asked to complete an Appeal for Independent Status Form, submit a letter documenting your situation, and provide letters from two responsible adults who are aware of your situation (i.e. guidance counselor, physician, clergy).   

The gender listed on your FAFSA does not match your WKU Admissions record. Please contact the WKU Admissions Office at 270-745-2551 to confirm that your gender is accurate, or to have them correct any discrepancies in your Admissions record. If WKU has accurate information, then you will need to update the information on your FAFSA. Please return to www.fafsa.ed.gov, log in using your FSA ID, and ‘Make a Correction.’ Press ‘Submit’ so your FAFSA will be updated.

The last name listed on your FAFSA does not match the WKU Admissions record. Contact the WKU Admissions Office at 270-745-2551 to confirm that your last name is accurate, or have them correct any typographical errors in your Admissions record. If WKU has accurate information, then you made an error when filling out the FAFSA. Please return to www.fafsa.ed.gov, log in using your FSA ID, and ‘Make a Correction.’ Press ‘Submit’ so your FAFSA will be updated.

The first name listed on your FAFSA does not match the WKU Admissions record. Contact the WKU Admissions Office at 270-745-2551 to confirm that your first name is accurate, or have them correct any typographical errors in your Admissions record. If WKU has accurate information, then you made an error when filling out the FAFSA. Please return to www.fafsa.ed.gov, log in using your FSA ID, and ‘Make a Correction.’ Press ‘Submit’ so your FAFSA will be updated.

The date of birth listed on your FAFSA does not match the WKU Admissions record. Contact the WKU Admissions Office at 270-745-2551 to confirm that your date of birth is accurate, or have them correct any typographical errors in your Admissions record. If WKU has accurate information, then you made an error when filling out the FAFSA. Please return to www.fafsa.ed.gov, log in using your FSA ID, and ‘Make a Correction.’ Press ‘Submit’ so your FAFSA will be updated.

Pertinent information on your FAFSA does not match university records. Often this alert appears when the degree program listed on your FAFSA differs from the university degree program to which you’ve been admitted (such as listing a Graduate degree on the FAFSA when you are not yet admitted to the WKU Graduate College). However, the alert can also appear for other reasons. Please contact the Department of Student Financial Assistance at 270-745-2755 for guidance in resolving this issue.

On the FAFSA, you indicated that you or a parent are a dislocated worker. That response is not causing any delay in your financial aid processing. However, if you or your parent remain unemployed or underemployed, you may wish to speak with a Financial Aid Counselor at 270-745-2755. After a thorough discussion about your financial situation, the counselor may recommend that you request a FAFSA re-evaluation in hopes of improving your eligibility for federal student aid.

The federal processor was unable to validate your FAFSA because of errors or missing information. Often this is due to a missing student or parent e-signature but can also be caused by other errors.

If you’ve recently updated your FAFSA to resolve this issue, please allow 7-10 business days for the outstanding requirement to be cleared on Top Net.

If you have not updated your FAFSA to resolve this issue, please complete the following steps:

  • Review the Comments Section of your Student Aid Report (SAR), available at fafsa.ed.gov.
  • Once you’ve read the SAR Comments, open your FAFSA and click ‘Make a Correction’ to resolve the errors.
  • ‘Submit’ your corrections, so the FAFSA can be reprocessed and forwarded to the school.
  • Allow 7-10 business days for the outstanding requirement to be cleared on Top Net.

If your FAFSA became invalid when you changed the Student’s Marital Status, do not “Make a Correction.” Instead, the school will load the FAFSA and select it for a process called Verification. Our Verification processing is handled by KHEAA Verify. KHEAA will collect some required documentation from you and submit the necessary FAFSA corrections. Please watch for KHEAA’s introductory email with instructions for starting the verification process. Then contact KHEAA at 855-272-8771 with any Verification Questions

If you have questions about your FAFSA or Student Aid Report, please contact a FAFSA representative at 800-433-3243.

