The Financial Aid Counselor serves as team leader within the Graduate Financial Aid Department focusing on Graduate (GR) programs with some Undergraduate responsibilities. To accomplish these objectives, the graduate FA director will advise the university on issues of institutional compliance relating to state and federal financial aid regulations for GR programs, serve as the office liaison to the athletic department and NCAA compliance coordinator, oversee processing and awarding of GR programs, serve as the primary contact for all graduate financial aid. The individual will participate in various professional associations (NASFAA, MASFAA, OASFAA) and participate in appropriate training opportunities from these associations as well as the US Department of Education (ED) throughout the year. This is a full time (2080 annual hours) position that reports to the Executive Director of Financial Aid
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION:
- Compliance with Title IV regulations and requirements
- Maintain knowledge and compliance with all applicable federal laws, regulations and operational guidelines.
- Oversee the preparation and provision of data needed for the annual A-133 audit.
- Trained and/or qualified to provide constituency of available financial aid, to include T-IV, T-VII, T-VIII, state, institutional and other sources of funds.
- Oversee athletic aid awarding and ensure compliance with NCAA rules and regulations
- Serve as the FAO liaison to the Athletic department and designated compliance coordinator
- Enter all financial aid data into Compliance Assistant Internet
- Oversee the processing of initial and renewal award for athletic financial aid.
- Maintain an awareness of NCAA rules and attend a regional compliance conference at least once every three years
- Report violations to the NCAA compliance coordinator
- Serve on the compliance committee
- Assist with Graduate Program Packaging
- Serve as the primary contact for all financial aid issues related to graduate programs.
- Assist with the automated awarding of all applicable GR programs.
- Assist graduate students in acquiring all applicable state, federal and institutional aid.
- Assist graduate program directors in developing financial aid options for graduate students.
- Coordinate with the graduate admissions office in the recruitment and retention of graduate students.
- Maintain accurate information about graduate financial aid in print and on the university website.
- Oversee the Endowed Scholarship Program for UG and GR programs:
- Work with Advancement regarding all funds, including the establishment of award codes and funding amounts and work with OFIC on identifying students for awarding.
- Ensure communication with appropriate personnel and create funding level parameters within the student integrated software system (SISS).
- Develop a system to better utilize the leveraging of funds for incoming students, as well as returning students
- Develop an semi-automated system to award, whenever possible, endowed funding.
- Assist in the establishment of cost of attendance and update for all GR programs.
- Assist in the update financial aid award codes and packaging rules as needed.
- Provide counsel to students and parents in regard to aid eligibility and other general financial aid concerns.
- Review a segment of files regarding dependency override and professional judgement requests
- Provide Financial Aid Seminars for campus guests and various schools and churches as requested.
- Provide research, information and data for scholarship and grant proposals.
- Participate in meetings with other divisions, departments or offices on campus.
- Oversee all tuition remission programs to include the identification and awarding for both degree-seeking and dual enrolled high school students., as well as graduate programs
- Other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Must possess a bachelor’s degree; master’s degree preferred.
- Must possess at least two years of financial aid higher education experience or commensurate experience.
- Must possess skill in the use of office productivity software and be knowledgeable of institutional databases and financial aid software; Ellucian experience preferred.
- Must possess sufficient aptitude to read, interpret and implement complex federal regulations and guidelines.
- Must have the ability to communicate effectively (verbal and written) with diverse populations.
- Must have the ability to work independently while at the same time being a team player with a clear understanding of priorities, deadlines and overall goals of the department.
- Must possess sufficient aptitude to read, interpret reports and financial data.
- Must model excellence in customer service offered to students and their parents.
- Must have the ability to evaluate student concerns and develop creative solutions.
- Must be energetic, detail oriented, and a positive communicator.
- Qualified candidates must agree with and be willing to abide by Cedarville University's Doctrinal Statement , Community Covenant and general Work Place Standards .
Contact Information:
All official inquiries should be directed to Teresa Day , Director of Staffing Services. Applicants must agree with and be willing to abide by Cedarville University's doctrinal statement, community covenant, and general workplace standards.
This position is subject to the University's verification of credentials and other information required by law and Cedarville University policies, including the completion of a criminal history investigation. Cedarville University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.