Quality Assurance Program

On your Student Aid Report (SAR), you may be notified that you have been selected to have the financial information you provided on your FAFSA verified. UMD does not participate in the regular federal verification program, but operates our own institutional Quality Assurance Program conducted through the U.S. Department of Education. By participating in this program, UMD is exempt from certain federal regulations regarding verification. Do not submit documentation to the UMD Office of Financial Aid and Registrar unless it has been specifically requested by our office.

If you are selected by the Quality Assurance Program, UMD may request your federal tax return, your parents’ and/or spouse’s return, in addition to supporting documentation to verify all or some of the following items: adjusted gross income, federal income taxes paid, untaxed income, household size, number of family members in college, and dependency status. Keep copies of all recent Federal income tax returns, business and farm schedules, and W-2 forms, in case we request them. This verification process must be completed before you can receive aid. Aid that was awarded to you prior to verification of your application may be adjusted or cancelled, as required.

The Office of Financial Aid and Registrar reserves the right to request information at any time during the academic year to clarify data that you provided on your financial aid application.