If you need assistance establishing or resetting an FSA ID, please review this FSA ID Guide or call 800-557-7394.

You have requested re-evaluation of your eligibility for financial aid due to extenuating circumstances. In the event additional information is needed, you will be contacted.

You indicated that parental information could not be provided on the FAFSA. As a dependent student you are required to include parental information before your eligibility can be determined. If you are unable to obtain parental information and would like to be considered for the unsubsidized loan only, please speak to a Financial Aid Counselor regarding next steps.

You and/or your parent successfully used the IRS Data Retrieval Tool on the FAFSA. However, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reported to the Department of Education that you and/or your parent has an amended federal tax return on file. The IRS Data Retrieval Tool cannot retrieve amended tax figures; it only captures the original federal return. Therefore, the Department of Education requires us to collect a copy of the amended tax return, compare it to the income reported on the FAFSA, and correct any errors. If both you and your parent filed an amendment, we’ll need copies of both. Sometimes a tax filer doesn’t recall filing an amendment. It’s possible that the IRS had to correct a minor error when processing your tax return, in which case you would have been notified by mail of any changes that were made.

Please identify your situation from the numbered options below and submit the corresponding documentation for the appropriate tax year. For the 2019-2020 FAFSA, provide 2017 amended tax information. For the 2020-2021 FAFSA, provide 2018 amended tax information. For the 2021-2022 FAFSA, provide 2019 amended tax information.

1.       If you/your parent(s), or an accountant filed the amended return, please submit a SIGNED copy of Form 1040X. The ‘X’ denotes that it’s an amended tax return. We cannot accept Form 1040, only the 1040X. A signature is required on Page 2 of the 1040X, along with an explanation in the Comments section. Submit both pages of the 1040X plus any documentation used to amend the original data, such as W-2 forms or tax schedules.

2.       If the IRS fixed a minor mistake on your behalf, you will not have a 1040X. Instead, please submit a copy of the IRS notification you were mailed.

3.       If you/your parents cannot locate a copy of Form 1040X or an IRS notification stating that they fixed an error on your behalf, you must obtain an IRS "Record of Account" transcript. The IRS Record of Account is a free IRS document that includes both the original and the amended data. It is available through any of the following methods, but be sure to request the correct tax year:

    • Access a PDF version online at www.irs.gov. Tax filer must successfully pass the security questions.
    • Check https://www.irs.gov/filing/wheres-my-amended-return. Follow the prompts for the Record of Account.
    • Call the IRS at 800-829-1040. First, select a language. Then at the prompts, enter 2, 1, 3, 2. Next, enter your SSN and confirm it by entering 1 and 1 again. Do not press any more digits, regardless of the prompts you hear. You will eventually be placed on hold until a representative is available to help you. Ask for a free copy of  the “Record of Account” transcript for the appropriate tax year.

Documents can be photographed and emailed to fa.verify@wku.edu or faxed to (270) 745-0116. For security purposes, social security numbers should be blacked out or hidden prior to submission. Please include the student’s WKU I.D. on all correspondence.

Once we receive your amended tax return, we’ll compare it with your FAFSA application. If the figures match, no further action is needed. However, if the amounts reported on the FAFSA do not match the amended tax return, our office must correct the errors. We will email an authorization form to the student, requesting permission to submit the necessary FAFSA corrections on your behalf. Should you receive such an email, please read, sign, and return the authorization form as soon as possible. We cannot resolve errors without a signed consent form. Then allow up to 7 business days for processing to be completed.

The Department of Education flagged your FAFSA application because of an income reporting error. Parental income has been duplicated in the student section of the FAFSA. The federal processor requires you to correct your FAFSA application before the school can administer aid. To do so, please log in to http://www.fafsa.gov/ with your FSA ID, click the ‘Returning User’ tab, and ‘Make a Correction.’ Then complete the following steps.

