Financial Aid Code of Conduct & Regulations

Before you recommend, arrange, sign up for, or accept private student loans, College of the Mainland provides direct access to an institutional financial aid advisor. Your advisor will guide you through comprehensive loan counseling, including disclosing COM’s student loan Cohort Default Rate (CDR), borrower percentages, and how our numbers compare to the national average.

Our Commitment to Ethical Financial Practices

The Office of Financial Aid adheres to Texas Education Code, Section 61.003 and Title IV, Higher Education Act of 1965 (Pub. L. No. 89-329). To eliminate conflicts of interest, any financial aid professional at COM is explicitly prohibited from:

1. Entering into revenue-sharing arrangements with any lender.
2. Receiving gifts from any student loan lender, guarantor, or servicer.
3. Accepting contracting arrangements or financial benefits from a lender or their affiliates.
4. Directing borrowers to specific private lenders or intentionally delaying loan certifications.
5. Offering college funds specifically earmarked for private student loans.
6. Soliciting call center or staffing assistance from financial aid or lending companies.
7. Accepting compensation or financial incentives for serving on lender advisory boards.

NASFAA Ethical Principles

As members of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), we vow to remove financial barriers, respect student dignity, secure personal privacy, provide non-discriminatory service, and foster transparency across all funding pathways.

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Federal student aid (including Pell Grants, SEOG, Direct Loans, and Federal Work-Study) can be suspended if a student is convicted of a drug-related offense that occurred while actively receiving federal student aid.

What Happens When You Complete the FAFSA:

• The FAFSA asks whether you have a drug conviction for an offense that took place while you were receiving federal funding.
  If you answer Yes, you will receive a worksheet to determine if or how your conviction impacts your eligibility.
• Post-FAFSA Convictions: If you are convicted of a drug offense after submitting your FAFSA, you may lose your active funding and become legally liable to repay any financial aid you received during your period of ineligibility.

How to Regain Financial Aid Eligibility Early

If your federal student aid has been suspended due to a drug conviction, you can reinstate your eligibility before the standard penalty timeline expires by:

1. Successfully completing an approved drug rehabilitation program that meets strict federal criteria.
2. Passing two unannounced drug tests administered by an approved drug rehabilitation agency.

Important Note: If you successfully regain your eligibility during the academic award year, notify the Student Financial Services Office immediately so our team can process any aid for which you are eligible.

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