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Code of Conduct

Members of the Office of Financial Aid and Financial & Registration Services are bound to act in compliance with the vision outlined in the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrator's Statement of Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct for Institutional Financial Aid Professionals.

The Higher Education Opportunity Act conditions the eligibility of educational institutions to participate in Title IV programs on the development of and compliance with a code of conduct prohibiting conflicts of interest for its financial aid personnel [HEOA § 487(a)(25)]. Castleton's officers, employees and agents are required to comply with this code of conduct. The following specific provisions bring Castleton into compliance with the federal law [HEOA § 487(e)].

  1. Neither Castleton as an institution nor any individual officer, employee or agent shall enter into any revenue-sharing arrangements with any lender.
  2. No officer or employee of Castleton who is employed in student financial services or who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to education loans, or agent who has responsibilities with respect to education loans, or any of their family members, shall solicit or accept any gift from a lender, guarantor, or servicer of education loans. For purposes of this prohibition, the term "gift" means any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, or other item having a monetary value of more than a de minimis amount.
  3. An officer or employee of Castleton who is employed in Financial Aid or Financial and Registration Services or who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to education loans, or an agent who has responsibilities with respect to education loans, shall not accept from any lender or affiliate of any lender any fee, payment, or other financial benefit (including the opportunity to purchase stock) as compensation for any type of consulting arrangement or other contract to provide services to a lender or on behalf of a lender relating to education loans.
  4. Castleton shall not: 
    • For any first-time borrower, assign, through award packaging or other methods, the borrower's loan to a particular lender; or
    • Refuse to certify, or delay certification of, any loan based on the borrower's selection of a particular lender or guaranty agency.
  5. Castleton shall not request or accept from any lender any offer of funds to be used for private education loans, including funds for an opportunity pool loan, to students in exchange for the institution providing concessions or promises regarding providing the lender with:
    • A specified number of loans made, insured, or guaranteed under Title IV;
    • A specified loan volume of such loans; or
    • A preferred lender arrangement for such loans.
  6. Castleton shall not request or accept from any lender any assistance with call center staffing or Financial Aid or Financial and Registration Services staffing. Any employee who is employed in Financial Aid or Financial and Registration Services, or who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to education loans or other student financial aid, and who serves on an advisory board, commission, or group established by a lender, guarantor, or group of lenders or guarantors, shall be prohibited from receiving anything of value from the lender, guarantor, or group of lenders or guarantors, except that the employee may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in serving on such advisory board, commission, or group.