Purpose

The primary goal of the College’s financial aid office is to help students achieve their educational potential by providing or directing students toward appropriate financial resources. In doing so, staff members of the Caldwell College Office of Financial Aid shall continue to conduct themselves in an ethical and professional manner, in accordance with the “Statement of Ethical Principles” set forth by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and other requirements set forth in this policy.

Statement of Ethical Principles

A. The College’s Office of Financial Aid is a member of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (“NASFAA”), which is the professional organization serving College financial aid officers. In furtherance of its organization and membership, NASFAA has adopted a Statement of Ethical Principles which governs the conduct of its members. That Statement of Ethical Principles is hereby incorporated into this policy and is applicable to employees of the College serving within the Office of Financial Aid and their superiors.

The Financial Aid Professional shall:

  1. be committed to removing financial barriers for those who wish to pursue post-secondary learning;
  2. make every effort to assist students with financial need;
  3. be aware of the issues affecting students and advocate for their interests at the institutional, state, and federal levels;
  4. support efforts to encourage students, as early as the elementary grades, to aspire to and plan for education beyond high school;
  5. educate students and families through quality consumer information;
  6. respect the dignity and protect the privacy of students, and ensure the confidentiality of student records and personal circumstances;
  7. ensure equity by applying all need analysis formulas consistently across the institution's full population of student financial aid applicants;
  8. provide services that do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age, or economic status;
  9. recognize the need for professional development and continuing education opportunities;
  10. promote the free expression of ideas and opinions, and foster respect for diverse viewpoints within the profession;
  11. commit to the highest level of ethical behavior and refrain from conflict of interest or the perception thereof;
  12. maintain the highest level of professionalism, reflecting a commitment to the goals of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.