Policies and regulations

The State University of New York and SUNY Adirondack are committed to providing options, support and assistance to victims/survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and/or stalking to ensure that they can continue to participate in College-wide and campus programs, activities, and employment. All victims/survivors of these crimes and violations—regardless of the victim/survivor’s race, color, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, familial status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, or criminal conviction—have the following rights, regardless of whether the crime or violation occurs on campus, off campus, or while studying abroad:

All students have the right to:

• Make a report to law enforcement and/or state police;
• Have disclosures of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking and sexual assault treated seriously;
• Make a decision about whether or not to disclose a crime or violation and participate in the campus conduct process and/or the criminal justice process free from pressure from the College;
• Participate in a process that is fair, impartial and provides adequate notice and a meaningful opportunity to be heard;
• Be treated with dignity and to receive from the College courteous, fair, and respectful health care and counseling services where available;
• Be free from any suggestion that the reporting individual (including but not limited to the victim) is at fault when these crimes and violations are committed, or should have acted in a different manner to avoid such crimes or violations;
• Describe the incident to as few College officials as practicable and not to be required to unnecessarily repeat a description of the incident;
• Be free from retaliation by the College, the accused and/or the respondent, and/or their friends, family and acquaintances within the jurisdiction of the College;
• Access at least one level of appeal of a determination;
• Be accompanied by an advisor of choice who may assist and advise a reporting individual, accused, or respondent throughout the judicial or conduct process, including all meetings and hearings related to such process;
• Exercise civil rights and practice of religion without interference by the investigative, criminal justice or judicial or conduct process of the College.

An institutional 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. To this end, this Code provides the financial aid professional with a set of principles that serves as a common foundation for accepted standards of conduct.

The staff of the Financial Aid Office at SUNY Adirondack Community College follows this code of conduct outlined by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA).

The financial aid professional shall:

• Refrain from taking any action for his or her personal benefit.
• Refrain from taking any action he or she believes is contrary to law, regulation, or the best interests of the students and parents he or she serves.
• Ensure the information he or 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 or 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 his or her institution, in such manner as his or her institution may prescribe, any involvement with or interest in any entity involved in any aspect of student financial aid.

The primary goal of the financial aid professional is to help students achieve their educational potential by providing appropriate financial resources.  To this end, this Statement provides the financial aid professional with a set of principles that serves as a common foundation for accepted standards of conduct.

The staff of the Financial Aid Office at SUNY Adirondack Community College follows these principles outlined by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA).

The financial aid professional shall:

• Be committed to removing financial barriers for those who wish to pursue post-secondary 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.
• Award only those race-based scholarships that support the institution’s mission and do not place a burden on non-minority students.
• 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.
• Conduct periodic review of all institutional policies to ensure all ethical principles are being met.
• Maintain the highest level of professionalism, reflecting a commitment to the goals of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

Students attending SUNY Adirondack who are receiving federal Title IV financial aid (i.e. federal Direct or PLUS loans; federal Pell and SEOG grant funds) are required to return the portion of unearned aid if they withdraw or otherwise fail to complete the period of enrollment for which the Title IV aid was provided. The return of funds does not apply to any student whose date of withdrawal is beyond the 60 percent enrollment period for which the student has been charged. The last date of attendance is determined by the date the student began the College’s withdrawal process or the student’s last date of recorded attendance (or other acceptable academic activity).

To determine the percentage of aid earned, divide the number of calendar days completed by the total number of calendar days in the enrollment period (excluding scheduled breaks of five days or more AND days that the student is on approved leave of absence).

Federal financial aid is returned to the program from which it was disbursed based on the percentage of unearned aid. To determine the percentage of unearned aid, subtract the percentage of aid earned from 100. The percentage of unearned aid is then multiplied by the amount of aid disbursed toward allowable institutional charges (e.g., tuition, room, and board).

Please note students who take a leave of absence or withdraw, and are also Title IV aid recipients should be aware of the following: The six-month grace period for federal loans (Direct Loan and Direct PLUS) begins from the student’s last date of attendance as determined by the College. A student who is on an approved leave of absence will be considered as in school for purposes of repayment of federal loans. Should the student not return from an approved leave of absence, the last date of attendance will be considered the date the approved leave of absence began. Federal regulations do not allow for the period of study to be interrupted for more than 180 days, excluding standard periods of non-enrollment.

Before being granted approval for withdrawal or leave of absence, all students who are federal loan recipients are required to be counseled by the Financial Aid Office to discuss the consequences of their changed status.

The Student Lending Accountability, Transparency and Enforcement Act (SLATE) became law May 29, 2007, with the approval of the New York governor. This act was passed to amend the education law, in relation to protecting students and parents from being steered by lenders and institutions of higher learning into student loans laden with conflicts of interest; and to amend the state finance law, in relation to establishing the student lending education account.  

In compliance with SLATE, SUNY Adirondack chooses not to recommend lenders to students. Students and families are encouraged to select the lender of their choice when pursuing private loans. Once you apply for a loan, the Financial Aid Office will certify your eligibility with your selected lender. Keep in mind private loans must be certified to disburse in two equal installments for each semester in which you borrow.