Higher Education Opportunity Act Code of Conduct

Although Iona University does not have a preferred lender list, we adhere to The Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) requirements. HEOA requires educational institutions to develop and comply with a code of conduct that prohibits conflicts of interest for student financial services personnel [HEOA § 487(a)(25)]. Any Iona University officer, employee, or agent who has responsibilities with respect to student educational loans must comply with this code of conduct. The following provisions bring Iona University into compliance with the federal law [HEOA § 487(e)].

1. Neither Iona University as an institution nor any individual officer, employee or agent shall enter into any revenue-sharing arrangements with any lender.
2. No officer or employee of Iona University who is employed in the Student Financial Services Office or who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to education loans, or agent who has responsibilities with respect to education loans, or any of their family members, shall solicit or accept any gift from a lender, guarantor, or servicer of education loans. For purposes of this prohibition, the term "gift" means any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, or other item having a monetary value of more than a de minimus amount.
3. An officer or employee of Iona University who is employed in the Student Financial Services Office or who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to education loans, or an agent who has responsibilities with respect to education loans, shall not 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.
4. Iona University shall not: a. for any first-time borrower, assign, through award packaging or other methods, the borrower's loan to a particular lender; or b. refuse to certify, or delay certification of, any loan based on the borrower's selection of a particular lender or guaranty agency.
5. Iona University shall 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 institution providing concessions or promises regarding providing the lender with: A. a specified number of loans made, insured, or guaranteed under Title IV; B. a specified loan volume of such loans; or C. a preferred lender arrangement for such loans.
6. Iona University shall not request or accept from any lender any assistance with call center staffing or Student Financial Services Office staffing.
7. Any employee who is employed in the Student Financial Services 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, shall be prohibited from receiving anything of value from the lender, guarantor, or group of lenders or guarantors, except that the employee may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in serving on such advisory board, commission, or group.