  1. Review the student’s annual wage and tax documentation.  
  1. Update responses to Questions 32-44 if parental income was accidentally reported.
  1. Authorize the corrections by e-signing with your FSA ID(s). Submit the changes, so your application can be reprocessed.

Please allow 7-10 business days for the university to receive the updated FAFSA, load it in our system, and resolve the outstanding requirement on Top Net. You may disregard any email reminders that occur during the 10-day window.

The Department of Education flagged your FAFSA application because of an income reporting error. The federal processor is questioning whether estimates were used to report wages for the student, spouse, or parent(s). The “income from work” must match each person’s W-2 forms, 1099 forms, or business/farm income statements.

The federal processor requires you to correct your FAFSA application before the school can administer aid. To do so, please log in to http://www.fafsa.gov/ with your FSA ID, click the ‘Returning User’ tab, and ‘Make a Correction.’ Then complete the following steps.

  1. Please review the annual wage documentation for the student, spouse (if applicable), and parents/stepparents (of dependent students).
  1. Update inaccurate responses to Questions 38-39 (student/spouse) and Questions 84-85 (parents/stepparents).
  1. Authorize the corrections by e-signing with your FSA ID(s). Submit the changes, so your application can be reprocessed.

Please allow 7-10 business days for the university to receive the updated FAFSA, load it in our system, and resolve the outstanding requirement on Top Net. You may disregard any email reminders that occur during the 10-day window.

The Department of Education flagged your FAFSA application because of an income reporting error. The federal processor is questioning the amount you reported for Grant & Scholarship Aid and requires you to make a FAFSA correction before the school can administer aid.
  • Unless you claimed grants or scholarships as part of your annual income on a federal tax return, you should have reported $0.
  • If you did not file taxes, or your federal tax return does not indicate a code of 'SCH' plus a dollar amount, you should have reported $0.
  • If your tax return has an ‘SCH’ designation, only that dollar amount should be reported on the FAFSA.

Please log in to http://www.fafsa.gov/ with your FSA ID, click the ‘Returning User’ tab, and ‘Make a Correction.’ Then complete the following steps.

  1. To determine if your tax return includes an ‘SCH’ code, review IRS Form 1040 and/or Schedule 1, as shown in the examples below. If an ‘SCH’ code does not appear on the dotted line, the correct response is $0.

                          Wages, salaries, tips, etc. Attach Form(s) W-2  ...……… SCH $1400 ……….. 5217.00                                                                                                                                                                   (the correct response is $1400 in grant and scholarship aid)

                          Other income. List type and amount.  ………………………. SCH $3316 ………. 9829.00                                                                                                                                                                  (the correct response is $3316 in grant and scholarship aid)

                          Wages, salaries, tips, etc. Attach Form(s) W-2  ...………………………….……….. 1136.00                                                                                                                                                                 (the correct response is $0 in grant and scholarship aid)

  1. Update inaccurate responses to Question 43d (student/spouse) and Question 91d (parents/stepparents).
  1. Authorize the corrections by e-signing with your FSA ID(s). Submit the changes, so your application can be reprocessed.

Please allow 7-10 business days for the university to receive the updated FAFSA, load it in our system, and resolve the outstanding requirement on Top Net. You may disregard any email reminders that occur during the 10-day window.

The Department of Education flagged your FAFSA application because of an income reporting error. The federal processor is questioning the amount you reported for Combat Pay and requires you to make a FAFSA correction before the school can administer aid.

  • Only commissioned officers will have taxable combat pay. However, not all commissioned officers must report it on the FAFSA. If you are not a commissioned officer, you should have reported $0.
  • If you are a commissioned officer, your total combat pay is shown on the service member’s Leave and Earnings Statement (LES).
  • The annual untaxed portion is listed on your W-2 form in box 12, code Q.
  • The difference between the LES amount and the code Q amount is the “taxable portion” of combat pay to be reported on the FAFSA. Often, the correct response is $0.

Please log in to http://www.fafsa.gov/ with your FSA ID, click the ‘Returning User’ tab, and ‘Make a Correction.’ Then complete the following steps.

