As a participant in federal loan programs, Furman University prohibits a conflict of interest with the responsibilities of an officer, employee or agent of the university with respect to student education loans. Federal law specifies that the code shall be displayed prominently on the institution’s website and that all officers, employees and agents with responsibilities related to education loans be annually informed of the provisions of the code of conduct.
Ban On Revenue-Sharing Arrangements
The university shall not enter into any revenue-sharing arrangement with any lender or other vendor working with any of its offices that are responsible for carrying out financial aid functions. The university shall not accept any fee or other material benefit in exchange for recommending a lender to its students.
Gift Ban
No university officer or employee with financial aid responsibilities shall solicit or accept a gift having a monetary value of more than a de minimis amount from a lender, guarantor or service provider of education loans.
Contracting Arrangements Prohibited
No university officer or employee with financial aid responsibilities shall accept from any lender or lender affiliate payment or other financial benefit as compensation for any type of consulting arrangement or other contract to provide services to a lender.
Interaction With Borrowers
The university shall not automatically assign a particular lender to any borrower, unless required to do so by law, and shall not refuse to certify or delay certification of any loan based on the lender or guarantee agency selected by the borrower.
Prohibition On Offers Of Funds For Private Loans
The university shall not request or accept from a lender an offer of funds to be used for private education loans in exchange for the university’s providing the lender with a specified number or volume of federal loans or in exchange for placement on a preferred lender list.
Ban On Staffing Assistance
The university shall not request or accept from any lender assistance with the office of financial aid unless any such assistance has been legislatively defined as acceptable. Lenders, for example, may provide professional development training to financial aid administrators, educational advising materials to borrowers, or assistance in state or federally-declared natural disasters.
Advisory Board Assistance
All employees with financial aid responsibilities shall be prohibited from receiving anything of value from a lender or guarantor in return for service on its advisory board. Reimbursement for or payment of reasonable expenses incurred in connection with such service, however, is permitted.