Special Circumstances Appeals

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. 

The Financial Aid Professional shall: 

1. Refrain from taking any action for his or her personal benefit.
2. Refrain from taking any action he or she believes is contrary to law, regulation or the best interests of the students and parents he or she serves.
3. Ensure that the information he or she provides is accurate, unbiased and does not reflect any preference arising from actual or potential personal gain.
4. Be objective in making decisions and advising his or her institution regarding relationships with any entity involved in any aspect of student financial aid.
5. 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.
6. Disclose to his or her institution, in such manner as his or her institution may prescribe, any involvement with or interest in any entity involved in any aspect of student financial aid.

Please note that this pertains to FFELP loans awarded prior to the 2008-2009 school year and to alternative loans. Since the 2008-2009 school year Sullivan County Community College continued to process alternative loans but began and will continue to award student loans through the Federal Direct Loan program. 

1. Sullivan County Community College works diligently to ensure that its officers, employees and agents avoid conflicts of interest in connection with their responsibilities relating to providing and administering student loans for our students. In accordance with state and federal law, you should be aware that the following activities are prohibited. Some of these prohibitions involve technical definitions which can be found by referring to the applicable state and federal law. If you wish to obtain this information, please contact the financial aid office. 
2. Sullivan County Community College does not enter into any revenue-sharing arrangement with any lender.
3. No officer, employee or agent of Sullivan County Community College who is employed in the financial aid office or who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to education loans will solicit or accept any gift or other thing of value from a lender, guarantor or loans or servicer of education loans. You should be aware that certain items provided or contributed by lenders are not considered gifts such as training materials, philanthropic contributions unrelated to education loans and entrance and exit counseling services.
4. No officer, employee or agent of Sullivan County Community College who is employed in the financial aid office or who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to education loans will accept from any lender or affiliate of any lender any fee, payment or other financial benefit (including the opportunity to purchase stock) as compensation for any type of consulting arrangement or other contract to provide services to a lender or on behalf of a lender relating to education loans.
5. Sullivan County Community College will not for any first-time borrower assign, through award packaging or other methods, the borrower’s loan to a particular lender or refuse to certify or delay certification of any loan based on the borrower’s selection of a particular lender or guaranty agency.
6. Sullivan County Community College will not request or accept from any lender any offer of funds to be used for private education loans, including funds for an opportunity pool loan, to students in exchange for the campus providing concessions or promises regarding providing the lender with a specified number of loans made, insured or guaranteed a specified loan volume or a preferred lender arrangement for such loans.
7. Sullivan County Community College does not request or accept from any lender any assistance with call center staffing or financial aid office staffing.
8. No employee of Sullivan County Community College who is employed in the financial aid office or who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to education loans or other student financial aid and who serves on an advisory board, commission or group established by a lender, guarantor or group of lenders or guarantors will receive anything of value from the lender, guarantor or group of lenders or guarantors for such service.