  1. Report a $0 for Question 43e if the student (or spouse, if applicable) is not a commissioned officer. Report a $0 for Question 91e if the parent/stepparent (of a dependent student) is not a commissioned officer.
  2. If the student, spouse, or parent is a commissioned officer, review the LES and W-2 form. Calculate any taxable combat pay per the bullet points above.
  3. Update inaccurate responses to Question 43e (student/spouse) and Question 91e (parents/stepparents).
  4. Authorize the corrections by e-signing with your FSA ID(s). Submit the changes, so your application can be reprocessed.

Please allow 7-10 business days for the university to receive the updated FAFSA, load it in our system, and resolve the outstanding requirement on Top Net. You may disregard any email reminders that occur during the 10-day window.

The Department of Education flagged your FAFSA application because of a tax return reporting error. You indicated that someone in your household filed a foreign tax return. You also marked ‘Yes’ to filing a Schedule 1 along with the tax return. However, foreign tax filers do not use Schedule 1.

The federal processor requires you to correct your FAFSA application before the school can administer aid. To do so, please log in to http://www.fafsa.gov/ with your FSA ID, click the ‘Returning User’ tab, and ‘Make a Correction.’ Then complete the following steps.

  1. Did the student, spouse, or parent(s) file a foreign tax return? Please review your tax documentation.
  1. Update inaccurate responses to Question 33 (student/spouse) and Question 80 (parents/stepparents of dependent students).
  1. Did the student, spouse, or parent(s) file a Schedule 1 with their U.S. federal income return? Please review your tax documentation.
  1. Update inaccurate responses to Question 35 (student/spouse) and Question 82 (parents/stepparents of dependent students).
  1. Authorize the corrections by e-signing with your FSA ID(s). Submit the changes, so your application can be reprocessed.

Please allow 7-10 business days for the university to receive the updated FAFSA, load it in our system, and resolve the outstanding requirement on Top Net. You may disregard any email reminders that occur during the 10-day window.

The Department of Education flagged your FAFSA application because you skipped Question 35 (for students/spouses) and/or Question 82 (for parents/stepparents of dependent students): Did the student/parent file a Schedule 1 as an accompaniment to the federal tax return?

  1. To determine the appropriate answer(s), you must review all pages of your and/or your parents’ federal tax return plus any supplemental tax schedules.
    • Has a Schedule 1 been filed as an accompaniment to the federal tax return, known as Form 1040?
      • If no, answer 'No' on the FAFSA.
      • If yes, continue reading.
    • Looking at each line item on Schedule 1, was anything reported other than the categories listed below?
      • If the only item(s) reported on Schedule 1 appear on the list below, answer ‘No’ on the FAFSA.
      • If an amount was reported on any other line of Schedule 1 than those listed below, answer ‘Yes’ on the FAFSA. 
        • Capital gain (line 13 – may not be a negative value)
        • Unemployment compensation (line 19)
        • Other income to report an Alaska Permanent Fund dividend (line 21 – may not be a negative value)
        • Educator expenses (line 23)
        • IRA deduction (line 32)
        • Student loan interest deduction (line 33)
    • If you are unsure whether a Schedule 1 was filed because you do not have access to a digital or paper copy of the federal tax return, answer ‘Don’t know’ on the FAFSA; however, this response may delay the awarding of your federal student aid.
  1. To update the FAFSA,  log in to http://www.fafsa.gov/ with your FSA ID, click the ‘Returning User’ tab, and ‘Make a Correction.’
  1. Enter the appropriate response to Question 35 and/or Question 82.
  1. Authorize the corrections by e-signing with your FSA ID(s). Submit the changes, so your application can be reprocessed.

Please allow 7-10 business days for the university to receive the updated FAFSA, load it in our system, and resolve the outstanding requirement on Top Net. You may disregard any email reminders that occur during the 10-day window.

