Selection of Lender
1. For any first time borrowers, the Colleges will not assign, through award packaging or other methods, the borrower’s loan to a particular Lending Institution.
2. The Colleges will not refuse to certify, or delay certification of, any loan based on the borrower’s selection of a particular Lending Institution.
3. The Colleges will clearly indicate that students have the right and ability to select the lender of their choice regardless of any lender list.
4. The Colleges will not request or accept any offer of funds from any Lending Institution to be used for private education loans, including funds for an opportunity pool loan, in exchange for providing the Lending Institution with:
- a specified number of loans made, insured, or guaranteed;
- a specified loan volume of such loans; or
- a preferred lender arrangement for such loans.
Call Center Prohibition
The Colleges prohibit employees of Lending Institutions from serving as representatives of the Colleges or otherwise assisting with call center staffing or financial aid office staffing.
Lender Guidelines
The Colleges will develop, publish and enforce lender guidelines which shall establish the criteria for inclusion or designation as a preferred or approved lender and the process by which financial institutions will be selected for student loan program participation. Selection of Lending Institutions for inclusion on a preferred lender list shall be based upon the best interests of students and their parents, without regard to the financial interests of the Colleges. Nothing in the guidelines shall impair the right of the student to select the lender of their choice. These guidelines will be periodically reviewed, revised, as necessary, and published.
Publication and Notice of Code of Conduct
This Code of Conduct must be published prominently on the Colleges’ website. In addition, at a minimum, Colleges’ employees with responsibilities involving student financial aid, including administrative/executive officials with decision-making authority over financial aid operations, must be informed of the provisions of the Code of Conduct on an annual basis.
Sanctions
Any Colleges’ employee who violates this Code of Conduct may be subject to discipline, up to and including termination of employment.
Contact
If you have any questions regarding the financial aid process, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at:
Phone: (315) 781-3315
Fax: (315) 781-4048
Email: finaid@hws.edu