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QUALITY IMPROVEMENT OR VERIFICATION
Quality Improvement is a program mandated by the U.S. Department of Education to check the
accuracy of the information provided by parents (of dependent students) and independent students
on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Selection for Quality Improvement is
based on the answers supplied on the FAFSA.
Also, students who answer “yes” on the FAFSA to being an orphan/ward of the court, or to having a
child or other dependent, and who would otherwise be deemed dependent, are required to submit special
Quality Improvement forms verifying that they qualify for independent status on the grounds indicated
by these questions on the FAFSA.
FEDERAL QUALITY ASSURANCE
Federal Quality Assurance is a process used by IU Bloomington every other year to check the accuracy of
FAFSA information. However, unlike Quality Improvement, files for Federal Quality Assurance are selected
randomly. Also differing from Quality Improvement, Federal Quality Assurance verifies the FAFSA data of
both parents and dependent students themselves, along with independent students. IU Bloomington uses the
findings from the results of these file reviews to help determine areas of the FAFSA in which errors are
commonly made; this then helps our office determine the selection criteria for future Quality Improvement
verification.
REVIEW PROCESS
If a student is selected for Quality Improvement or Federal Quality Assurance, the necessary forms will be mailed to the student’s parent (if the student is dependent) or directly to the student (if the student is independent).
Once all Quality Improvement/Federal Quality Assurance documentation is received, our office compares the information provided to the student’s FAFSA data. If the information from these documents does not match the student’s FAFSA, our office will submit changes to the FAFSA processor. Once the process is complete, the student’s eligibility for financial aid is reviewed, and if necessary, the financial aid package will be revised. Processing of Quality Improvement/Federal Quality Assurance paperwork can be lengthy, especially during the busy summer months, so students and parents are encouraged to respond promptly.
No determination of aid eligibility or disbursement of funds can be made until the Quality Improvement/Federal Quality Assurance process is complete.
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