Please submit to your host school the study abroad consortium agreement that was emailed to you. After the host school completes it in full, please submit to tiffany.denton@wku.edu.

Please submit to your host school the study abroad consortium agreement that was emailed to you. After the host school completes it in full, please submit to tiffany.denton@wku.edu.

Please submit to your host school the study abroad consortium agreement that was emailed to you. After the host school completes it in full, please submit to  tiffany.denton@wku.edu .

Please submit to your host school the study abroad consortium agreement that was emailed to you. After the host school completes it in full, please submit to  tiffany.denton@wku.edu .

After your grades for the term have been received, please submit your official transcript from your host school to the Department of Student Financial Assistance. We will forward the transcript to the WKU Transfer Center.

After your grades for the term have been received, please submit your official transcript from your host school to the Department of Student Financial Assistance. We will forward the transcript to the WKU Transfer Center.

After your grades for the term have been received, please submit your official transcript from your host school to the Department of Student Financial Assistance. We will forward the transcript to the WKU Transfer Center.

After your grades for the term have been received, please submit your official transcript from your host school to the Department of Student Financial Assistance. We will forward the transcript to the WKU Transfer Center.

You have submitted a consortium request for the fall semester. If the consortium request is incomplete, you will be sent an email advising you of additional information needed. Once the consortium request is complete, you will be sent a consortium agreement that will need to be forwarded to your visiting school for completion. Questions can be directed to fa.consortium@wku.edu.

You have submitted a consortium request for the spring semester. If the consortium request is incomplete, you will be sent an email advising you of additional information needed. Once the consortium request is complete, you will be sent a consortium agreement that will need to be forwarded to your visiting school for completion. Questions can be directed to fa.consortium@wku.edu

You have submitted a consortium request for the summer semester. If the consortium request is incomplete, you will be sent an email advising you of additional information needed. Once the consortium request is complete, you will be sent a consortium agreement that will need to be forwarded to your visiting school for completion. Questions can be directed to fa.consortium@wku.edu

An official transcript that includes your consortium grades for the fall semester is needed. If you decided not to take classes at another college/university or began classes at another college/university but dropped them, please indicate this in an email and send it to fa.consortium@wku.edu. Please include your name and WKU ID and indicate that you are emailing in reference to a grade hold. You will also need to provide the date your classes were dropped at the visiting school.

An official transcript that includes your consortium grades for the spring semester is needed. If you decided not to take classes at another college/university or began classes at another college/university but dropped them, please indicate this in an email and send it to fa.consortium@wku.edu. Please include your name and WKU ID and indicate that you are emailing in reference to a grade hold. You will also need to provide the date your classes were dropped at the visiting school. 

An official transcript that includes your consortium grades for the summer semester is needed. If you decided not to take classes at another college/university or began classes at another college/university but dropped them, please indicate this in an email and send it to fa.consortium@wku.edu. Please include your name and WKU ID and indicate that you are emailing in reference to a grade hold. You will also need to provide the date your classes were dropped at the visiting school. 

You have submitted a consortium request, but do not appear to be enrolled for the current semester. If you plan to enroll at WKU, once enrolled, please email fa.consortium@wku.edu including your name and WKU ID. If you do not plan to enroll in classes at WKU this semester, please complete a Waiver of Enrollment Form, found on your TopNet account under the Financial Aid tab. On this form, you will need to explain briefly why you are not taking any classes at WKU this semester but are asking WKU to award financial aid for classes taken at another college/university. 

You have submitted an On Demand Agreement Form for the fall semester. If the form is incomplete, you will be sent an email advising you of additional information needed. Once the form is complete, it will be processed when the On Demand tuition charge(s) have been placed on your student billing account. 

You have submitted an On Demand Agreement Form for the spring semester. If the form is incomplete, you will be sent an email advising you of additional information needed. Once the form is complete, it will be processed when the On Demand tuition charge(s) have been placed on your student billing account. 

