• Alumni
  • Parents
  • News
  • Event Calendar
  • Library
  • Business Office
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  • Quick Links
Austin College Logo

Sherman, Texas

Visit

Apply

Scholarships

Get Info

MENU
  • About
    • Fast Facts about Austin College
      • Mission
      • History
      • Kangaroo Mascot
      • Austin College Page Plaid
    • Major Grant Projects
    • Office of the President
      • About President O’Day
      • Contact the President
      • Essays & Speeches
      • Past Presidents
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
      • Action Timeline | 2016 to the Present
    • Administration
    • Board of Trustees
      • Trustee Profiles
    • Institutional Marketing & Communications
      • Media Kit
      • IMC Professional Internship Program
    • News & Events
      • College News
      • College Calendar
      • Signature Events
        • Adams Observatory Star Parties
        • Lessons & Carols
        • MLK Day Celebration 2023
        • Posey Leadership Award
        • TEDxAustinCollege
      • ‘Roos in the News
      • Media Kit
      • Campus Photo Gallery
      • Confronting Racial Violence and Resistance Convening
    • Campus & Visitor Information
      • North Texas Area
  • Admission & Aid
    • Scholarships and Financial Aid
      • Scholarships for New Students
      • Scholarships for Current Students
      • Applying for Aid
      • Work Study
      • Loans
      • Federal Verification of FAFSA Data
      • Forms & Documents
      • Policies
      • Tuition & Payments
      • VA Education Benefits
      • Financial Aid Staff
      • Net Price Calculator
      • Financial Aid FAQ’s
      • Financial Wellness
    • Apply Now
      • Freshmen Students
      • International Students
      • Transfer Students
        • BSC to AC
      • Application Dates & Deadlines
    • International Students
      • Requirements
      • Scholarships & Financial Assistance
      • Admitted International Students
    • Transfer Students
      • How to Apply
      • Transfer Scholarships
      • Transfer Student Orientation
    • Visit Campus
    • Meet Your Counselor
      • Meet the ‘Roo Navigators
    • Why Choose Austin College?
      • College Planning for 11th Grade Students
      • Making the Most of Summer
    • Austin College en Español
      • Solicitud
      • Apoyo Financiero
    • Admitted Students
      • Discover Austin College
      • Key Contacts on Campus
      • New Student Information
        • Links of Interest
        • Language Placement Exams
    • Austin College Advantage
    • The Word on AC
    • The Finish in Four Guarantee
    • After AC
    • Refer A Student
  • Academics
    • Majors, Minors & Programs
      • Social Justice and Community Engagement Program
    • Applied Learning
    • Centers & Programs
      • Center for Career & Professional Development
        • Handshake
        • Career Exploration
        • Internships
        • Job/Internship Search
        • Employer Services
        • Graduate/Professional School
        • Graduate Outcomes
        • Online Resources
        • Career Center Events
        • Career Alumni Connections
        • Contact Us
      • Center for Community & Regional Development
      • Center for Environmental Studies
      • Center for Southwestern & Mexican Studies
      • Faculty Development
        • Sabbatical Series
        • Thursday Lunch Topics
        • Reading Groups
        • Johnson Center Activities
        • Additional Resources
      • First-Year Experience
        • Mission Statement
        • First-Year Seminar
        • Peer Mentors
        • First-Year Information (FYI)
      • Office of International Programs
        • International Education Week 2021
        • Global Living Learning Community (GLLC)
        • Support Services for International Students
      • Posey Leadership Institute
      • Student Research
        • ENSURE Program
        • Sciences Summer Research Program
        • Student Research Dissemination Awards
        • ACUMEN
        • Responsible Conduct of Research
        • Student Scholars Conference
        • Scarbrough Summer Research
      • Writing Center
    • Faculty
    • Center for Student Success and Access Services
      • Tutoring Services
        • Resources and Links
        • Review Sessions & Workshops
        • Meet Our Tutors
        • Become a Peer Tutor
      • Student Success
        • First-Generation Students
      • Access Services
    • Fellowships & Scholarships
      • Honors Convocation
        • Homer P. Rainey Award
      • Departmental Honors Program
        • Honors Program Nomination Procedures
