Code of Conduct

The University of Idaho lends students money directly from the federal government (U. S. Department of Education). In accordance with the 2008 Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), Title IV loan programs are required to have a code of conduct.

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A financial aid professional at the University of Idaho is expected to always maintain exemplary standards of professional conduct in all aspects of carrying out his or her responsibilities, specifically including 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.

In doing so, a financial aid 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 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 an entity involved in any aspect of student financial aid.
• Refrain from soliciting or accepting anything of other 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 an advisory board 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.

Code of Conduct adopted from NASFAA (National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators)

In addition, employees of the Office of Student Financial Aid Services must comply with and agree in writing to the following policies:

• Lender Gifts - The Office of Student Financial Aid Services is prohibited from accepting gifts from student loan lenders. Lenders who contact the office are informed that we do not accept gifts of any type from lenders

• Third Party Incentives - The Office of Student Financial Aid Services staff shall not recommend one private student loan lender over another. Requests for information will be referred to web sites and other materials provided by student loan lenders. Staff shall not accept incentives from third parties offering loan options.
• Confidential Information - All information in the Office of Student Financial Aid is considered confidential and should not be shared with anyone outside of our office other than official U of I staff and faculty who have a need to know. Staff shall not share this information with others or indicate to others they have this information. Such confidential information shall not be used to make decisions which compromise the official processing in Student Financial Aid Services.

Conflict of Interest - The Office of Student Financial Aid Services staff will not perform any steps in processing a financial aid application in their own names, for anyone in their immediate family, or where there is a conflict of interest. All staff members who identify a conflict of interest shall inform the Director at the time they are identified of the name, relationship, and student ID number of the person who has applied for aid.