Code of Conduct

The Student Finance Office at Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing is a member of NASFAA, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. We abide by NASFAA’s Code of Conduct for Institutional Financial Aid Professionals which states we are required to exemplify the highest level of ethical behavior in helping students and families find the best ways to pay for college and demonstrate the highest level of professionalism, all while remaining good stewards of public and institutional funds. The principles contained herein focus on reaffirming our professional commitment to transparency, compliance and above all students, who have become reliant on federal, state and institutional aid programs to fulfill their educational goals and dreams. In doing so, the Student Finance Office at Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing is bound by the following:

  1. No action will be taken by student finance office staff that is for their personal benefit or could be perceived to be a conflict of interest.
    1. Employees within the student finance 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.
    2. If a preferred lender list is provided, it will be complied 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.
    3. 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.
    4. No amount of cash, gift, or benefit in excess of a de minimis amount shall be accepted by a student finance office 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 student finance office is accurate, unbiased, and does not reflect preference arising from actual or potential personal gain.
  3. Institutional award notification and/or other institutionally provided materials shall include the following:
    1. A breakdown of individual components of the institution’s Cost of Attendance, designating all potential billable charges.
    2. Clear identification of each aid being offered, indicating type of aid, i.e. gift aid (grant, scholarship), work or loan.
    3. Standard terminology and definitions, using NASFAA’s glossary of award letter terms.
    4. Renewal requirements for each award 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. Student Finance Office 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.