The Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management helps to foster student growth and development; aiding, directing, and informing students about services and programs that will expand their educational experience and prepare them for diverse living in the local, national, and global communities.
The primary purpose of Scholarships and Student Aid is to administer all of the student financial assistance, and to coordinate all of the Title IV student assistance programs, in which the institution participates, with the institutions’ other federal and non-federal programs of student financial assistance.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Associate Director of Scholarships and Student Aid is an extremely critical position for the successful delivery of Student Financial Aid.
This position is responsible for responding to inquiries from students and parents through various email accounts, missing information notices, award notices, etc.
Works with the counseling team in developing communication strategies to meet the needs of the students/parents we serve through a variety of mediums i.e., printed materials, telephone calls, automated call distribution, office visits, financial aid website, mass email distribution, etc.
Provides financial aid counseling to students and parents with unusual circumstances that affect the family’s ability to pay for the student’s education.
Makes value based professional judgment decisions based on documented hardships and complies with federal, state and institutional policies and procedures.
Writes institutional policy and implements procedures. Reconciles awards with earnings to ensure students do not exceed their awards.
Monitors program expenditures to ensure compliance with Federal funding guidelines. Serves as the Direct Lending program manager and ensures loans are certified in coordination with federal, state and institutional aid sources.
Ensures compliance with institutional awarding philosophy and federal guidelines to avoid exceeding need and/or Cost of Attendance.
Supervises financial aid counselors and evaluates subordinate professional staff.
Manages the outreach program with area high schools and other civic groups. And coordinates various events with state and regional high school guidance counselors.
Assists the director with research, planning and assessment.
Conducts in-service training for student services team, including Peer Counselors, as it relates to quality improvements, annual public communication updates and technical changes that will impact the accuracy of consumer information being disseminated.
Conducts general need analysis calculations and adjustments based on appropriate documentation for students with unusual circumstances that affect the family’s finances.
Makes awards and adjustments
conducts Financial Aid Workshops, resolves difficult customer service issues/complaints through office visit and/or telephone inquiries in the absence of the Director.
ensures compliance with federal and state guidelines;
completes monthly, quarterly and annual reports;
serves as Banner expert regarding financial aid awards;
assists with policy development;
Completes Title III Report
Submits updates to other departments in a timely manner.
QUALIFICATIONS:
This position requires extensive knowledge of: the principles and practices of public, personnel, and business administration; financial aid programs and regulations; and the principles and practices of administering scholarship, student aid, and student employment programs. It also requires knowledge of University curriculum and administrative organization.
The Associate Director must have the ability to: organize, direct, and expand all services of comprehensive student aid and local collection programs; supervise a diverse staff and multiple activities; implement administrative programs and procedures and to evaluate their effectiveness; function in a problem-solving capacity and to work effectively and cooperatively with numerous constituencies; and represent and interpret the University to professional educators and administrators, the general public, and students.
Key knowledge, skills and abilities include:
• Extensive knowledge of the principles and practices of public, personnel, and business administration.
• Extensive knowledge of financial aid programs and regulations.
• Knowledge of University curriculum and administrative organization.
• Extensive knowledge of the principles and practices of administering scholarship, student aid, and student employment programs.
• Ability to organize, direct, and expand all services of comprehensive student aid and local collection programs; ability to supervise a diverse staff and multiple activities.
• Ability to implement administrative programs and procedures and to evaluate their effectiveness.
• Ability to function in a problem-solving capacity and to work effectively and cooperatively with numerous constituencies.
• Ability to represent and interpret the University to professional educators and administrators, the general public, and students.
REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Master’s degree or Bachelor’s Degree with combination of experience in Student Personnel Services, Student Affairs, Higher Education Administration, Leadership or Business Administration and 10 years experience in Financial Aid Administration in higher education are required. Candidates with an equivalent combination of experience and/or education are encouraged to apply. Must have advanced skills in database development and management . Must have knowledge of general statistics and research techniques. Evidence of attention to detail is essential. Must have effective listening, oral and written communication skills. Ability to conduct presentations to groups large and small is required. Evidence of appropriate counseling skills is required. Experience in making independent professional judgment decisions is essential. Must have experience in supervising and evaluating multiple professional staff. Candidates with an equivalent combination of experience and/or education are encouraged to apply.
NOTE: Occasional overnight travel, infrequent weekend presentations and overtime are required during peak processing times
PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Banner-Student experience is a plus