Assistant/Associate Director, Financial Aid

Description

Assistant/Associate Director

Financial Aid

Full-time, exempt

Reports to: Director, Financial Aid

Salary: $60,000-70,000

VLGS Benefits and PTO include: 

- Full benefits (medical, dental, vision, etc.). 

- 403b including 4% employer contribution.

- 2 weeks of paid vacation in addition to paid personal and sick days. 

- 11 paid holidays plus two weeks of paid “Dean’s Days” for Summer and Winter breaks. 

- Employee Assistance Program.

- VLGS course participation with tuition assistance.

- Flexible schedule potential.

Vermont Law and Graduate School is committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness. We grow and learn better together with a diverse group of faculty, staff, and students. In recruiting for faculty and staff, we seek unique backgrounds to enrich and challenge our community. 

 Please attach a resume and cover letter for consideration. 

Position Summary:

The Assistant/Associate Director lends direct support to the Director of Financial Aid for the management and general administration of student financial aid programs, and directly manages the Federal Work Study, Fellowship, and Loan Repayment Assistance (LRAP) programs. This position focuses primarily on the student side of the financial aid office and will act as the department’s primary point of contact for students. Occasional travel and evening/weekend work is required.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Advises students on financial aid programs from admission through graduation and beyond.
• Oversees monthly reconciliation of funds from Department of Education with PowerFAIDS and our Business Office and the Common Origination and Disbursement database, making sure to correct any discrepancies found.
• Certifies AmeriCorps funding for students participating in that program; ensures payments are received and applied to students’ financial aid awards properly.
• Manages any/all consortium agreements with various institutions; ensures students dually enrolled at VLGS and another institution are not over-awarded federal aid; monitors loan funds and ensures funds are sent directly to visiting host school and that student receives their living expenses.
• Responsible for certifying private education loans; counseling students on differences between Federal loans and private loans.
• Processing private Bar loan certifications for students.
• Counsel individuals and groups regarding budgeting, debt management, loan obligations and related issues. Inform and advise applicants, students and parents on financial aid opportunities, application procedures, processes, and policies.
• Establish Loan Repayment Assistance Program parameters; award and disburse funding. Review eligibility for loan forgiveness at year-end.
• Serves as a liaison for the Financial Aid Office with applicants, enrolled students, parents, financial institutions, and other VLGS offices, providing information regarding the VLGS financial aid program. 
• Advises students regarding expenditures that should be anticipated during the school year, the availability of funds and credits and options associated with their use, disbursement dates, due dates for charges, financial obligations associated with awards, etc. When income is inadequate to anticipated needs, informs of available loan alternatives and assists in processing loan applications.
• Processes budget increase requests; sends follow up emails and/or requests additional documentation as necessary.
• Counsels students who have been denied loans based on credit history; assists them in the appeal and/or endorser process; ensures mandatory counseling processes are completed by students for timely loan disbursements.
• Advise students on consolidation and Public Service Loan Forgiveness, while they are applying, while actively enrolled and after graduation. Sets up one-on-one counseling sessions with students to walk them through loan repayment options after graduation.
• Working with AccessLex, sets up exit counseling, credit score, and loan repayment sessions for students; coordinates and promotes financial literacy events.
• Administer the Summer Fellowship program including updating application material, advertising, collecting applications, determining eligibility and recipients.
• Gives presentations for open houses and new student orientation; presents on financial aid options, FAFSA process,