Consumer Information and Student Right-To-Know

Kentucky Community and Technical College System Financial Aid Department Statement of Ethical Principles

KCTCS provides that the primary goal of the institutional financial aid professional is to help students achieve their educational potential by providing appropriate financial resources. To this end, this statement provides that the financial aid professional shall:

• Be committed to removing financial barriers for those who wish to pursue postsecondary learning.
• Make every effort to assist students with financial need.
• Be aware of the issues affecting students and advocate their interests at the institutional, state, and federal levels.
• Support efforts to encourage students, as early as the elementary grades, to aspire to and plan for education beyond high school.
• Educate students and families through quality consumer information.
• Respect the dignity and protect the privacy of students, and ensure the confidentiality of student records and personal circumstances.
• Ensure equity by applying all need analysis formulas consistently across the institution's full
  population of student financial aid applicants.
• Provide services that do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age, or economic status.
• Recognize the need for professional development and continuing education opportunities.
• Promote the free expression of ideas and opinions, and foster respect for diverse viewpoints within the profession.
• Commit to the highest level of ethical behavior and refrain from conflict of interest or the perception thereof.
• Maintain the highest level of professionalism, reflecting a commitment to the goals of KCTCS.

Code of Conduct for Financial Aid Professionals

Any KCTCS financial aid professional is expected to always maintain exemplary standards of professional conduct in all aspects of carrying out his or her responsibilities, specifically including all dealings with any entities involved in any manner in student financial aid, regardless of whether such entities are involved in a government sponsored, subsidized, or regulated activity. In doing so, a financial aid professional should:

• Refrain from taking any action for his/her personal benefit
• Refrain from taking any action he/she believes is contrary to law, regulation, or the best
  Interests of the students and parents he/she serves.
• Ensure that the information he/she provides is accurate, unbiased, and does not reflect any preference arising from actual or potential personal gain.
• Be objective in making decisions and advising his/her institution regarding relationships with any entity involved in any aspect of student financial aid.
• Refrain from soliciting or accepting anything of other than nominal value from any entity (other than an institution of higher education or a governmental entity such as the U.S. Department of Education) involved in the making, holding, consolidating, or processing of any student loans, including anything of value (including reimbursement of expenses) for serving on an advisory body or as part of a training activity of or sponsored by any such entity.
• Disclose to KCTCS, in such manner as KCTCS may prescribe, any involvement with or interest in any entity involved in any aspect of student financial aid.
• These principles should apply throughout the administration of the programs for which the financial aid professional is responsible, including, but not limited to, FFELP.

There should never by any difference between "ethical" and "best" practices. The ethical practice is the best practice. When a practice or policy arises that appears in conflict with these principles, it is the obligation of the financial aid professional to bring this to the attention of those responsible within his/her institution, and to seek a resolution consistent with these principles.

Notice of Federal Student Financial Aid Penalties for Drug Law Violations

Suspension of Eligibility for Drug Convictions

As prescribed in section 484(r) of the Higher Education Act, a student who, during a period of enrollment for which the student was receiving any Federal grant, loan, or work assistance, is convicted of any offense under any Federal or State law involving the possession or sale of a controlled substance shall not be eligible to receive any additional grant, loan, or work assistance from the date of that conviction for the period of time specified in the following table:

(A conviction for sale of drugs includes convictions for conspiring to sell drugs.)

For individuals convicted of both possession and sale of illegal drugs, the overlapping periods of ineligibility will run concurrently, resulting in the longer period of ineligibility prevailing. Only convictions for an offense occurring during a period of enrollment for which the student was receiving Federal aid will impact eligibility. Convictions that are reversed, set aside, or removed from the student's record will not impact eligibility, nor will convictions occurring when the student was a juvenile, unless tried as an adult. 

A written notice will be provided to each student who has lost eligibility for Title IV Federal financial aid funds due to a drug conviction and will include the methods by which a student can regain eligibility.

Student Responsibilities if Convicted During Period of Enrollment

According to the US Department of Education,

If a student is convicted of a drug offense after receiving Federal aid, they must notify the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid immediately.

That student will

• Be immediately ineligible for further aid and will be required to pay back all aid received after the loss of eligibility.
• Be required to self‐certify their eligibility for Federal aid with regard to drug convictions on the
  FAFSA. 

If a student has been convicted of a drug offense while applying to receive Title IV Federal financial aid, they are required to report the conviction on item number 23 of the FAFSA.

For additional information on this requirement call a Federal representative at 1‐800‐433‐3243.

Regaining Eligibility

A student regains eligibility the day after the period of ineligibility ends, the date their conviction is overturned, or the date they complete a qualified drug rehabilitation program, whichever occurs first.

A student whose eligibility has been suspended indefinitely may only regain it by successfully completing a qualified drug rehabilitation program.

A qualified drug rehabilitation program must include at least two unannounced drug tests and satisfy at least one of the following requirements:

• Be qualified to receive funds directly or indirectly from a Federal, State, or local government program
• Be qualified to receive payment directly or indirectly from a Federally‐ or State‐licensed insurance company
• Be administered or recognized by a Federal, State, or local government agency or court
• Be administered or recognized by a Federally‐ or State‐licensed hospital, health clinic, or medical doctor

It is the student's responsibility to certify to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid that they have successfully completed a rehabilitation program.