        • Honors Program Requirements
        • Honors Thesis Formatting
      • Phi Beta Kappa
        • Membership Archive
        • Membership Criteria
      • Fulbright Grants
      • Peace Corps Prep Program
        • How to Apply
        • PCPP Benefits
        • PCPP Curriculum
        • PCPP Campus Committee
        • Peace Corps Alumni
    • Academic Affairs
    • Registrar’s Office
    • Grad School Opportunities
      • Physician Assistant (PA) Program
      • Health Science Programs
        • Texas Tech Early Decision Program
        • Health Professions Advising Guides
        • Health Sciences Scholarships
        • FAQ’s About Health Sciences
        • Health Sciences Advising
        • Resources
      • Law
      • Engineering Pathways
      • Ministry
      • TTU Grad Program
      • Gateways to Grad School
        • Partner Programs
        • Partner Universities
        • Texas Tech Health Sciences Programs
    • Graduate Teacher Program
      • About the ATP
      • Teaching/Course Certification Requirements
      • ATP Advising Forms & Documents
      • ATP Advisors
      • Noyce STEM Program
        • Noyce STEM Summer Internships
        • Noyce STEM Scholarships
      • Field Supervisor’s Forms & Documents
      • Thinking Camps
    • January and May Term 2024
      • Travel JanTerm/MayTerm | Liability Release
      • January Term 2023 Expo
      • Travel JanTerm/MayTerm | Medical Release and Info
      • Travel JanTerm Scholarships
        • Travel JanTerm 2024 Scholarship Application
      • January Term Photo Galleries
    • Military and Veteran Services
      • Veterans OnwardTM*
    • Summer Term
  • Campus Life
    • Campus Police & Safety
      • Campus Emergencies
      • Severe Weather
      • Rules & Regulations
      • Crime Prevention
      • Campus Police Staff
    • Campus Services
      • Campus Bookstore
      • Dining Services
      • Post Office
      • Information Technology
    • Career Center
    • Counseling Services
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Scope of Care
      • Counseling Center
      • Signs & Symptoms
      • Web Resources
      • Contact Us
      • Texoma Resources
      • Student Wellness
        • By Choice Students
        • Greek Organizations
        • FAQs About MSB
    • Health Services and Treatment
      • Austin College Community Health
        • COVID-19 Fall 2022 Protocols
        • COVID-19 Dashboard
        • Information for Visitors
      • Clinic Hours & Health Services
      • Immunizations
      • Health Forms
      • Student Insurance
      • After Hours Assistance
    • Religious Life
      • Presbyterian Traditions
      • AColyte
      • Worship & Bible Study
      • Many Spiritual Traditions
      • ACtivators
      • Religious Life Staff
    • Residence Life on Campus
      • Room Selection
      • Living on Campus 2022-2023
      • First-Year Experience
      • Student Staff
      • Important Dates for Residence Life
    • Student Emergency Resources
    • Student Life
      • Campus Activities
      • Clubs & Organizations
        • ACtivators
        • Esports
        • Recreational Sports
      • Documents & Links
      • Greek Life
        • Potential Members
        • Greek Life Events
        • Greek Life Forms
        • Greek Sponsors
        • Greek Council
        • Order of Omega
      • Student Life Staff
      • Student Life Publications
      • Student Publication
        • AC Observer Job Descriptions
      • Transportation Opportunities
    • Service Station
      • Board Profiles
      • Great Day of Service
      • JanServe
      • First We Serve
      • Aramark Appreciation
      • Alternative Spring Break
      • Austin College Tutoring (ACT)
      • Tostan
      • Thrift Store Drive
      • RooBound
      • Servant of the Year
    • Student Assembly
      • Student Assembly Representatives
      • Student Development Fund
      • Resolution Database
    • Title IX Office
      • Mandatory Student Training
      • Reporting
      • Policy Definitions
      • Grievance Procedures
      • Texas Compliance
      • Title IX Staff Training
    • Student Awards
    • Student Photo Gallery
  • Athletics
    • acroos.com
    • Legends
    • Athletics “A” Association
    • Support Athletics
  • Giving
    • Make a Gift
    • Annual Giving
    • Estate Planning
      • Oscar & Anna Laura Page Meditation Garden
    • Donor Resources
    • Contact Us
Info For...
  • Alumni
  • Parents
  • News
  • Event Calendar
  • Library
  • Business Office
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  • Quick Links
Home » Miscellaneous » Education Loan Code of Conduct

