Code of Conduct

Financial Aid at UChicago is committed to offering our services with a steadfast dedication to honesty, sincerity, and integrity. Please see below a list of guidelines that makes up our Code of Conduct.  

Ban on Revenue-Sharing Arrangements

The University shall not enter into any revenue-sharing arrangement with any lender or other vendor working with any of its financial aid offices. The University shall not accept any fee or other material benefit in exchange for recommending a lender to its students.

Gift Ban

No University officer or employee with financial aid responsibilities shall solicit or accept a gift having a monetary value of more than a de minimus amount from a lender, guarantor, or servicer of education loans.

Contracting Arrangements Prohibited

No University officer or employee with financial aid responsibilities shall accept from any lender or lender affiliate payment or other financial benefit as compensation for any type of consulting arrangement or other contract to provide services to a lender.

Interaction with Borrowers

The University shall not automatically assign a particular lender to any borrower and shall not refuse to certify or delay certification of any loan based on the lender or guarantee agency selected.

Prohibition on Offers of Funds for Private Loans

The University shall not request or accept an offer of funds from a lender that will be used for private education loans in exchange for the University providing the lender a specified number or volume of federal loans or placement on a preferred lender list.

Ban on Staffing Assistance

The University shall not request or accept assistance with call center staffing or financial aid office staffing from any lender. Lenders, however, may provide professional development training to financial aid administrators, educational advising materials to borrowers, or assistance in state or federally declared natural disasters.

Advisory Board Assistance

All employees with financial aid responsibilities shall be prohibited from receiving anything of value from a lender or guarantor in return for service on its advisory board. Reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with such service, however, is permitted.