Student Financial Services will be closed for winter break from 3PM on Monday, December 23rd, through Wednesday, January 1st. Regular campus services will resume on Thursday, January 2nd. For any urgent inquiries during this period, limited services will be available by phone on Friday, December 27th, and Monday, December 30th from 10AM-3PM EST.

Policies & Procedures

Code of Conduct

The Office of Student Financial Services works to ensure its employees adhere to the highest ethical behavior and professional practices. We have adopted the National Association of Student Financial Assistance Administrators’ (NASFAA) Statement of Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct, which help to guide financial aid professionals in ensuring transparency in the administration of student financial aid programs. In addition, Student Financial Services abides by the following legislated requirements prohibiting a conflict of interest regarding the administration of Title IV student loans and the responsibilities of an agent of the university.

  1. No action will be taken by financial aid staff that is for their personal benefit or could be perceived to be a conflict of interest.
    • Employees within the financial aid office will not award aid to themselves or their immediate family members. Staff will reserve this task to an institutionally designated person, to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.
    • If a preferred lender list is provided, it will be compiled without prejudice and for the sole benefit of the students attending the institution. The information included about lenders and loan terms will be transparent, complete, and accurate. The complete process through which preferred lenders are selected will be fully and publicly disclosed. Borrowers will not be auto-assigned to any particular lender.
    • A borrower’s choice of a lender will not be denied, impeded, or unnecessarily delayed by the institution, even if that lender is not included on the institution’s preferred lender list.
    • No amount of cash, gift, or benefit in excess of a de minimis amount shall be accepted by a financial aid staff member from any financial aid applicant (or his/her family), or from any entity doing business with or seeking to do business with the institution (including service on advisory committees or boards beyond reimbursement for reasonable expenses directly associated with such service).
  2. Information provided by the financial aid office is accurate, unbiased, and does not reflect preference arising from actual or potential personal gain.
  3. Institutional award notifications and/or other institutionally provided materials shall include the following:
    • A breakdown of individual components of the institution’s Cost of Attendance, designating all potential billable charges.
    • Clear identification of each award, indicating type of aid, i.e. gift aid (grant, scholarship), work, or loan.
    • Standard terminology and definitions, using NASFAA’s glossary of award letter terms.
    • Renewal requirements for each award.
  4. All required consumer information is displayed in a prominent location on the institutional web site(s) and in any printed materials, easily identified and found, and labeled as “Consumer Information.”
  5. Financial aid professionals will disclose to their institution any involvement, interest in, or potential conflict of interest with any entity with which the institution has a business relationship.