General Code of Conduct
A Student Financial Services (SFS) professional at UAMS is expected to always maintain exemplary standards of professional conduct in all aspects of his or her responsibilities. An SFS professional should:
- 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 interests of the students and parents he or she serves.
- Ensure the information he or she provides is accurate, unbiased and does not reflect any preference arising from actual or potential personal gain.
- Display required consumer information on Student Financial Services website which can be easily identified, found and labeled as “Consumer Information”.
- Be objective in making decisions and advising his or her institution regarding relationships with any entity involved in any aspect of the Student Financial Services Office.
- SFS professionals will disclose to UAMS any involvement, interest in or potential conflict of interest with any entity with which UAMS has a business relationship.
In addition to the items above, as a member of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), the University also follows the standards established in NASFAA’s Statement of Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct for Institutional Financial Aid Professionals.
Code of Conduct – Education Loans
Applies to all education loans – federal and private – All school officers, employees, and agents with responsibilities related to education loans is required to comply with this Code of Conduct as outlined below.
Authority: HEA §487(a)(25); 34 CFR 601.21
- Will not enter into revenue-sharing arrangements with any lender.
- Will not solicit or accept any gift, trips, meals, or compensation from lenders (with de minimis exceptions as allowed by law/policy).
- Will not contract arrangements with lenders that provide remuneration to staff.
- Will not steer to particular lenders or delaying certification based on lender choice; impartial processing for all lenders.
- Will not accept staffing assistance by a lender to the financial aid office, unless the service is provided on a short-term, nonrecurring basis to assist the institution with financial aid-related functions during emergencies, such as a State-declared or federally declared natural disaster.
- Shall be prohibited from receiving anything of value from the lender, guarantor, or group of lenders or guarantors, except that the employee may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in serving on such advisory board, commission, or group.
- Will participate in annual training.
As previously stated, in addition to the items above, as a member of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), the University also follows the standards established in NASFAA’s Statement of Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct for Institutional Financial Aid Professionals.