We make payments exclusively to "approved" postsecondary educational institutions. In general, approved institutions offer a bona fide degree or certificate of completion, offer placement opportunities, and provide a safe environment that is conducive to learning. Approved institutions routinely have long-standing reputations for sound financial and business practice. They also have alumni who would readily credit attending the institution as an asset, having gained knowledge and/or skills that contributed to the students' personal or professional lives.

The names of all approved institutions (for purposes of the Michigan Merit Award) appear in a drop-down list in our Online Certification feature (see the "Michigan Merit Award" column on our home page).

If your choice of postsecondary educational institutions does not currently appear in our drop-down list (or on our sheet of "Most Frequently Chosen Institutions"), call us toll-free (1-888-4-GRANTS). We will look for the name of your institution on a master list provided to us by the US Department of Education (USDOE)...

On USDOE Master List

If the name of your chosen institution appears on the USDOE master list, call us toll-free at 1-888-4-GRANTS, and request that we add it to our drop-down list.  We will need your institution to complete and send or fax to us a W9 (US Dept. of Treasury's "Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification") form.

Once we receive your W9 form, we will add your institution to the drop-down list. This could take up to 30 business days. After we've added it to the drop-down list, you can go back into Online Certification and complete the certification process.

NOT on USDOE Master List

If the name of your chosen institution does not appear on the USDOE master list, contact your institution and ask them to follow these steps...

1. Download our application and complete all applicable sections.
   Note... You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader® to view or print the application.
   
2. Enclose your most recent course catalog.
   
3. Tax forms

• If your institution is located in the USA
  
  Download a copy of the US Dept. of Treasury's "Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification" Form W-9, and complete all sections.
  
• If your institution is located outside the USA
  
  Download a copy of the US Dept. of Treasury's "Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for US Tax Withholding" Form W-8BEN, and complete all sections.

4. Attach a cover letter from the director of financial aid on your official stationery expressing interest in being considered as an approved postsecondary educational institution for purposes of the Michigan Merit Award.
   
5. Send all materials to:

Michigan Dept. of Treasury
Michigan Merit Award
P.O. Box 30462
Lansing, MI   48909-7962

Please allow 30 days for processing. Incomplete applications will be returned.

Your application will be reviewed by our staff; final determination will be made by our executive director. If your application is approved, we will add your institution's name to our drop-down list. Recipients of the Michigan Merit Award may then go back into Online Certification and complete the certification process.