The University of Montevallo operates under federal, state and institutional guidelines. The Student Aid Office adheres to all ethical practices in all facets of delivering student financial aid. As a member of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, the office is bound by the Code of Ethical Conduct as established by our profession as follows:
University of Montevallo
Student Aid Office
Code of Conduct for Institutional Student Aid Professionals
Student aid professionals are expected to always maintain exemplary standards of professional conduct in all areas of responsibility. This includes all dealings with any entities involved in any manner in student financial aid regardless of whether such entities are involved in a government sponsored subsidized or regulated activity.
Student aid professionals should abide by the following:
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 financial aid offers and/or other institutionally provided materials shall include the following:
- Breakdown of estimated individual Cost of Attendance components, including which are direct (billed by the institution) costs vs. indirect (not billed by the institution) costs
- Clear identification and proper grouping of each type of aid offered indicating whether the aid is a grant/scholarship, loan, or work program
- Estimated net price
- Standard terminology and definitions, using NASFAA’s glossary of terms
- Renewal requirements for each aid type being offered as well as next steps and financial aid office contact information
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.