You have submitted an On Demand Agreement Form for the summer semester. If the form is incomplete, you will be sent an email advising you of additional information needed. Once the form is complete, it will be processed when the On Demand tuition charge(s) have been placed on your student billing account. 

You have accepted a student loan as part of your financial aid package. As a first time borrower, you are required to complete Loan Entrance Counseling before loan proceeds can be disbursed. 

You appear to be close to or have exceeded your aggregate loan limit. If you have met or exceeded your aggregate loan limit, you may not be eligible for additional federal assistance. Your eligibility for additional federal assistance will be reviewed by the Department of Student Financial Assistance. 

You have accepted a student loan as part of your financial aid package. You are required to complete a Master Promissory Note before loan proceeds can be disbursed. 

You have been offered a Perkins loan as part of your financial aid package.  You are required to complete a Master Promissory Note before loan proceeds can be disbursed.  The Perkins Loan Office will contact you regarding this requirement. 

You have been offered a Perkins loan as part of your financial aid package.  You are required to complete a Disclosure Statement before loan proceeds can be disbursed.  The Perkins Loan Office will contact you regarding this requirement. 

According to our records, you are expected to graduate in December. If financial assistance was awarded to you for the spring semester, the aid will be cancelled. If you intend to enroll in the spring semester in a second undergraduate program or in a graduate program, please contact fa.help@wku.edu so your aid can be re-evaluated. 

You indicated you did not make satisfactory academic progress due to extenuating circumstances. Please submit the appeal form along with supporting documentation to the Department of Student Financial Assistance. If additional information is needed, you will be contacted.   

You indicated you did not make satisfactory academic progress due to extenuating circumstances. Please submit the  appeal form  along with supporting documentation to the Department of Student Financial Assistance. If additional information is needed, you will be contacted.

You indicated you did not make satisfactory academic progress due to extenuating circumstances. Please submit the  appeal form  along with supporting documentation to the Department of Student Financial Assistance. If additional information is needed, you will be contacted.

Students on an approved appeal due to Extenuating Circumstances for financial aid purposes are required to meet with a Financial Aid Counselor to complete an Academic Plan. To schedule an appointment, please log into your TOPNET account, click the financial aid tab near the top. Then select 'SAP Academic Plan Appointment Scheduler' from the red letter menu. From there you can click 'Schedule an Appointment' to pick the time that best suits your schedule. Students on an approved appeal due to Maximum Timeframe are NOT required to schedule an Academic Plan appointment.

Students on an approved appeal due to Extenuating Circumstances for financial aid purposes are required to meet with a Financial Aid Counselor to complete an Academic Plan. To schedule an appointment, please log into your TOPNET account, click the financial aid tab near the top. Then select 'SAP Academic Plan Appointment Scheduler' from the red letter menu. From there you can click 'Schedule an Appointment' to pick the time that best suits your schedule. Students on an approved appeal due to Maximum Timeframe are NOT required to schedule an Academic Plan appointment.

Students on an approved appeal due to Extenuating Circumstances are for financial aid purposes are required to meet with a Financial Aid Counselor to complete an Academic Plan. To schedule an appointment, please log into your TOPNET account, click the financial aid tab near the top. Then select 'SAP Academic Plan Appointment Scheduler' from the red letter menu. From there you can click 'Schedule an Appointment' to pick the time that best suits your schedule. Students on an approved appeal due to Maximum Timeframe are NOT required to schedule an Academic Plan appointment.

Students on financial aid warning status must complete SAP Counseling before federal financial aid can be disbursed. To complete SAP Counseling log into TOPNET and select the financial aid tab. SAP Counseling will be available within the Financial Aid Status option.

Please contact the Department of Student Financial Assistance at 270-745-2755 for additional information. 

