The Financial Aid Office supports the purpose, values, and mission of Chattanooga State by:

• Providing holistic student support through financial assistance and education, clear and timely communication, and expansive informational resources
• Demonstrating teaching excellence by providing workshops, instructional materials, and financial literacy resources to students, parents, and the community, as well as ongoing Financial Aid training for faculty and staff
• Utilizing program innovation by seeking out the most efficient processes, technologies, and communication methods for effective administration and delivery of student aid
• Applying fiscal stewardship with accurate and transparent management, disbursement, and reconciliation of federal, state, and institutional funds, as well as effective use of the departmental budget to serve students
• Creating organizational culture and inclusive practices by flexibility in working with students, parents, and community partners, and equitable treatment of all aid applicants and student aid resources.

In accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations (34 CFR 601.21) and the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, the Financial Aid Office is prohibited from:

• Revenue-sharing agreements with any lender,
• Steering borrowers to particular lenders or delaying loan certifications, and
• Offers of funds for private loans to students in exchange for providing concessions or promises to the lender for a specific number of Federal Student Aid loans, a specified loan volume, or a preferred lender arrangement.

This Code of Conduct applies to officers, employees, and agents of the school and prohibits employees of the Financial Aid Office from receiving gifts from a lender, guaranty agency, or loan servicer.

The Financial Aid Office, or other employees or agents with responsibilities with respect to education loans, are prohibited from accepting compensation for:

• Any type of consulting arrangement or contract to provide services to or on behalf of a lender relating to education loans; and
• Service on an advisory board, commission, or group established by lenders or guarantors, except for reimbursement for reasonable expenses

The Code of Conduct is applicable to any institution of postsecondary education that participates in the Federal Student Aid education loan programs (Direct Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, FFEL Loans, Stafford Loans, Perkins Loans, and HPSL Loans).