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Financial Aid Counselor

Employer
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Location
Worcester

View more

Administrative Jobs
Institutional & Business Affairs, Financial Aid
Employment Type
Full Time
Institution Type
Four-Year Institution

Job Details

Job location: Worcester


Employment Type: Full-time
Posted data: 2020-11-18
Req: R0001124
JOB TITLE

Financial Aid Counselor

LOCATION

Worcester

DEPARTMENT NAME

Compliance & Loans

DIVISION NAME

Worcester Polytechnic Institute - WPI

JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY

Main duties include serving as primary source of financial aid information, providing customer service, counseling, and complex office support functions as it pertains to the Office of Student Aid & Financial Literacy including, but not limited to, evaluating and processing financial aid application materials, working with internal and external entities with a strong focus on customer service and financial aid procedures.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Responsibilities:

  • Counsel prospective and current students via telephone, in person, in writing or by email in all facets of financial aid including how to apply for aid, the status of aid applications and documents, the criteria for various financial aid funds, and ways to manage the costs of a WPI education.
  • Staff the Office of Student Aid & Financial Literacy walk-in office for students, families, and visitors as part of rotating schedule.
  • Assist in the administration of the Federal Work Study and Community Service Work Study programs to include approving hires and community service in the Workday system and distributing biweekly reports to departments. Collaborate with financial aid staff as well as Talent & Inclusion and individual department supervisors.
  • Collaborate with financial aid team as well as colleagues in other departments including a high level of interaction with the Bursar’s Office and Registrar’s Office.
  • Use various internal software systems to follow flow of financial aid information from aid awarding system to student account to ensure accuracy and to identify any issues
  • Document nature of contact (email, phone, or in person) with applicants, students, and families in our customer relationship management (CRM) system, Salesforce.
  • Serve as troubleshooter between students and financial aid directors by requesting detailed information from inquirers and researching the question prior to escalating the inquiry.
  • Co-monitor the submission of all outside scholarship forms, upload scholarship information into the Salesforce CRM and document management system, and review reports to help reconcile outside scholarship records.
  • Oversee the office voicemail system by retrieving and responding to messages in a timely manner.
  • Manage and monitor enrollment change notifications received from the WPI Registrar's Office, as well as project center and cooperative education rosters from the Career Development Center, and upload documentation into the Salesforce CRM and document management system.
  • Use professional judgment in responding to highly sensitive, confidential issues regarding the administration of financial aid awards.
  • Apply critical listening skills, training, and resources to ensure accuracy of information communicated to inquirers.
  • Communicate effectively with a diverse population in a professional manner using tact, poise, patience, and courtesy.
  • Fulfill scanning and student data upload procedures for the office.
  • Assist directors and financial aid team with projects relating to the general needs of the department.
  • Perform other job-related duties as required or assigned.

Requirements:

  • High school diploma required; Associate Degree preferred.
  • 3-4 years of office or administrative experience demonstrating a thorough knowledge and proven efficiency with office practices and a high level of competency in technology; including, but not limited to Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word.
  • Demonstrates experience in customer service required and strong commitment to quality service and customer service to faculty, staff, students, and other constituents.
  • Possesses excellent communication skills, especially the ability to communicate effectively, with sensitivity and confidentiality, by phone, email, Zoom meetings and in person.
  • Ability to contribute to a positive college experience for each and every student.
  • Ability to independently manage multiple priorities and responsibilities in a high-volume, fast-paced office environment.
  • Balances the need to make timely actions while seeking input from appropriate individuals.
  • Fosters open communication, acceptance, and appreciation of diverse populations so that the campus community and constituents are welcomed, valued, and feel a sense of belonging.
  • Respects the unique needs, perspectives and thoughts of all teams and constituents.
  • WPI is passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We are looking for candidates who can support our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

Soft Skills Required:

  • Excellent communicator
  • Positive attitude
  • Helpful collaborator
  • Ability to work in multiple systems and use remote technologies
  • Sensitivity towards others
  • Flexibility/multitasking
  • Responsive and responsible
  • Team builder
  • Ability to receive constructive feedback
  • Sense of humor

Hours of Work: Full-time role, 37.5 hours/weekly, 8am-4:30pm or 8:30am-5pm, Monday-Friday (year-round)

FLSA STATUS

United States of America (Non-Exempt)

WPI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability. We are seeking individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences who will contribute to a culture of creativity and collaboration, inclusion, problem solving and change making.

Organization

Founded in Worcester, Mass., in 1865, WPI was one of the nation's earliest technological universities. From our founding days, WPI has taken a unique approach to science and technology education.

Our undergraduate and graduate students emerge ready to take on some of the most difficult challenges in science and technology. More important, they understand how their work can truly impact society and improve our lives. WPI campus

Great Minds at Work in the classroom and around the world 
WPI's academic departments offer more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science, engineering, technology, management, the social sciences, and the humanities and arts, leading to the BA, BS, MS, ME, MBA, and PhD.

At sites as close as our home city of Worcester and at over 40 other locations in 25 countries,WPI’s Global Projects Program immerses students in new cultures to tackle unstructured problems in ways that are meaningful to local sponsors in real communities. This is not your typical study abroad.

WPI faculty members and students are engaged in advanced, multidisciplinary research across a broad range of fields—from cutting-edge work in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, to explorations of the technological and policy issues surrounding cybersecurity, to studies of issues as diverse as firefighter health and security and the fire safety challenges of green buildings.

A highly regarded institution

Among recent honors for WPI are the 2016 Bernard M. Gordon Prize for Innovation in Engineering and Technology Education and the No. 1 ranking for “faculty who best combine research and teaching.” (Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Ed, 2016) 

WPI professorA beautiful campus in a central location
WPI’s compact 95-acre campus is set atop one of Worcester’s “seven hills” on the residential outskirts of town. Old English stone buildings are focal points of the architecture, but modern facilities have moved in to claim their own space on the immaculately kept grounds. WPI’s newest building, the Foisie Innovation Studio, is slated to open in Fall 2018 and will house high-tech classrooms, makerspaces, labs, and a residence hall for 140 students. 

Learn more at wpi.edu.

 

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