Financial Aid Advisor

Position Summary:

This Financial Aid Advisor counsels and assists students, parents, and families through the financial aid processes, including application FAFSA completion, eligibility, need analysis, student budgets, financial aid packaging, scholarship application, and disbursement policies and procedures. This position exercises Independent judgment and critical thinking to provide high-quality student counseling services, FAFSA verification , outreach, allocation of awarded funds and debt management.

This Financial Aid Advisor utilizes federal systems such as National Student Loan Database (NSLDS), the Common Origination and Disbursement Database (COD), and the FAFSA Partner Portal (FPP) to accurately process financial aid. These systems include but are not limited to, as part of the Enrollment Management Division, this position contributes to making the enrollment and business processes as simple as possible, so students can focus on academics and student life.

This role requires in person visits to correctional facilities and phone contact with incarcerated students and their supporters as well as minimal amount of seasonal travel for outreach and recruitment events, orientation, and FAFSA workshops.

Specific Job Duties (Essential Functions and Responsibilities):

• Provide one-on-one advising to students and families with admissions, registration, payment, Bank Mobile Refunds, FAFSA, financial aid, scholarship applications, cost summary estimates, and general student business. 

• Prioritizes work in support of the Prison Education Program, to plan, implement, and monitor the Revised Second Chance Pell program activities related to processing of student aid documentation and forms.

• Manages implementation and participates in the preparation of Revised Second Chance Pell reporting, and correspondence with other internal and external departments. 

• This position is not a remote position and requires in person outreach including but not limited to correctional facilities. 

• Must be highly organized with the ability to manage and track large volumes of paperwork. Must be proficient in transferring information from physical documents into secure digital systems accurately and efficiently.

• Oversees assessment and data management processes of the Revised Second Chance Pell program

• Communicate effectively with students, families, faculty, staff and external partners in person, on the phone, by e-mail/instant messaging, virtual applications, or written correspondence to collaborate and resolve problems and address any concerns.  Participate in outreach activities for main campus, undergraduate, prospective and current students, including new student orientations, FAFSA labs, and high school presentations.  

• Review federal regulations and guidelines; to update and maintain training and policy/procedures manuals; develop, document and disseminate training documentation and curriculum to staff; make changes and updates to training documentation.

• Assist the Financial Aid Director and Assistant Directors to understand and apply current college, departmental, federal and state regulations and policies. Help resolve concerns by ensuring guidelines are applied correctly.Attend  financial aid training and/or conferences, some of which may require out-of- state travel.

•  Contributes to departmental goals through other assigned activities.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Associates Degree or equivalent college credit

• 2 Years of prior relevant work experience 

• Ability to provide quality customer care, especially under difficult circumstances.

• Technologically proficient- must be able to access, acquire, and learn in a digital environment.

• Experience using Microsoft, databases, and Google applications.

• Ability to work effectively with all levels within the University and develop informal, cooperative relationships among diverse, multifunctional departments.

• Ability to travel to on and off campus presentations, workshops, conferences, and correctional facilities. Ability to occasionally work overtime during peak periods and/or outreach events.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred in relevant field

• Bilingual (Spanish)

• Experience working in higher education as part of an enrollment ma