Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct

Green River College Mission Statement for Financial Aid

The mission of the Green River College's Financial Aid Office is to provide resources for students to access higher education, maximize student success and support the retention of students in order to allow them to attain their educational goals.

Program Objectives

• Fairly and equitably award funding from all sources.
• Maintain a high level of fiduciary responsibility and confidentiality.
• Maintain a student-centered environment and treat students with dignity and respect.
• Provide information and outreach services to the local community.
• Assist students with information and the application process.
• Coordinate scholarship processing by advertising, disbursing and maintaining scholarship records from private donors and the Green River College Foundation.
• Serve as the students' advocate in coordinating agency-funded programs.
• Assist students in seeking work-study employment.
• Provide timely and accurate payroll processing for students.

Ethical Principles Based Upon Mission Statement

• Be committed to removing financial barriers for those wanting to pursue postsecondary learning.
• Make every effort to assist students with financial need.
• Be aware of issues affecting students and advocate for their interests.
• Support efforts to encourage students as early as the elementary grades to aspire to plan for education beyond high school.
• Educate students and families through quality consumer information.
• Respect the dignity and protect the privacy of students, and ensure the confidentiality of student records and personal circumstances.
• Ensure equity by applying all need analysis formulas consistently across the student population.
• Provide services that do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age, or economic status.
• Recognize the need for professional development and continuing education opportunities.
• Promote the free expression of ideas and opinions, and foster respect for diverse viewpoints within the profession.
• Commit to the highest level of ethical behavior and refrain from conflict of interest or the perception thereof.
• Maintain the highest level of professionalism, reflecting a commitment to the goals of financial aid administrators.

(Statement taken from NASFAA's Ethical Principles.)

Code of Conduct for Institutional Financial Aid Professionals

An institutional financial aid professional 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 personal benefit or that of a family member such as cash, stocks, club memberships, gifts, entertainment, trips, payments or other forms of inappropriate remuneration from any entity involved with financial aid. A conflict of interest arises when one acts for personal gain.

Refrain from taking any action believed to be contrary to law, regulation, or the best interests of students and parents.

Ensure that the information provided is accurate, unbiased, and does not reflect any preference arising from actual or potential personal gain. Information should be transparent so that students and parents can fully understand their rights, obligations and alternatives (such as not using a preferred lender list).

Be objective in making decisions and advising the institution regarding relationships with any entity involved in any aspect of student financial aid such as lenders or other business entities.

Refrain from soliciting or accepting anything of other than nominal value (under $10) from any entity (other than an institution of higher education or a government 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 body or as a part of a training activity of or sponsored by any such entity. Avoid any appearance of conflict of interest.

Disclose to your institution any involvement with or interest in any entity involved in any aspect of student financial aid. Again, avoid any conflict of interest. Avoid any investment in or financial relationships with lenders or similar entities.

Ethical practices are the best practices.