Prince George's Community College has established a student loan code of conduct that sets clear limits on the interactions that Prince George’s Community College and its employees may have with student loan lenders, servicers, and/or guarantors. It also ensures that college employees maintain the highest standards of administrative and academic integrity, and that they conduct themselves in an ethical and professional manner in their interactions with students and families.
Code of Ethics Policy
- “Preferred” lender lists and endorsements of lenders: Prince George’s Community College does not create, maintain, or distribute any listing of “preferred” or “recommended” education loan lenders/servicers, nor will PGCC staff endorse any particular education loan lender/servicer.
- Promotion of Education Loans: Prince George’s Community College does not engage in a “revenue sharing” arrangement with any student loan lender, servicer or guarantor, nor will it enter into any arrangement designed to promote the products, services, and/or public image of any student loan lender, servicer, or guarantor. This section does not prohibit the school from distributing informational materials in compliance with federal regulation 34 C.F.R. 682.200(b)(5)(ii).
- Non-Discrimination in Loan Certification: The Financial Aid Office will certify any private loan upon request for any eligible student through any participating lender, servicer, or guarantor. Financial Aid staff will neither favor nor discriminate against any particular student loan lender, servicer, or provider in giving counsel to student and parent borrowers. However, nothing in this policy shall be construed to prevent properly trained Financial Aid Office personnel from giving students and parents good counsel and frank answers to questions about loan costs, interest rates, fees, and payments to assist the borrower in making an educated loan product/lender choice.
- Prohibition Against Gifts: Neither PGCC nor any of its employees will accept any gift, gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, benefit, or any other item of more than a nominal value from any student loan lender, servicer, or guarantor, except as specifically permitted in federal regulation 34 C.F.R. 682.200(b)(5)(ii). Gifts to family members of PGCC employees are considered as a gift to the employee if the gift was given in relation to the position of the employee. Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting PGCC employees from conducting normal banking business with a student loan lender or receiving discounts, premiums, or gifts that are available to the general public based upon that normal banking business.
- Contracting Arrangements/Advisory Groups: Financial aid employees or any other PGCC staff member who may have any responsibility with respect to educational loans may not accept from any student loan lender, servicer, or guarantor any type of fee, payment, or other financial benefit as compensation for consulting or other services provided on behalf of the lender in relation to educational loans. Nor shall any employee accept payment for services or reimbursement of expenses related to education lending advisory boards, focus groups, facility tours, or similar activities from any student loan lender, servicer, or guarantor.
- Staffing Assistance: Prince George’s Community College does not allow student loan lender, servicer, or guarantor staff to work in PGCC offices, nor will the college allow them to perform the work of school personnel in other locations. Further, PGCC does not permit any non-employee to identify him/herself as a PGCC employee.
Nondiscrimination Statement
Prince George’s Community College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons to the end that no person, on the grounds of sex, age, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, or status as a qualified individual with a disability, qualified disabled veteran, or Vietnam-era veteran, shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity of this institution. Under this policy, this institution will not discriminate against any person on the grounds of sex, race, age, color, religion, veteran’s status, disability, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, or national origin in its admission policies and practices or any other policies or practices of the institution relating to the treatment of students and other individuals, including employment, the provision of services, financial aid, and other benefits, and including the use of any building, structure, room space, materials, equipment, facility, or any other property.
An individual who believes they or any other individual or group of individuals have been subject to prohibited discrimination may, on their own or through a representative, file a written complaint with the College’s Vice-President for Equity, Culture and Talent, Chanelle Whittaker (Kent Hall, Room 132, 301-546-0050, whittacm@pgcc.edu).
Shaundricka Ranel, the College’s Senior Director, Compliance, Policy and Title IX (Kent Hall, Room 133, 301-546-7011, ranelsm@pgcc.edu), coordinates the College’s efforts to comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex.
Sabrina Thomas (Annex B, Room 19, 301-546-5211, thomassm@pgcc.edu) serves as the College’s ADA Coordinator, and is responsible for coordinating the College’s overall efforts to comply with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. She is responsible for processing ADA accommodation requests from College employees.
Thomas Mays (Lanham Hall, Room 101G, 301-546-7594, maysto@pgcc.edu), the College’s Director of Disability and Support Services, is responsible for processing accommodation requests from College students in accordance with the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which addresses students with disabilities in post-secondary educational settings.
Keith Murvin (Annex B, Room 9, 301-546-0606 murvinek@pgcc.edu) addresses reports of accessibility issues with facilities.
Inquiries regarding compliance with these laws may also be directed to the Office of Civil Rights for the United States Department of Education.
Under provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, this material is available in alternative formats by contacting either of the employees listed above who process ADA accommodation requests.
Contact Us
Student Financial Aid Office
Bladen Hall, Room 121
301 Largo Rd.
Largo, MD 20774
Email: finaid@pgcc.edu
Phone: 301-546-0822