Code of Conduct
Financial Aid
staff 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.
- 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 per quarter.
- Staff members are free to pursue part-time employment
outside of their scheduled work day. However, any staff member who is
approached by a lender with an offer for supplemental employment will provide full written details to his/her
supervisor. Staff members cannot accept supplemental employment with
a lender that creates any potential "conflict of interest" with the operations of RISD Financial Aid.
- Staff members cannot accept any remuneration nor any expense reimbursement for serving as a
member of a lender's advisory board. Staff may participate on advisory
boards that are unrelated in any way to higher education loans.
- RISD does not currently require staff to complete and
submit financial disclosure forms as a condition of employment. All
staff members in the Financial Aid Office 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.
Staff who knowingly fail to
follow these guidelines will be subject to disciplinary action.
- RISD does not have a revenue-sharing
arrangement with any student loan provider. These agreements are
prohibited.
- Lender account representatives are not permitted to
work within Student Financial Services or to pass
themselves off as employees of the College.