This policy is applicable to Standard Colleges’ officers, employees, and agents, and it prohibits a conflict of interest with their responsibilities with respect to Title IV loans. The policy is part of Standard Colleges’ commitment to the highest ethical standards and conduct by its employees. It supplements the Code of Conduct stated in the Employee Handbook and applies specifically to conduct related to financial aid.
Standard College expects the highest levels of professionalism and ethical behavior from all officers, employees, and agents whose responsibilities include student financial aid matters. These individuals must avoid even the appearance or perception of any conflict of interest regarding their student aid responsibilities. They must refrain from taking any action they believe is contrary to law, regulation, or the best interest of the students they are serving and must disclose all conflicts identified in this policy.
Standard College Responsibilities
As part of its commitment to the highest ethical standards regarding its responsibilities regarding Federal financial aid, Standard College will not:
- Receive anything of value from any lender in exchange for any advantage sought by the lender in making educational loans available to enrolled or prospective students at Standard College.
- Assign, through award packaging or other methods, a first-time borrower’s loan to a particular lender, or refuse to certify or delay certification of any loan based on the borrower’s selection of a particular lender or guaranty agency.
- Enter into any revenue-sharing arrangement with any lender under which Standard College recommends a lender or its products in exchange for a fee or other material benefits from the lender, and the lender provides or issues a loan that is made, insured, or guaranteed under Title IV to students attending Standard College (or their families).
- Request or accept from any lender any offer of funds to be used for private education loans, including funds for an opportunity pool loan, to students in exchange for concessions or promises to provide the lender with a specified number of loans made, insured, or guaranteed under Title IV; a specified loan volume of such loans; or a preferred lender arrangement for such loans.
- Request or accept from any lender any assistance with call center staffing or financial aid office staffing.
- Use Federal funds received under Federal financial aid programs to hire a registered lobbyist or pay any person or entity for securing an earmark to any legislation. Standard College will not use such funds to pay any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any Agency, Member of Congress, officer or employee of Congress, or employee of a Member of Congress in connection with the awarding of any Federal contract, making of any Federal grant or loan, entering into any Federal cooperative agreement, or the extension, continuation, renewal, amendment or modification of any Federal contract, grant, loan or cooperative agreement.
Responsibilities of Standard College Officers, Employees and Agents
Any officer or employee, or agent of Standard College who is employed in the financial aid office of Standard College, or who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to educational loans or other financial aid of Standard College, is prohibited from:
- Soliciting or accepting any gift from a lender, guarantor, or servicer of educational loans for any item or service having more than a minimum monetary value, other than standard materials (brochures, training aids) related to topics such as default prevention or financial literacy. Upon prior approval of the Chief Executive Officer/President, exceptions may be made with for reasonable expenses for professional development that will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Standard Colleges’ financial aid programs.
- Accepting from a lender or its affiliate any fee, payment, or other financial benefit as compensation for any type of consulting arrangement or other contract to provide services to a lender relating to education loans.
- Receiving anything of value from a lender, guarantor or group of lenders or guarantors if the employee serves on an advisory board, commission, or group established by a lender or group of lenders. An employee may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in serving on such advisory board, commission, or group.
Reporting Violations of This Policy
Standard College expects officers and employees covered by this policy to report violations of this policy to the Chief Executive Officer/President. Failure to comply with this policy will result in disciplinary action, which may include termination of employment.
Questions regarding this policy should be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer/President.
