Code of Conduct

The University of North Carolina Asheville Financial Aid Office staff is committed to the highest standards of professional conduct. As members of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), we adhere to their Code of Conduct and statement of Ethical Principles:

The Financial Aid Office will always maintain exemplary standards of professional conduct in all aspects of carrying out our job 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, we are bound by the following:

• Act in accordance with the principles set forth.
• Refrain from taking any action for personal benefit.
• Refrain from taking any action that we believe to be contrary to law, regulation, or the best interests of the students and parents we serve.
• Ensure that the information we provide is accurate, unbiased, and does not reflect any preference arising from actual or potential gain.
• Refrain from soliciting or accepting anything of other than nominal value for any entity 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 part of a training activity.
• Disclose to the administration of the University of North Carolina Asheville any involvement with or interest in any entity involved in any aspect of student financial aid.
• Adhere to University of North Carolina Board of Governors Policy 800.5.1[R], entitled Regulation on Financial Aid Practices.

In addition, the Financial Aid Office agrees to be dedicated to the following ethical principles:

• Commit to removing financial barriers for those who wish to pursue postsecondary learning.
• Make every effort to assist students with financial need.
• Awareness of the issues affecting students and advocate their interests at the institutional, state, and federal levels.
• Support efforts to encourage students, as early as the elementary grades, to aspire to and 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 institution’s full population of student financial aid applicants.
• 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 the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

In order to comply with UNC General Administration Requirements, all UNCA Financial Aid employees must specify whether or not they have family members who are currently attending the University of North Carolina Asheville.

As staff members of the Financial Aid Office, we understand that:

• We are prohibited from awarding ourselves financial aid.
• We are prohibited from awarding another Financial Aid staff member financial aid. Staff members must be awarded via the system or by the Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid or Associate Director of Financial Aid.

This Code of Conduct and Statement of Ethical Principles reflects the UNCA Financial Aid Office commitment to conduct financial aid practices with integrity, free from conflicts of interest, in the interest of students and parents, and in compliance with applicable rules and regulations. All employees of the UNCA Financial Aid Office will abide by this Code as well as the Mission of the University of North Carolina Asheville. All employees are required to disclose any information about students they have a personal relationship with and that they have made no attempts to provide funds in excess of applicable rules and regulations.