The Cleveland Institute of Music Financial Aid Office has adopted the NASFAA (National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators) Statement of Ethical Principles as its Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct. The Statement of Ethical Principles provides that the primary goal of the Cleveland Institute of Music's Financial Aid Office is to help students achieve their educational potential by providing appropriate financial resources. 

Code of Conduct

Financial Aid Professionals are 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 CIM financial aid professional will ensure that:

  1. No action will be taken by financial aid staff that is for their personal benefit or could be perceived to be a conflict of interest.
    1. Employees within the financial aid office will not award aid to themselves or their immediate family members. Staff will reserve this task to an institutionally designated person, to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.
    2. If a preferred lender list is provided, it will be compiled without prejudice and for the sole benefit of the students attending the institution. The information included about lenders and loan terms will be transparent, complete, and accurate. The complete process through which preferred lenders are selected will be fully and publicly disclosed. Borrowers will not be auto-assigned to any particular lender.
    3. A borrower's choice of a lender will not be denied, impeded, or unnecessarily delayed by the institution, even if that lender is not included on the institution's preferred lender list.
    4. No amount of cash, gift, or benefit in excess of a de minimis amount shall be accepted by a financial aid staff member from any financial aid applicant (or his/her family), or from any entity doing business with or seeking to do business with the institution (including service on advisory committees or boards beyond reimbursement for reasonable expenses directly associated with such service).
  2. Information provided by the financial aid office is accurate, unbiased, and does not reflect preference arising from actual or potential personal gain.
  3. Institutional award notifications and/or other institutionally provided materials shall include the following:
    1. A breakdown of individual components of the institution's Cost of Attendance, designating all potential billable charges.
    2. Clear identification of each award, indicating type of aid, i.e. gift aid (grant, scholarship), work, or loan.
    3. Standard terminology and definitions, using NASFAA's glossary of award letter terms.
    4. Renewal requirements for each award.
  4. All required consumer information is displayed in a prominent location on the institutional web site(s) and in any printed materials, easily identified and found, and labeled as "Consumer Information."
  5. Financial aid professionals will disclose to their institution any involvement, interest in, or potential conflict of interest with any entity with which the institution has a business relationship.

Student Aid Bill of Rights: To Ensure Strong Consumer Protections for Student Loan Borrowers

A Presidential Memorandum directed the Department of Education and other federal agencies to work across the federal government to do more to help borrowers afford their monthly loan payments. This is designed to help borrowers responsibly manage their debt, improve federal student loan servicing, and protect taxpayers' investments in the student aid program:

A Student Aid Bill of Rights

  1. Every student deserves access to a quality, affordable education at a college that's cutting costs and increasing learning.
  2. Every student should be able to access the resources needed to pay for college.
  3. Every borrower has the right to an affordable repayment plan.
  4. And every borrower has the right to quality customer service, reliable information, and fair treatment, even if they struggle to repay their loans.