Code of Conduct
Statement of
Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct for the Northeast State
Financial Aid Office
The employees of the
Financial Aid Office at Northeast State Community College adhere to
the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
(NASFAA) tenets of Ethical Principles (Adopted by NASFAA Board of
Directors, April 1999) and Code of Conduct (Adopted by NASFAA Board
of Directors, May 2007).
The primary goal of
the institutional financial aid professional is to help students
achieve their educational potential by providing appropriate
financial resources. We shall:
- Be committed
to removing financial barriers for those who wish to pursue
postsecondary learning.
- Make every
effort to assist students with financial need.
- Be aware of
the issues affecting students and advocate their interest at the
institutional, state and federal levels.
- Support
efforts to encourage students, as early as elementary grades, to
aspire to and plan for education beyond high school.
- Educate
students and families through quality consumer information.
- Respect the
dignity and protect the privacy of students, and ensure the
confidentiality of student records and personal circumstances.
- Assure equity
by applying all need analysis formulas consistently across the
institution's full population of student financial aid applicants.
- Provide
services that do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender,
ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age or economic
status.
- Recognize the
need for professional development and continuing education
opportunities.
- Promote the
free expression of ideas and opinions, and foster respect for
diverse viewpoints within the profession.
- Commit to the
highest level of ethical behavior and refrain from conflict of
interest or the perception thereof.
- Maintain the
highest level of professionalism, reflecting a commitment to the
goals of NASFAA.
In addition, the
following Code of Conduct for Financial Aid Professionals will be
expected:
- Refrain from
taking any action for his or her personal benefit.
- Refrain from
taking any action he or she believes is contrary to law, regulation,
or the best interest of the students and parents he or she serves.
- Ensure that
the information he or she provides is accurate, unbiased, and does
not reflect any preference arising from actual or potential personal
gain.
- Be objective
in making decisions and advising his or her institution regarding
relationships with any entity involved in any aspect of student
financial aid.
- Refrain from
soliciting or accepting anything of more than nominal value
from any entity (other than an institution of higher education or a
governmental entity such as the U.S. Department of Education)
involved in the making, holding, consolidating, or processing of any
student loans, including anything of value (including reimbursement
of expenses) for serving on the advisory body or as part of a
training activity of or sponsored by any such entity.
-
Disclose to his or her institution, in such manner as his or her
institution may prescribe, any involvement with or interest in any
entity involved in any aspect of student financial aid.