Financial Aid Counselor & Scholarship Coordinator

Position Title & Department:

 Financial Aid Counselor & Scholarship Coordinator; Financial Aid Posting #

5375

Department Description:

The Office of Financial Aid (OFA) is responsible for the awarding of Federal, State, and Institutional financial aid to Undergraduate and Graduate students at the University of San Diego. The OFA is also responsible for maintaining Federal, State, and Institutional compliance to ensure proper delivery of financial aid. This includes scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans. The OFA determines student eligibility using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the CA Dream Act Application, and the USD Dream Act Application. 76% of USD students receive some type of financial aid.

University Description:

The University of San Diego, an engaged and contemporary Catholic institution, was founded by the Diocese of San Diego and the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1949. Governed by an independent board of trustees since 1972, USD remains committed to a liberal arts education grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. Inspired by this centuries old tradition of Catholic higher education, the University welcomes people of all faith traditions and any, or no, religious background. The future success of USD relies on the contributions of those who seek to foster the development of engaged global citizens and an earnest confrontation of humanity’s urgent challenges.

Detailed Description:

The Financial Aid Counselor & Scholarship Coordinator will:

• Coordinate awards of USD Endowed & Restricted Scholarships
• Process private/outside scholarships
• Counsel and advise on financial aid matters
• Process financial aid files

Duties and Responsibilities:

Scholarship Program Coordinator:    

• Coordinate Banner Fund Code requests when a new Endowed/Pooled or Annual/Restricted/Spendable account is opened.
• Serve as a resource for Development Officers on campus when they are establishing new scholarships.
• Select and award USD endowed and annual scholarships to students according to donors’ criteria, coordinating information from Workday and USD Development, and using technical knowledge of USD’s computer system and USD award process.
• Determine appropriate scholarship awards for students whose appeals for additional funds have been approved.
• Serve as a resource using professional judgment and decision-making skills interacting with academic departments to resolve issues regarding different types of student awards.
• Process all external scholarships from private sources using knowledge of federal regulations and USD packaging policies, and adhering to all donor specifications.
• Maintain regular interface/communication with the Office of Development.
• Maintain regular interface/communication with Accounting.
• Processes departmental/direct awards when a re-evaluation is needed, requiring extensive knowledge of Federal and other agency regulations. Including but not limited to: USD Work Service Awards, Choral Scholarships, University Ministry Scholarships.
• Coordinate and award all Tuition Remission Scholarships and Tuition Exchange Scholarships for USD undergraduate and graduate students for fall, spring, intersession and summer session.

Application and File Processing:   

•  Determine student financial aid eligibility based on Federal Methodology and USD guidelines, using professional judgment and knowledge in “gray areas”.
• Process corrections through ANA/INAS system and determine new need/eligibility.
• Determine students’ financial aid package using USD, federal, and state guidelines, demonstrating flexibility, yet adhering to guidelines; identify/request exceptions based on professional judgment.
• Perform re-evaluation of packages.

Applicant Advising: 

• Counsel students and parents who have complicated situations on financial aid/personal m