LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERISTY HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER-SHREVEPORT
STUDENT FINANICAL AID OFFICE

CODE OF CONDUCT

 

The LSU Health Sciences Center- Shreveport Student Financial Aid Office is a member of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), the Southwest Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (SWASFAA), and the Louisiana Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (LASFAA). Financial aid staff has adopted NASFAA’S Statement of Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct for Institutional Financial Aid Professionals to guide them in their daily interaction with the population served by this office.

The following are additional guidelines that have been adopted to define Financial Aid Office relationship with student loan providers.  These guidelines ensure that the loan information provided to students is in the students’ best interest. 

Borrower’s Choice of Lenders

1. Will ensure the borrower is aware of the right to choose a lender by informing the borrower of his or her rights in person and in all related literature published by the Financial Aid Office;
2. Will process loan applications for lenders not included on the school’s lender list without delay or penalty to the student;
3. Will not select a lender for a student;
4. Staff is prohibited from completing a paper or electronic loan application for a student.

Lender Lists

1. Lists will meet requirements stated by law;
2. The lender list will be comprised of lenders used by LSUHSC-S student borrowers during the three most recently completed award years.  The lenders are listed in alphabetical order and without ranking or preferential treatment.
3. Lenders included on each list will be determined using the same criteria without preferential treatment;
4. The criteria and the process for selection will be disclosed to students and parents via the Financial Aid Office website;
5. Financial Aid staff will not request or accept any payments or benefits of any kind from a lender in exchange for being included on a preferred or recommended lender list or in exchange for the school recommending the lender to its students or parents;
6. Participation of lender in LSUHSC-S financial aid outreach programs or loan counseling sessions will not guarantee the lender a place on the school’s lender list;
7. Lenders included on the lists will not be required to participate in LSUHSC-S financial aid outreach or loan counseling programs.

Inducement/Incentives

1. Financial Aid staff is prohibited from receiving any gift, including travel, gifts of more than nominal value from any lender, servicer, or guaranty agency;
2. Employees or agents of lender, servicer, or guaranty agency are prohibited from working in or providing staffing to Financial Aid Office.

 

Other

1. Lender, servicer, and guaranty agency representatives participating in the LSUHSC student loan programs are asked to provide a copy of their company’s Code of Conduct or Statement of Ethical Principles.
2. Code of Conducts for each participating loan company are kept on file in the Financial Aid Office;
3. Employees or agents of a lender, servicer, or guaranty agency shall participate in entrance and exit counseling session to the extent allowable under current law and will be required to wear identification badges or apparel stating the company’s name and/or the agent’s name;
4. Employees or agents of a lender, servicer, or guaranty agency participating in loan counseling sessions must agree to use a “lender neutral” presentation that has been reviewed and approved by the Financial Aid Director;
5. Financial Aid Staff must be present at all loan counseling sessions provided to LSUHSC-S students by employees or agents of a lender, servicer, or guaranty agency;
6. Lender, servicer, or guaranty agency employees or agents shall contact only the designated personnel in LSUHSC-S Financial Aid Office when corresponding by email, letter, phone, or in person when marketing loan products and services;
7. All lender brochures and materials disseminated to students must be approved by the Financial Aid Director or designee.