General Statement of Job

The Scholarship and Outreach Counselor manages the operation of Institutional Scholarships (including but not limited to Honors, Academic, Performing Awards, Departmental), as well as Foundation scholarships, outside scholarships, and any other miscellaneous scholarship programs administered by the University. This person works closely with a variety of University personnel to ensure timely and consistent administration of scholarship funds to students. Additionally, this person maintains federal consumer information compliance, and will attend various outreach events on behalf of MSSU to promote financial aid and scholarship opportunities.

Essential Duties:

Serves as the primary scholarship resource for prospective students, parents, high school counselors, current students and campus personnel. Provides detailed scholarship policy and application procedure explanations, as well as answering questions from campus and community sources.

Identifies student eligibility for Institutional and Foundation scholarships through Banner reporting and institutional scholarship applications. Reviews and sends notification of awards to prospective and returning students and manages acceptance of such scholarships from student recipients.

Manages intake of Foundation Scholarship applications to identify eligible applicants and select appropriate scholarship awards for incoming and renewal students.

Chairs the Scholarship Committee to enforce policy and make recommendations to Financial Aid and Foundation regarding Institutional and Foundation scholarship selection criteria.

Identifies eligible scholarship recipients for Foundation and Institutional Scholarships and posts awards to student accounts.

Communicates with public and private high school staff concerning all University scholarships and explaining the University’s financial aid process. Provides Scholarship presentation certificates to high school counselors.

Oversees Departmental and Performance-based Scholarship awards with campus departments to ensure timely awarding and accurate accounting.

Evaluates scholarship recipients’ academic progress each semester to determine continued scholarship eligibility and renewal criteria. Communicates eligibility status with students who are impacted and provides improvement plans and appeal process details as needed.

Serves as Consumer Information monitor within Financial Aid Office to ensure campus compliance with federal regulations. Monitors compliance of regulatory guidelines and new regulations as appropriate.

Assists students with submission of scholarship appeal and documentation to prepare for Appeals Committee review process.

Monitors payment of scholarship disbursements and manages reconciliation activities for Institutional and Foundation scholarships. Provides scholarship reports for internal or external entities and year-end reporting.

Maintains University website for Scholarship information posted for all students. This includes University and outside scholarship resources available.

Monitors and reviews scholarship policy and procedures each academic year and makes recommendations for improvements and updates to Director.

Counsels prospective, new and returning students regarding financial aid availability, application process, eligibility, academic progress, degree requirements, deadlines, processing dates, and procedures. Further counsels parents about completion of necessary financial aid forms and understanding financial policies, regulations, and requirements as they pertain to student applications. Also assists students planning to Study Abroad with additional financial information.

Maintains complete and accurate records as required for completion of internal and external reporting requirements. Ensures student data and records are maintained in the Banner system, respective electronic documents and paper files.

Conducts presentations to campus and community organizations at scheduled events as needed, including evening or weekend dates.

Creates and provides input on financial aid brochures, forms, publications, and web pages.

Contributes to broad-based management of Financial Aid Office by providing input to office policy and procedure decisions. Cross-train to perform duties of other Financial Aid Office positions as needed.

Works with other campus departments to ensure smooth delivery of services.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university is required.

One or two years related experience and/or training preferred; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Demonstrated knowledge of financial aid preferred. Experience in handling multiple tasks and customer-service orientation with a commitment to higher education and working with students a plus. Willingness to travel occasionally as required for presentations, meetings, and training workshops.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Excellent organizational, verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team environment.
• Ability to use highly technical computer applications, such as Banner, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint), and other web-based applications to perform office duties.
• Ability to maintain highest level of confidentiality in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear including the use of the telephone. The employee frequently is required to stand. The employee is occasionally required to walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel including the use of a computer keyboard; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

NOTICE: The above job profile does not include all essential and nonessential duties of this job. All employees with disabilities are encouraged to contact Human Resources to review and discuss the essential and nonessential functions of the job. An employee with a disability can evaluate the job in greater detail to determine if she/he can safely perform the essential function of this job with or without reasonable accommodation.