 

Students on an approved appeal due to exceeding Maximum Timeframe limits for financial aid purposes require an Academic Plan evaluation every term enrolled. The Academic Plan is an internal review of the student’s term schedule and degree audit to ensure that TIV funding is only being awarded toward the courses needed to complete the degree/certificate program requirements. Students on an approved appeal due to exceeding Maximum Timeframe limits are NOT required to schedule an Academic Plan appointment.

Students on an approved appeal due to exceeding Maximum Timeframe limits for financial aid purposes require an Academic Plan evaluation every term enrolled. The Academic Plan is an internal review of the student’s term schedule and degree audit to ensure that TIV funding is only being awarded toward the courses needed to complete the degree/certificate program requirements. Students on an approved appeal due to exceeding Maximum Timeframe limits are NOT required to schedule an Academic Plan appointment.

Students on an approved appeal due to exceeding Maximum Timeframe limits for financial aid purposes require an Academic Plan evaluation every term enrolled. The Academic Plan is an internal review of the student’s term schedule and degree audit to ensure that TIV funding is only being awarded toward the courses needed to complete the degree/certificate program requirements. Students on an approved appeal due to exceeding Maximum Timeframe limits are NOT required to schedule an Academic Plan appointment.

In order to receive VA Educational benefits, you must submit an application to the Department of Veterans Affairs if you have not already done so. The application can be submitted through the online application portal, VONAPP, located at www.gibill.va.gov. For more information about applying for your benefits, please contact the Department of Veterans Affairs at 1-888-442-4451 or the VA Office at WKU at 270-745-3772. 

Students applying for the Dependent Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 35) must submit a copy of their birth certificate to the Department of Veterans Affairs. The birth certificate can be turned into the VA Office at WKU for submission. For more information call 270–745-3732.

In order to have an accurate record of your graduate degree requirements, please contact your graduate advisor and have him/her complete a Change Form to your Form C. The advisor can then submit the Change Form to the VA Office at WKU. For more information call 270-745-3772. 

Upon receipt of the Certificate of Eligibility from the Department of Veterans Affairs, you must submit a copy to the VA Office at WKU. For more information, please call 270-745-3772.

After registration in courses for the fall semester, you must complete the Veteran Certification Request Form, found on your TopNet account, under the Financial Aid tab. For more information call 270-745-3772. 

After registration in courses for the spring semester, you must complete the Veteran Certification Request Form, found on your  TopNet   account, under the Financial Aid tab. For more information call 270-745-3772. 

After registration in courses for the summer semester, you must complete the Veteran Certification Request Form, found on your  TopNet   account, under the Financial Aid tab. For more information call 270-745-3772. 

After registration in courses for the winter semester, you must complete the Veteran Certification Request Form, found on your  TopNet   account, under the Financial Aid tab. For more information call 270-745-3772. 

Your Deferment Form has been processed. For more information call 270-745-3732. 

Since you are pursuing a second degree, the VA Office at WKU needs a hard copy degree program outlining the course requirements before certification can be made to the Department of Veteran Affairs.  For more information call 270-745-3772. 

Please contact your graduate advisor and have them complete a Form C outlining your graduate course work for the graduate program you are pursuing. Your graduate advisor needs to submit a copy of the Form C to the VA Office at WKU before your certification to the Department of Veterans Affairs can be submitted. 

A copy of your Notice of Basic Eligibility is required by the VA Office at WKU. For more information call 270-745-3732. 

Complete the appropriate orientation at https://www.wku.edu/financialaid/veteran/orientation.php in order to start the process of certification to the Department of Veterans Affairs. If you need information regarding which orientation to complete, you can call the VA Office at WKU at 270-745-3732.

Since you are taking a course at a visiting school and plan to transfer the credit to WKU, please have an official copy of your transcript sent to the Admissions Office at WKU. The transcript needs to be sent AFTER grades are posted for the semester. For more information call 270-745-3732.

Please contact  KHEAA Verify  at 855-272-8771 for assistance with reverification. A student’s FAFSA must be reverified when:

  • a processing error is found during a Quality Control review,
  • the student asks for reverification due to a reporting error, or
  • the student was verified in the fall term based on estimated tax data associated with an IRS Tax Filing Extension but must be reverified using actual tax data before spring aid can be disbursed.

