Code of Conduct & Statement of Ethical Principles
The primary goal of Graham Strategies Inc/dba The Financial Aid Shop is to help students achieve their educational goals through financial support and resources. The Financial Aid Shop exemplify the highest level of ethical behavior and demonstrate the highest level of professionalism.
The Financial Aid Shop has developed these standards effective October 2015.
Updated, May 2019 to include LAUSD Ethics and Integrity Standards
The Financial Aid Shop management and employees will
Advocate for students
- Remain aware of issues affecting students and continually advocate for their interests at the institutional, state and federal levels.
- Support federal, state and institutional efforts to encourage students, as early as the elementary grades, to aspire to and plan for education beyond high school.
Manifest the highest level of integrity
- Commit to the highest level of ethical behavior and refrain from conflict of interest or the perception thereof.
- Deal with others honestly and fairly, abiding by our commitments and always acting in a manner that merits the trust and confidence others have placed in us.
- Protect the privacy of individual student financial records.
- Promote the free expression of ideas and opinions, and foster respect for diverse viewpoints within the profession.
Support student access and success
- Commit to removing financial barriers for those who want to pursue postsecondary learning and support each student admitted to our institution.
- Assist students in applying for financial aid funds.
- Provide services and apply principles that do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age, or economic status.
- Understand the need for financial education and commit to educate students and families on how to responsibly manage expenses and debt.
Comply with federal and state laws
- Adhere to all applicable laws and regulations governing federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs.
- Actively participate in ongoing professional development and continuing education programs to ensure ample understanding of statutes, regulations, and best practices governing the financial aid programs.
- Participate in the financial aid professional associations available at the state, regional, or national level when available and offer assistance to other aid professionals, when requested.
- Complies with all local, state and US business and corporate laws.
Strive for transparency and clarity
- Provide our students and parents with the information they need to make good decisions about attending and paying for college.
- Educate students and families through quality information that is consumer-tested when possible. This includes (but is not limited to) transparency and full disclosure on services offered.
Protect the privacy of students and parents
- Ensure that student and parent private information provided to The Financial Aid Shop is protected in accordance with all state and federal statutes and regulations, including FERPA and the Higher Education Act, Section 483(a)(3)(E) (20 U.S.C. 1090).
- Protect the information provided by students and parents from inappropriate use by ensuring that this information is only used for the application, award, and administration of aid awarded under Title IV of the Higher Education Act, state aid, or aid awarded by eligible institutions.
LAUSD Ethics and Integrity Standards
The Financial Aid Shop, as a contractor to Los Angeles Unified School District, abides by the LAUSD Contractor Code of Conduct prescribed here:
- LAUSD Contractor Code of Conduct Excerpt Version:
https://achieve.lausd.net/cms/lib08/CA01000043/Centricity/Domain/218/5. CODE OF CONDUCT irfp.pdf
- LAUSD Contractor Code of Conduct, Adopted 11/02 revisions effective 11/06:
https://achieve.lausd.net/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=42034&dataid=58773&FileName=Contractor_Code_of_Conduct_2018.pdf
