Institutional Quality Assurance Program (IQAP)

What is IQAP?

The Institutional Quality Assurance Program established by the U.S. Department of Education allows schools to use new and individualized approaches to verify students for financial aid.

Rather than verify 30% or more of all aid applicants, as is common at most colleges and universities, the MSU Office of Financial Aid (OFA) is allowed to target those students and data items most prone to error. By reviewing a smaller, more targeted population, we can free up staff to spend more time working directly with individual students. It also saves many students from having to submit additional paperwork other than the FAFSA.

Our participation in this program requires that every second year we select a random sample of approximately 500 students for a special review process in order to measure the effectiveness of our approach.

How are students selected for IQAP review?

Students are randomly selected for IQAP. This means that you have not necessarily done anything wrong. A computer program goes through our entire population of aid applicants and each applicant has an equal chance of being selected.

How do I know if I am selected for IQAP review?

If you are selected, we will notify you by email and also mail you a hardcopy worksheet, listing the information and documents that you must supply.

What is the deadline to submit my paperwork if I am selected for IQAP?

The deadline to submit your documents is June 30.

What are the consequences if I am selected and don't submit the required paperwork?

If you do not submit the required documents, we will cancel all financial aid awarded for the academic year. Remember that when you signed the FAFSA, you agreed to supply your financial aid office with any supporting documentation that might be requested to verify the accuracy of your data. If you mail in your documents, they must be postmarked on or before this the due date. If you fax the documents, please submit them by midnight on that date. Our mailing address and fax number appear on our contact page.

What if I have questions about IQAP?

Call, visit, or email the Office of Financial Aid.