Staff members of Financial Aid and Scholarships will:

• Not solicit or accept gifts/payments or any type of remuneration in exchange for processing, revising or changing a student’s aid package. Unsolicited token gifts such as cards are acceptable, but should not be encouraged.

• Not engage in any illegal or inappropriate activity or engage in any activity that is or may be perceived as a conflict of interest.

• Not accept (though Texas State University is primarily a Federal Direct Loan institution and, thus, has very limited interactions with outside--private--lenders) any staffing assistance from an outside lender, direct borrowers to particular lenders, engage in revenue sharing with lenders or delay loan certifications—which is strictly prohibited and should be reported immediately to the Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships.

• Not engage in the solicitation of consulting positions or implementation of other contractual arrangements with lenders.

• Not engage in making arrangements by providing any service whereby one would receive advisory board compensation.

• Refrain from making any requests for or acceptance of funds to be used for private loans or opportunity pool loans in exchange for minimum loan volumes or applications.

• Report immediately to the Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships any knowledge of illegal or inappropriate activity regarding the processing or awarding of any type of aid.

• Report immediately to the Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships any gifts, payments or coupons received from students, staff, faculty and all others as tokens of appreciation. Receipt of “Thank You” notes and e-mails need not be reported. Receipt of gift certificates/gift cards of any value must be immediately reported to the Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships and returned to the donor. Food items, balloons or floral arrangements of fewer than $25 may be accepted with the understanding that it will be shared with students visiting the office’s main lobby area.

• Report immediately to the Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships any financial aid or scholarship applications from family members, including but not limited to, children, spouse, parents, in-laws, siblings and nieces/nephews.