To be considered for federal student aid programs, such as Pell Grant and Stafford loan, the accuracy of your FAFSA must be verified. 

KHEAA Verify handles the verification process for WKU students. They must collect information as required by the Department of Education to ensure that your FAFSA was completed accurately and in accordance with federal student aid guidelines. Federal aid programs (grants, loans, and college work-study) cannot be administered until verification is complete. KHEAA Verify will send you an introductory email in the next 72 business hours with instructions for starting the verification process.

Exception: if you have an outstanding discrepancy with your name, birthdate, SSN, gender, veteran status, or dependency status, you must resolve that requirement before KHEAA can be notified that your FAFSA is chosen for verification.

  • After receiving KHEAA’s email, the student will register at https://kheaaverify.com. Parents of dependent students must also register. 

Creating a KHEAA Verify Account Video Preview
 

 

  • Review your KHEAA account for a list of items required by the Department of Education.  

What is KHEAA Verify Video Preview
 

 

  • If an electronic worksheet is listed on your KHEAA account, carefully complete each section and e-sign using your FSA ID. Parents of dependent students are also required to e-sign the worksheet.
  • Tax filers must use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool on the FAFSA OR submit a signed copy of their federal income tax return (plus tax schedules) OR submit an IRS “Tax Return Transcript” .
  • Students, spouses, and parents who worked but did not file a federal tax return must submit Form W-2 or Form 1099 for each job.
  • Non tax filers (except dependent students) must also submit an IRS “Verification of Nonfiling Letter.” Please ask KHEAA for assistance in obtaining this document.
  • Submit all verification documents to KHEAA Verify via secure document upload, fax, or email.

               Fax: 502-696-7230.  Email: verification@kheaa.com. Do not submit documents to WKU.  

 
Uploading Documents on KHEAA Verify Video Preview
 

 

  • Monitor your MY KHEAA account often. After comparing your FAFSA with the documents you've submitted, KHEAA may request additional information to resolve conflicting data. 
  • If your FAFSA contains errors, KHEAA will submit the necessary corrections to the federal processor. The FAFSA EFC number will then be recalculated using accurate data, which is called reprocessing. Your financial aid award will be based on the reprocessed FAFSA results.
  • When your MY KHEAA status shows Verification Complete, allow up to 2 weeks for WKU to post your financial aid ‘Award Offer’ on TopNet and to email your official award notification.

 Please contact KHEAA Verify at 855-272-8771 with all verification questions.

You will receive an email from noreply@sterling.app with instructions to create an account and give your consent for the background check to be completed. This must be completed before you may begin work. 

You must provide documentation of your eligibility to work in the U.S. before you begin work.  Acceptable forms of documentation may be found here (page 4). All documents must be original. We cannot accept photocopies, faxes, or emailed documents.

Once the background check is processed, reviewed, and approved, you will receive an email from DONOTREPLY@talentwise.com with instructions to create an account and complete section 1 of the Federal I-9 form. This must be completed before you may begin work. 

You must forward a copy of acceptable documents that establish identity and employment eligibility.  For a complete list of acceptable documents refer to the last page of the I-9 Form when completing the I-9 Form online.  From List A we need only one document.  If a document is not available from List A, we must have one document from List B and one document from List C.  The most commonly used documents from List B are Driver's License or WKU Big Red Card.  The most commonly used documents from List C are Social Security Card or Birth Certificate.

This form can be printed from here, completed, and returned to Potter Hall, Third Floor. This must be completed before you may begin work.

This form can be printed from here, completed, and returned to Potter Hall, Third Floor. This must be completed before you may begin work. 

This form can be printed from here, completed, and returned to Potter Hall, Third Floor. This must be completed before you may begin work.


Some of the links on this page may require additional software to view.

 Last Modified 11/20/23