Code of conduct
Staff members in the Student Financial Services Center have always
been bound to act in compliance with the National Association of Student
Financial Aid Administrator's
Statement of Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct for Institutional
Financial Aid Professionals.
The code of conduct is intended to help guide financial aid
professionals in carrying out the complexity of the tasks confronting
institutional financial aid professionals obligations, particularly with
regard to ensuring transparency in the administration of the student
financial aid programs, and to avoid the harm that may arise from
actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest.
Saint Martin's guidelines
- No staff member shall accept any gift worth more than $10 from a
representative of a student loan provider. The Department of
Education has defined "gift" as:
- "Any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality,
loan or other item valued at more than a de minimus amount.
- The term includes services, transportation, lodging, or
meals, whether provided in kind, by purchase of a ticket,
payment in advance, or by reimbursement."
- Staff can participate in meals, refreshments, and receptions in
conjunction with professional association meetings, trainings, or
conference events open to all attendees.
- Staff will place all unsolicited marketing materials (such as
pens, pads and markers) received from lenders in the reception area
for the use of students and parents.
- Office visits by representatives of major lenders are normally
limited to once a quarter
- Staff members shall not accept any remuneration or
expense-reimbursement for serving as a member of a lender's advisory
board. Service on a lender's advisory board MUST be approved by a
supervisor; Staff may participate on advisory boards that are
unrelated in any way to higher education loans.
- Saint Martin's University does not currently require staff to
complete and submit financial disclosure forms as a condition of
employment. All staff members in the Student Financial Services
Center will disclose to his or her immediate supervisor if an
assigned task could create a perceived or real "conflict of
interest" in the eyes of the public.
These guidelines also apply to any staff member at Saint Martin's who
may have dealings with student loan providers.