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The Bulldog - For the SWOSU Family

Statement of Ethical Principles

SWOSU’s statement of Ethical Principles provides that the primary goal of the institutional financial aid professional is to help students achieve their educational potential by providing appropriate financial resources.

  • The financial aid professional shall be committed to removing financial barriers for those who wish to pursue post secondary education.
  • Make every effort to assist students with financial need.
  • Be aware 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 through quality education.
  • 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, religion, disability, age or economic status.
  • Commit to the highest level of ethical behavior and refrain from conflict of interest or the perception thereof.
  • Maintain the highest level of professionalism.

Code of Conduct for Institutional Financial Aid Professionals

An institutional financial aid professional is expected to always maintain exemplary standards of professional conduct in all aspects of carrying out his or her 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.

  • A financial aid professional should refrain from taking any action for his or her personal benefit.
  • Refrain from taking any action her or she believes is contrary to law, regulation, or the best interests of the students and parents her or she serves.
  • Ensure that the information he or she provides is accurate, unbiased and does not reflect any preference arising from actual or potential personal gain.
  • Be objective in making decisions and advising his or her institution regarding relationships with any entity involved in any aspect of student financial aid.
  • Refrain from soliciting or accepting anything of other than nominal value from any entity (other than an institution of higher education or a governmental entity such as the U.S. Department of Education) 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 of or sponsored by any such entity.
  • SWOSU will not have revenue sharing agreements with any student lending institution.
  • SWOSU  Office of Student Financial Services will not accept any staffing services from lenders who provide student loans to our students.
  • SWOSU Office of Student Financial Services will not delay certification of any loan based on a students’ selection of lender.
  • SWOSU Office of Student Financial Services Personnel will not serve on Advisory Boards for compensation with the exception  of reimbursement for expenses.
  • SWOSU will not accept offers of compensation in exchange for business from any Private Lenders.