Education Loan Code of Conduct

Updated on: July 30, 2014

The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA) requires that institutions participating in the federal student loan programs develop, publish and enforce a code of conduct with respect to students loans. Austin College officers, employees and agents are required to comply with this code of conduct. Austin College is committed to the highest standard of ethics and conduct, and therefore, Financial Aid staff members are bound to the conflict of interest policies applicable to Austin College employees. Additionally, to comply with the HEOA, Austin College has adopted the following federally mandated Code of Conduct to address specific legislative concerns relating to educational-loan programs.

If any question arises as to whether an activity would be prohibited by either the College’s conflict of interest policies or this Code of Conduct, employees should bring the matter to the attention of their supervisors before engaging in such activity. The College’s conflict of interest policies, in some cases, bar conduct that is permitted by federal regulation, such that even if a gift, program, service, or other benefit is not proscribed by federal regulation, College policy may forbid it. For example, although HEOA permits the acceptance of certain gifts of de minimis value, or reimbursement of certain expenses associated with service on boards, your supervisor may advise that such gifts or reimbursements are prohibited under College policy.

HEOA requires the prohibition of the following activities:

  • Participating in a revenue-sharing arrangement with any lender. The HEOA defines “revenue-sharing arrangement” to mean any arrangement between an institution and a lender under which the lender makes private education loans to students attending the institution (or to the families of those students), the institution recommends the lender or the loan products of the lender and, in exchange, the lender pays a fee or provides other material benefits, including revenue or profit-sharing, to the institution or to its officers, employees, or agents;
  • Receiving gifts from a lender, guaranty agency or loan servicer. No officer or employee of an institution’s financial aid office (or an employee or agent who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to educational loans) may solicit or accept any gift from a lender, guarantor, or servicer of education loans. The regulations define a “gift” as any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, or other item having monetary value of more than a de minimis amount. However, a gift does not include (1) standard materials, activities, or programs relating to a loan, default aversion, or financial literacy, such as a brochure, workshop or training; (2) food, training, or informational material provided as part of a training session designed to improve the service of a lender, guarantor, or servicer if the training contributes to the professional development of the institution’s officer, employee or agent; (3) favorable terms and benefits on an education loan provided to a student employed by the institution, if those terms and benefits are comparable to those provided to all students at the institution; (4) entrance and exit counseling, provided that the institution’s staff are in control of the counseling and the counseling does not promote the services of a specific lender; (5) philanthropic contributions from a lender, guarantor, or servicer that are unrelated to education loans, or any contribution that is not made in exchange for advantage related to education loans, and; (6) State education grants, scholarships, or financial aid funds administered by or on behalf of a State;
  • Accepting from a lender, or an affiliate of any lender, any fee, payment, or other financial benefit as compensation for any type of consulting arrangement or contract to provide services to or on behalf of a lender relating to education loans;
  • Steering borrowers to particular lenders or delaying loan certifications. For any first-time borrower, an institution may not assign, through the award packaging or other methods, the borrower’s loan to a particular lender. In addition, the institution may not refuse to certify, or delay the certification, of any loan based on the borrower’s selection of a particular lender or guaranty agency;
  • Requesting or accepting from any lender any offer of funds for private loans, including funds for an opportunity pool loan, to students in exchange for providing concessions or promises to the lender for a specific number of private education loans made, insured, or guaranteed, a specified loan volume, or a preferred lender arrangement. An “opportunity pool loan” is defined as a private education loan made by a lender to a student attending the institution or the family member of such a student that involves a payment, directly or indirectly, by such institution of points, premiums, additional interest, or financial support to such lender for the purpose of such lender extending credit to the student or the family;
  • Requesting or accepting from any lender any assistance with call center staffing or financial aid office staffing, except that a lender may provide professional development training, educational counseling materials (as long as the materials identify the lender that assisted in preparing the materials), or staffing services on a short-term, nonrecurring basis during emergencies or disasters; and
  • Receiving advisory board compensation. An employee of an institution’s financial aid office (or employee who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to education loans or financial aid) who serves on an advisory board, commission, or group established by a lender or guarantor (or a group of lenders or guarantors) is prohibited from receiving anything of value from the lender, guarantor, or group, except for reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred by the employee for serving on the board.

Member of NASFAA

As members of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), a person employed as a financial aid administrator of Austin College will follow the NASFAA Code of Conduct.

Resources:

  • Department of Education, The Higher Education Opportunity Act (Public Law 110-315) (HEOA) enacted August 14, 2008
  • Federal Register: HEOA Final Regulations enacted October 28, 2009

Filed Under: Miscellaneous

GET IN TOUCH

903.813.2000
Austin College
900 N. Grand Ave.
Sherman, TX 75090

Contact Us

GET SOCIAL

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

GET LINKED

  • Human Resources
  • Campus Offices
  • Faculty/Staff Directory
  • Outlook Email
  • Title IX Office
  • Campus Conduct Hotline
  • Health Services

GET CONNECTED

Subscribe

Connect to AC

Request Information

Copyright © 2021 - All rights reserved | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Consumer Information | Site by thrive-logo